The Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH) is the umbrella organization for pedigree dog breeding in Germany. Each year it publishes how many puppies were born in litters bred under its member clubs, breed by breed. It does not publish a ranked list, so we ranked the breeds by their 2025 puppy numbers. The German Shepherd Dog comes first with 6,374 puppies, ahead of the Dachshund and the Labrador Retriever.
In total, VDH member clubs recorded 55,053 puppies in 2025, down from 56,851 in 2024. The figures only cover pedigree litters bred within the VDH system. Dogs from other breeders, rescue dogs and mixed breeds are not part of it, so the table shows where organized breeding is focused, not how many dogs of each breed live in German homes.
Top 10 breeds in 2025
No. 1: German Shepherd Dog
A loyal, intelligent working dog that needs training, a job to do and plenty of activity.
No. 2: Dachshund
A long-backed, short-legged hound with a big bark and an independent mind; comes in smooth, long and wire coats.
No. 3: Labrador Retriever
Moved up to third place in 2025 with 2,401 puppies, overtaking the German Wirehaired Pointer.
No. 4: German Wirehaired Pointer
Fell from 2,587 puppies in 2024 to 2,215 in 2025 and dropped to fourth place.
No. 5: Poodle
A clever, athletic dog in toy, miniature and standard sizes, with a low-shedding coat that needs regular grooming.
No. 6: Golden Retriever
A gentle, eager-to-please family dog with a long coat that sheds a lot and needs regular brushing.
No. 7: Rottweiler
A powerful, confident guardian breed that is devoted to its family and needs early training and socialization.
No. 8: German Shorthaired Pointer
A versatile hunting dog with seemingly endless energy, best for very active owners.
No. 9: Small Münsterländer
A versatile, gentle hunting dog with a long coat, from the Münster region of Germany.
No. 10: Boxer
A playful, energetic and loyal medium-large dog that stays puppyish for years.
Reading this year’s list
The main change in 2025 was in third and fourth place. The Labrador Retriever moved up to third with 2,401 puppies. The German Wirehaired Pointer fell from 2,587 puppies to 2,215 and dropped to fourth. At the bottom, the Border Collie left the top 10 with 1,000 puppies, just behind the Boxer at 1,050.
Seven of the ten breeds were developed in Germany: the German Shepherd Dog, Dachshund, German Wirehaired Pointer, Rottweiler, German Shorthaired Pointer, Small Münsterländer and Boxer. Three of them are versatile hunting dogs, bred to search, point and retrieve. That gives the list a strong working character. Only the Poodle is kept mainly as a companion, and even the Dachshund was first bred to hunt.
The lead of the German Shepherd Dog is clear, but its numbers have fallen over time. The VDH table shows 10,470 German Shepherd puppies ten years earlier, about 4,100 more than in 2025. The French Bulldog, which tops the lists in the United States and South Africa, does not appear in the German top 10 at all.
About the No. 1 breed: German Shepherd Dog
- Size
- Large
- FCI group
- 1 · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
- Origin
- Germany
Temperament
A German Shepherd Dog is loyal, alert and very willing to learn. Most are close to their family and reserved with strangers, which makes them natural watchdogs. They need clear, calm leadership and early contact with many people, dogs and places. Without enough to do, a bored Shepherd may bark, chew or become overprotective.
Size and build
A large, athletic dog, slightly longer than it is tall, with upright ears and a bushy tail. Under the FCI standard, males stand roughly 60 to 65 cm at the shoulder and weigh about 30 to 40 kg. Females are smaller, at roughly 55 to 60 cm and 22 to 32 kg.
Daily care
Plan for at least one to two hours of activity a day, including training or scent games, not just walks. The double coat copes well with cold, wet German winters but sheds heavily, especially in spring and autumn, so regular brushing is needed. A training class or dog club gives both owner and dog structure. Short, repeated sessions with rewards work best.
Who it suits
Active owners who enjoy training and have time every day, ideally with a garden or easy access to fields and forest. It is a poor choice for people who are out all day, want a quiet lap dog, or have no interest in ongoing training.
Health in general terms
Like many large breeds, German Shepherds can be affected by hip and elbow dysplasia. Degenerative myelopathy, a slowly progressing spinal cord disease, and bloat (a twisted stomach) are also known in the breed. Stiffness, trouble getting up or a swollen belly after meals are worth raising with a vet quickly. Ask a breeder whether the parents' hips and elbows were X-rayed and scored.
This is general breed information, not medical advice. Ask a veterinarian about your own dog, and ask any breeder about the health tests used for the parents.
Why the German Shepherd Dog is popular in Germany
The VDH publishes the numbers without explaining them, so there is no official reason for the German Shepherd's lead. What can be said is that it is a German breed with a long history in its home country. It was developed as a herding dog and later became a common police, customs and search dog.
Its traits fit the kind of owner the VDH figures reflect. It is intelligent, eager to work and easy to motivate with play. Many owners train with it in club settings, in tracking, obedience or protection sports. For people who want a dog to train seriously, it is an obvious local choice.
What these rankings measure
National kennel club breed rankings are registration rankings, not a census of the dogs living in each country. Only purebred puppies registered with the national kennel club are counted. Mixed-breed dogs, dogs from shelters and most dogs bred outside the club system never appear. Rules and fees differ between clubs, so the numbers are best compared within one country, not across countries.
Useful tools
See also: Golden eagle: National Bird of Germany