The 39 Cutest Dog Breeds

    You can't spell "aw" without a dawg.

    William Barrios
    by William Barrios

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    Whether you're into big dogs, small dogs, or anything in between, there are some breeds that are undeniably adorable.

    I Love Kellie Pickler / giphy.com

    There's a reason why universities have started bringing therapy dogs to campus during finals season: dogs just make everything better. And while there are plenty of dog breeds out there, some are particularly eye-catching. Now that all the cat people are gone, here are the 37 cutest dog breeds.

    1. Basset Hound

    basset hound laying down staring up at the camera
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    Look at those giant, floppy ears and soulful eyes. If you don't just want to kiss this baby's little head, you are a monster.

    2. King Charles Cavalier Spaniel

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    This dogs are so dang cute it's almost annoying. How is their hair so effortlessly, delicately wavy?

    3. Labrador Retriever

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    The most popular dog breed in 2022!

    4. Golden Retriever

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    The undisputed king of family dogs, the Golden practically wrote the book on lookin' good as a canine.

    5. Yorkshire Terrier

    A long-haired Yorkshire Terrier strutting
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    It's widely believed that the first-ever therapy dog was a Yorkie.

    6. Pitbull

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    The most misrepresented dog in history, Pitbulls are not aggressive by nature. They can make great guard dogs, but can also be great with children. Like with all dogs, it depends on the training.

    7. Siberian Husky

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    The Chukchi (indigenous people of Asia who originally bred Huskies) believe that two Huskies guard the gates of heaven. Even better, they don't let in anyone who was mean to a dog in their life.

    8. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

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    If you happen to be in Southern California, you have to go to Corgi Beach Day. It's exactly what it sounds like.

    9. Australian Shepherd

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    One of the best qualities of these dogs is they usually have two different colored eyes.

    10. Cavalier King Charles

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    The coolest breed name for the most regal dog.

    11. Shih Tzu

    A Shih Tzu looking happy at the beach
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    Shih Tzu is Mandarin for "little lion."

    12. Maltese

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    As my own childhood dog, I can vouch for the Maltese's round-the-clock cuteness.

    13. Havanese

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    The one-and-only dog breed native to Cuba!

    14. Shetland Sheepdog

    A young Shetland sheepdog sits in a field
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    After examining over 9,000 dogs, a study found that the Shetland is one of the least aggressive dog breeds in the world.

    15. Pug

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    I know I said the Cavalier King Charles was one of the most regal dog breeds, but Queen Victoria owned nearly 40 Pugs so I may have to take that back.

    16. Cocker Spaniel

    A Cocker Spaniel smiles in the sunlight
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    A Cocker Spaniel named Tangle was the first dog to be able to detect cancer through smell.

    17. Miniature American Shepherd

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    This is one of the more recent dog breeds, being bred just 90 years ago.

    18. Border Collie

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    The Border Collie has long been recognized as the smartest dog breed in the world. They've done tests, studies, and plenty of trials, but the result hasn't changed since Stanley Coren published his book, The Intelligence of Dogs, in 1994.

    19. West Highland White Terrier

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    Bred to hunt rats, Westies' slim and angular bodies are made to burrow into the ground.

    20. Shiba Inu

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    The Doge itself, only Corgis give the Shiba Inu a run for its money as the most meme-able breed.

    21. Bichon Frise

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    The dog that probably gets more expensive haircuts than I do.

    22. Akita

    A young Akita laying on the ground
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    Is it a Shiba Inu, or an Akita? If you're ever unsure (like I was when finding pictures for this article) the bigger one is the Akita!

    23. American Eskimo Dog

    An American Eskimo during the Michigan Winter Dog Classic show
    Nurphoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

    This breed comes from Germany and has nothing to do with the Inuit people. It also doesn't have much to do with America except for its popularity here. Though, I guess not wanting to call it a "German Spitz" because we weren't fans of Germany at the time, just to call it a derisive word for a different group of people is pretty American of us.

    24. Cairn Terrier

    Two Cairn Terrier dogs sitting in grass
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    Alongside Schnauzers, the Cairn Terriers are the most Scottish gentlemen and ladies you'll ever come across.

    25. American Staffordshire Terrier

    An American Staffordshire Terrier's outdoor portrait
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    We played "Shiba Inu or Akita," but how can you tell apart an American Staffordshire Terrier from a Pitbull? They may look similar, but Pitbulls have more egg-shaped heads.

    26. Miniature Schnauzer

    A Miniature Schnauzer posing on a couch for a picture
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    It's so Scottish! I can't see the lower half of that dog in the picture, but I legitimately would not be surprised if it had a kilt on.

    27. Rottweiler

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    These dogs date back to the '70s (70 BCE, I mean) when Roman soldiers would bring dogs with them to battle. Some of those armies would camp in Rottweil in Germany, giving the Rottweiler its name.

    28. Bernese Mountain Dog

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    One of the largest dog breeds in the world, these guys are especially happy if you can give them some work (just like Border Collies).

    29. French Bulldog

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    A great family dog, Frenchies tend to be a bit on the sensitive side.

    30. Beagle

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    Those floppy ears actually serve a purpose! Besides hearing. When Beagles bend down to smell, the ears act as a funnel, sending scent particles to the dog's nose.

    31. Samoyed

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    The smiliest of dogs.

    32. Goldendoodle

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    Like the Miniature American Shepherd, the Goldendoodle is a recent dog breed, originating in the late '60s.

    33. Chow Chow

    A Chow Chow in a field of purple flowers
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    Famously big teddy bears physically, but also one of the most aggressive dog breeds around. But look at that face!

    34. Dachshund

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    The gif above is from a Heinz commercial...

    35. Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Young Welsh Springer Spaniel dogs running and playing in the snow on a sunny day
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    Breeds with freckles are instantly 10% cuter, and the Welsh Springer Spaniel often has freckles.

    36. Basenji

    Laughing girl with basenji dog, holding it on her shoulders
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    If you know one thing about Basenjis, it might be that they don't bark. It's true, though they do howl and even yodel on occasion.

    37. Bearded Collie

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    This breed isn't all about looks. Like all Collies, it's got plenty of brains, making it easy to train.

    38. Cavapoo

    Two Cavapoos sitting on a living room rug
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    Also called a Cavoodle (or a Cavadoodle), these dogs are a mix between the Cavalier King Charles and the Poodle.

    39. Brittany

    A Brittany spaniel dog looking up to the camera with fallen leaves scattered across the lawn beneath her
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    If a bitch is a female dog, how many times do the owners of this breed say, "It's Brittany, bitch"? Probably every day.

    Which cute pooches did I miss? Let me know in the comments!