According to a report released on August 25, 2026, the Poodle has secured the top position in a global ranking of the most photographed dog breeds. The London-based photo book provider Popsa compiled this ranking based on millions of customer images taken between 2024 and 2025. The company used machine learning to evaluate these photos, aiming to understand the photography habits of dog owners worldwide. The data reveals that Pudelfotos, or Poodle photos, are vastly more common in digital collections than those of any other breed.
The Top of the Ranking
The Poodle leads the list with a perfect photo index score of 100, which serves as the reference point for all other breeds. No other canine appears in the evaluated customer photos as frequently as the Poodle. In second place are Retrievers, who reach a score of 54 points. Hound breeds occupy the third spot with an index of 48 points. This group includes the Greyhound, the Whippet, and the Bloodhound.
The gap between the leader and the runner-up is significant. While the Poodle sets the standard at 100, Retrievers are recorded at 54. Hounds trail them with 48 points. The ranking reflects the specific behavior of Popsa’s customer base rather than a full survey of every dog photo ever taken in the world. The company notes that the index represents relative frequency, with the top breed serving as the benchmark for all others.
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German Breeds and the Top Ten
Several breeds with German roots appear high on the list. The Schnauzer ranks fourth with a photo index of 46 points. Spaniels follow in fifth place with 37 points. The Terrier and the German Shepherd each received 26 points. The Beagle and the Bichon Frisé are next, scoring 24 and 21 respectively. The British Setter rounds out the top ten with an index of 18.
There has been some movement in the ranking compared to previous evaluations. The Setter has moved up three spots to enter the top ten. Conversely, the Bulldog has fallen off the list of the ten most photographed breeds entirely. Popsa suggests this shift might correlate with a stronger preference for family dogs that do not suffer from the respiratory health problems often associated with short noses. However, the data itself only shows the frequency of the photos, not the reasons behind the change.
The company offers an app that allows users to compile smartphone photos into various formats, including books, calendars, and prints. Artificial intelligence assists the user in selecting and arranging these images. Privacy is a key component of this system. The firm states that their employees did not view the millions of photos individually. Machine learning runs directly on the user’s device to determine if a dog is present and to classify the breed or breed group. Only anonymized data is then compiled for the statistics; the original photos are not part of the evaluation.
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The distinct popularity of the Poodle, combined with the rise of the Setter and the decline of brachycephalic breeds, suggests that owners might be prioritizing visual appeal or specific health traits when deciding which dogs to capture in images. While the data shows what is being photographed, it stops short of explaining why the Poodle leads so decisively over the Retrievers.
How the Data Was Processed
To ensure privacy, the entire analysis process is automated. The software on the user’s phone identifies the animal and assigns a likely breed or group. This process renders all identifying information useless before the data is sent to Popsa. The resulting list provides a snapshot of which breeds capture the most attention on digital cameras. From the data, it is clear that the curly coat and distinctive look of the Poodle make it a standout subject for photographers around the globe.