Pet parenting isn’t a popularity contest, but chances are you recognize some very fur-miliar faces at the dog park or kitty cafe. The most common breeds and species of pets are a ubiquitous part of our lives, making up a big snuggly proportion of our furry, feathered and scaly families. But which ones are the most paw-pular of all? We dug into the data to find out.
The top dogs insured at Nationwide are mixed breeds of the small (11-30 lb), medium (31-50 lb) and large (51-110 lb) varieties. This isn’t surprising—their unique personalities and diverse combinations of traits are an All-American part of the pet melting pot. With good nutrition, daily exercise and regular veterinary care, mixed-breed dogs are often among the longest-lived of all dogs, too.
The most popular pedigreed breed in 2026 is also another classic favorite: Labrador retrievers. The American Kennel Club’s most popular breed from 1991 to 2021, Labs were overtaken by the French bulldog in recent years, but they’re still the #1 dog breed protected by Nationwide. This versatile breed is known for sporting, working roles and a love for everyone.
The top two breeds among all pets insured with Nationwide in 2025 are cats. The most popular feline breed category is another mixed-breed variety: Domestic shorthair. Also, the most common cat in North America, “domestic shorthair” is a general term for any shorthaired cat of unknown or mixed lineage. These cats come in a variety of colors, body types and temperaments, but all share a low maintenance, short coat.
The most popular pedigreed breed is another shorthair cat: the Siamese. These highly recognizable cats first became popular in the United States in the 19th century and often sport a distinctive fur pattern and vibrant blue eyes. They’re also known for being very active, talkative and opinionated.
The most insured pet bird at Nationwide, conures are a great first feathered friend for experienced pet parents because they thrive on attention and interaction. Conures are known to form strong bonds with their human and enjoy being a part of daily life. Not an expert yet, but into birds? Learn more about birds that beginning avian aficionados love to love (and insure).
Known as a great beginner reptile, bearded dragons are the most commonly insured reptiles at Nationwide. This pet is renowned for its calm nature and enjoyment of human interaction. Caring for reptiles of all varieties requires some specific knowledge to keep them happy and healthy; you can learn more about dragon parenting here.
Quiet and cuddly, rabbits are the #1 insured small mammal, and a good fit for beginner-to-intermediate level pet parents looking for an intelligent, affectionate companion. A close runner-up for the most popular Nationwide-insured small mammal? The noble (and wiggly) guinea pig.
Nationwide pet insurance protects cats and dogs of all breeds and many exotic pets. For big pet families, pet discounts are available to members with more than one pet—get 5% off when protecting 2-3 pets, and 10% off when protecting 4 or more. Get a quote today at petinsurance.com.