thumb|350px|A map of the US showing in red which states have a specified dog breed as an official symbol
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, 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.
Other official state dogs indigenous to their state include the Boston Terrier (Massachusetts) and the Alaskan Malamute (Alaska). 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; it was chosen over the Beagle which was also proposed around the same time.
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. Elementary school students from Bedford, New Hampshire won their campaign for the Chinook to be their state dog in 2010. The Washington House of Representatives rejected a campaign to adopt the Siberian Husky in 2004. In January 2019, Minnesota partnered with charity Pawsitivity Service Dogs to introduce a bill to make the Labrador Retriever the State Dog.
In 2006, New York State Assembly member Vincent Ignizio suggested that New York adopt a dog as a state symbol; in 2015, the "working dog"animals trained for service roleswas adopted. 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. Kansas representative Ed Trimmer tabled a bill proposing the Cairn Terrier in 2012.
South Dakota does not have a state dog but lists the coyote—a canine species related to the dog—as its state wildlife animal. Legislation has been proposed on six occasions in Minnesota to adopt the eastern timber wolfanother canine as state animal. Arkansas adopted the Labrador Retriever in April 2025.
In 2013, Colorado made rescue dogs and cats as the state pet, as did Tennessee in 2014, California in 2015 (to promote pet adoptions from shelters), Illinois in 2017, Georgia in 2018 ("adoptable dogs"), and Delaware in 2023 (replacing the Golden Retriever).
State dog breeds
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! State !! Dog breed !! class="unsortable"| Image !! Year of designation !! class="unsortable"| Ref.
|-
| Alaska || Alaskan Malamute || 150px|alt=A white and grey husky-like dog faces left. Its tail curves over its back. || 2010 ||
|-
| Arkansas || Labrador Retriever || 150px|alt=side view of a yellow dog in a grassy field, facing left || 2025 ||
|-
|Delaware
|Golden Retriever
|150px|alt=A golden fluffy colored medium-size dog faces left in a woodland setting.
|2016 (expired on August 31, 2017, pursuant to 80 Del. Laws, c. 365, § 3).
|
|-
| Louisiana || Catahoula Leopard Dog || 150px|alt=A mottled brown dog with a white chest faces right. It wears a red collar. || 1979||
|-
| Maryland || Chesapeake Bay Retriever || 150px|alt=A brown dog faces left. || 1964 ||
|-
| New Hampshire || Chinook || 150px|alt=A light brown dog stands in woodland. It faces left but has turned its head to face the camera. || 2009 ||
|-
|North Carolina
|Plott Hound
|150px|alt=A dark colored mottled dog faces right while sniffing the ground.
|1989
|
|-
| South Carolina || Boykin Spaniel || 150px|alt=A brown spaniel faces the camera in the snow. || 1985 ||
|-
|Tennessee
|Bluetick Coonhound
|150px
|2019
|
|-
| Texas || Blue Lacy || 150px|alt=A dark grey colored dog faces just to the right, it wears a large tag on its collar. || 2005 ||
|-
| Virginia || American Foxhound || 150px|alt=A mostly white dog with black and brown markings faces left with its head turned to the camera. || 1966 ||
|-
| Wisconsin || American Water Spaniel || 150px|alt=A curly coated dark brown colored spaniel stands next to its owner. || 1985 ||
|}
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.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! State !! Dog breed !! class="unsortable"| Image !! Year proposed !! class="unsortable"| Ref.
|-
| Georgia || Golden Retriever || 150px|alt=A golden fluffy colored medium-size dog faces left in a woodland setting.||1991 ||
|-
| Oregon || Newfoundland || 150px|alt=Black Newfoundland||2015 ||
|-
| Washington || Siberian Husky || 150px|alt=A dark grey and white wolf like dog faces left in profile. || 2004 ||
|-
| New Jersey || The Seeing Eye Dog|| 150px|alt="A Seeing Eye Dog"|| 2019 ||
|-
| New York || Working dog || 150px|alt="A labrador retriever in service as a guide dog" || 2015 ||