List of U.S. state dogs

Sixteen states of the United States have designated an official state dog breed. Maryland was first to name a dog breed as a state symbol, with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever in 1964,^[1] and Pennsylvania followed the year after with the Great Dane.^[2] Dog breeds are mostly affiliated with the states where they originated. North Carolina chose the Plott Hound as it was the only dog breed indigenous to the state.^[3]

A map of the US showing in red which states have a specified dog breed as an official symbol

Other official state dogs indigenous to their state include the Boston Terrier (Massachusetts) and the Alaskan Malamute (Alaska).^[4][5] Pennsylvania selected the Great Dane not because of its origin, but because it was introduced by early settlers in the state as a hunting and working dog;^[6] it was chosen over the Beagle which was also proposed around the same time.^[7]

Two successful campaigns to name a state dog have been started by schoolchildren. In 2007, Alaskan kindergarten student Paige Hill's idea created the campaign for the Alaskan Malamute which convinced Representative Berta Gardner to support the bill in 2009, with it becoming law in 2010.^[8] Elementary school students from Bedford, New Hampshire won their campaign for the Chinook to be their state dog in 2010.^[9]

Georgia's attempt to adopt the Golden Retriever failed a vote in the Georgia State Senate in 1991; an opposing campaign promoted the Bulldog, the mascot of the University of Georgia.^[10] The Washington House of Representatives rejected a campaign to adopt the Siberian Husky in 2004.^[11] In January 2019, Minnesota partnered with charity Pawsitivity Service Dogs to introduce a bill to make the Labrador Retriever the State Dog.^[12]

In 2006, New York State Assembly member Vincent Ignizio suggested that New York adopt a dog as a state symbol;^[13] in 2015, the "working dog"—animals trained for service roles—was adopted.^[14] During the 2008 campaign to name the western painted turtle as Colorado's state reptile, local press suggested the Labrador Retriever as a suitable symbol, although not native to the state.^[1] Kansas residents suggested the Cairn Terrier as state dog in 2006 due to its appearance as Toto in the film The Wizard of Oz.^[15] Kansas representative Ed Trimmer tabled a bill proposing the Cairn Terrier in 2012.^[16]

South Dakota does not have a state dog but lists the coyote—a canine species related to the dog—as its state wildlife animal.^[17][18] Legislation has been proposed on six occasions in Minnesota to adopt the eastern timber wolf—another canine— as state animal.^[19] Arkansas adopted the Labrador Retriever in April 2025.^[20]

In 2013, Colorado made rescue dogs and cats as the state pet,^[21][22][23] as did Tennessee in 2014,^[24] California in 2015 (to promote pet adoptions from shelters),^[25][26] Illinois in 2017,^[27] Georgia in 2018 ("adoptable dogs"),^[28] and Delaware in 2023 (replacing the Golden Retriever).^[29]

State dog breeds

State	Dog breed	Image	Year of designation	Ref.
Alaska	Alaskan Malamute		2010	[30]
Arkansas	Labrador Retriever		2025	[20]
Connecticut	Siberian Husky		2024	[31]
Delaware	Golden Retriever		2016 (expired on August 31, 2017, pursuant to 80 Del. Laws, c. 365, § 3).	[32]
Louisiana	Catahoula Leopard Dog		1979	[1]
Maine	Seppala Siberian sleddog		2025	[33]
Maryland	Chesapeake Bay Retriever		1964	[1]
Massachusetts	Boston Terrier		1979	[1]
New Hampshire	Chinook		2009	[9]
North Carolina	Plott Hound		1989	[1]
Pennsylvania	Great Dane		1965	[34]
South Carolina	Boykin Spaniel		1985	[35]
Tennessee	Bluetick Coonhound		2019	[36]
Texas	Blue Lacy		2005	[37]
Virginia	American Foxhound		1966	[38]
Wisconsin	American Water Spaniel		1985	[39]

Proposed dog breeds

The table below shows the dog breeds which have been proposed to each state's relevant State Senate or House of Representatives, but either were not accepted as a state symbol or are still pending nominations.

State	Dog breed	Image	Year proposed	Ref.
Georgia	Golden Retriever		1991	[10]
Georgia	English bulldog		2016	[40]
Kansas	Cairn Terrier		2012	[16]
Ohio	Labrador Retriever		2015	[41]
Oregon	Newfoundland		2015	[42]
Washington	Siberian Husky		2004	[11]

Designations other than breed

State	Designation	Image	Year of designation	Ref.
Georgia	"Adoptable dog"		2016	[40]
New Jersey	The Seeing Eye Dog		2019	[43]
New York	Working dog		2015	[44][14]

See also

• List of U.S. state mammals
• Dogs in the United States
• Dogs portal