It’s True: Charlotte Has the Cutest Dogs in the Southeast
Charlotte has the cutest dogs in the southeast, according to a panel of judges who spent a summer rating Instagram photos. The city of Charlotte ranked fourth in the country for cutest small dogs, fourth for best groomed, and first in the entire southeast.
Here is the line nobody quoted: Charlotte also posts more dog photos than all but four cities in America!
Curious to see exactly how our local pups stacked up? Let’s break down where Charlotte ranked across all the different categories.
Who Decided This?
A photo book company named Mixbook ran a social media study, published on July 24, 2023, to compare images of dogs based on the city they’re from. They asked a panel of judges to rate dog photos on Instagram that were hashtagged by city. They judged based on five criteria: cutest overall, cutest small dogs, cutest big dogs, best groomed, and cutest faces.
⚠️ Note:
The study never mentions how many judges were involved, how many photos were submitted, or what the judging scale looked like.
Charlotte’s Scorecard
WCNC Charlotte gives us a breakdown of where Charlotte ranked in all of the categories measured.But before you decide what videos to show your furry friends, you should assess what you want it to achieve for a watch session.
| Category | Charlotte’s Finish |
|---|---|
| Southeast Region | 1st |
| Cutest Small Dogs | 4th |
| Best Groomed | 4th |
| Cutest Faces | 10th |
| Cutest Big Dogs | 10th |
| Cutest Dogs Overall | 11th of 25 |
Oklahoma City took home the crown, winning Cutest Dogs Overall, with Seattle and Indianapolis behind it. While Charlotte did rank 11th out of 25 cities, the judges did note several aspects that set the city apart.
The Real Scoop: 5th in the Nation
This study has been available for three years, yet there is one statistic that no local outlet has reported on – Instagram posts.
💡 Key Insight:
Charlotte is ranked fifth in the United States for most dog photos posted on Instagram.
Charlotte dog owners really care about their pets, and that’s not something a panel of judges decided. That’s Charlotte’s dog parents choosing to celebrate their pups thousands of times over.
How Much of an Impact Did the Southeast Make?
Out of the entire study, only 25 of the largest U.S. cities and ten international cities were judged. When it comes to the southeast, only Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Nashville made the cut. The study ranked by city-limits population, so Atlanta, Miami, Memphis, and Louisville missed the top 25 despite their large metro areas.
| Who Is Counting | Charlotte’s Top Breeds |
|---|---|
| American Kennel Club* (Updated March 2026) |
French bulldog, golden retriever, Labrador retriever, German shepherd, poodle |
| U.S. News, Via Axios* (Updated August 2025) |
Labrador retriever, American pit bull terrier, golden doodle |
The American Kennel Club counted based on purebred registrations, while U.S. News and World Report used pet insurance policies. Because of this, the AKC will not show breeds like Golden Doodles since they are not a registrable breed.
We See a Lot of Charlotte Dogs – The Judges Weren’t Wrong
Pet Palace operates two area locations, in Charlotte and Charlotte South, and sees a large sample of the city’s dogs every week. We also get to interact with the owners of the dogs, and can attest to the fact that they are incredibly well-loved.
It’s no surprise Charlotte ranked fifth overall for dog posts! Owners here are devoted to their pets and they prove it by bringing them into Pet Palace to get the top-tier care they deserve.
Categories: All Posts, Cats, Dogs, Pet Adoption, Tips for Your Pets