Australia’s favourite pet breeds and names for 2026
Meet the top pet breeds and names everyone’s obsessed with!
Australians are sticking with what they know and love when it comes to our pets, with familiar breeds and human-style names set to dominate households across the country in 2026.
Analysing its latest data to forecast 2026, pet insurance provider Petsy expects Australia to remain loyal to its favourites this year.
Meaning, we’re not suddenly adopting llamas or naming our dogs X Æ A-12 or North. It’s still Luna, Milo and fluffy oodle mixes ruling our lounge rooms and backyards.
Puppy love
Among the top dogs, Petsy expects the Cavoodle to once again secure its place as Australia’s favourite breed, followed by Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers.
Smaller dogs will continue to rise in popularity, with Miniature Dachshunds and French Bulldogs expected to round out the top five.
Forecast of Australia’s top dog breeds in 2026
- Cavoodle
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Miniature Dachshund
- French Bulldog
- Border Collie
- German Shepherd Dog
- Groodle
- Toy Poodle
- Labradoodle
Hey, cool cats
Aussies will also opt for familiarity and practicality when selecting a feline friend. Domestic Shorthair cats will remain Australia’s most common cat, ahead of Domestic Mediumhair and Ragdolls.
Forecast of Australia’s top cat breeds in 2026
- Domestic Shorthair Cat
- Domestic Mediumhair Cat
- Ragdoll
- Domestic Tabby Cat
- Domestic House Cat
- British Shorthair
- Domestic Longhair Cat
- Domestic Ginger Cat
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll Cross
Most popular pet names
Petsy founder Monica Limanto says: “Our data shows we’re choosing to name our pets with short, friendly, human-sounding names. We expect Luna to continue to be the most popular name overall, ranking number one for both dogs and cats in 2025.”
Australia’s top dog names in 2026 are forecasted to be:
- Luna
- Milo
- Coco
- Teddy
- Daisy
- Bella
- Charlie
- Archie
- Frankie
- Leo
Australia’s top cat names in 2026 are forecasted to be:
- Luna
- Mochi
- Leo
- Milo
- Nala
- Loki
- Coco
- Simba
- Willow
- Lily
Monica says the results highlight how deeply pets are embedded in Australian family life.
“Pets are part of the family in many Australian households. The popularity of breeds like Cavoodles and names like Luna and Milo show that we are choosing pets that suit our lifestyle and names that feel personal, familiar and human,” she says.
“Oodle crosses and smaller dog breeds are likely to remain dominant on our top-ranking lists, domestic cats will continue to lead feline ownership, and human-style names are set to remain firmly in favour.”
