It's no secret that dogs are man's best friend. I've owned a dog since I was a kid and I can't ever imagine living with my dog by my side.

Dog owners are a tight-knit community, who come together to share their special bond with their four-legged family member or multiple dogs in many cases.

We've owned a beaglebull (pitbull/bagle mix) named Odessa for the last three years and she's nothing but incredible. She's a rescue dog who just needed a loving home.

When you walk around your neighborhood in New York State, you might see more dog breeds than others. I know we see a lot of labs in my South Buffalo neighborhood, but are there certain dog breeds more popular than others in the State of New York?

Turns out, there are.

According to Reader's Digest, the three most popular dog breeds in New York are:

  1. Labrador Retrievers 
  2. German Shepherds
  3. Golden Retrievers

That makes perfect sense. I've lost count how many labs and goldens I've seen in neighborhoods around Western New York. German Shepherds are beautiful dogs as well. It's a dream to have one in our family one day.

Pennsylvania has the same exact three most popular dog breeds as well.

If you're on the fence about getting a dog, definitely take the leap of faith and adopt one. So many dogs need a loving home and rescue dogs deserve a chance, since many of them are in shelters to no fault of their own.

8 Common Essential Oils that Can Be Harmful to Pets

If you enjoy using essentials oils around your home it is important you are using them safely around your pets. There are many common essential oils that can be highly toxic to your dog or cat. These 8 are very common but there are other that can be toxic too. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before using essential oils on or near you dog or cat.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

Check out these 50 fascinating facts about dogs:

KEEP LOOKING: See What 50 of America's Most 'Pupular' Dog Breeds Look Like as Puppies

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