The pandemic pet boom may have passed, but dogs are still having their day in Natick. The town now boasts 3,693 licensed canines, up modestly from last year’s 3,621, according to data shared with us by the Town Clerk’s office.

As the total number of dogs begins to stabilize, so have Natick’s top names and breeds.

Luna, a name which has risen steadily since 2020, secured the number one spot once again, cementing a two-year reign. Another win for Luna means Natick remains in sync with Wellesley, where Luna is also the No. 1 name. With 51 Lunas in Natick, only a slight dip from last year, it doesn’t look like that status will be changing anytime soon.

Luna dog — Luna, age 8, breed described as “rescue” by Mom. A Covid adoption from May 2020.

While most spots on the list are determined by only one or two more dogs, Luna is a full 16 ahead of the second-place choice, Rosie. Rosie has also been on the rise since 2020. However, unlike Luna, which started in 4th and steadily worked its way to first, Rosie began as something of an underdog in 10th and has since pawed its way to second

Rosie dog — Rosie, the author’s family’s 4-year-old cockapoo

Movement on the Top 10 list is relatively limited, but there is one newcomer: Penny. Falling off the list is Bailey.

Perennially popular names like Max, Daisy, and Bella continue to hold strong.

Top Dog Names in Natick (2025):

Luna (51)
Rosie (35)
Bella (34)
Charlie (31)
Daisy (30)
Max (28)
Lucy (27)
Winnie (26)
Penny (25)
Cooper (24)

Top breeds

As with names, Natick’s top breeds haven’t changed much year over year. Mixed breeds remain Natick’s top dog, with 609 mutts leading the pack—an impressive 17.7% of the total. Like Luna, that spot will be hard to topple as mixed breeds are 319 dogs ahead of Natick’s second favorite breed, Labrador Retrievers.

Labs are holding firm to that second spot with a total of 290. They are followed closely by Golden Retrievers, and the designer hybrids: Goldendoodles and Labradoodles.

From there, the list takes a turn toward smaller companion dogs, including Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Interestingly, rounding off the list is the Labrador retriever once again, this time with its specific black and yellow variations (we could have consolidated all of the labs, though that wouldn’t have changed the top standings). In fact, yellow labs represent the only significant change on this list, having taken the spot of the Australian Shepherd. Otherwise, there’s been some slight shuffling at the bottom, but this year’s figures are just about the same as last year’s.

Top Dog Breeds in Natick (2025):