All dogs need a home, and during the COVID pandemic, many Americans adopted a new pooch as they felt a dog would be a great companion during a very difficult time where for many, companionship was hard to come by.

As a result of the increased interest in our four-legged BFFs, there is no breed more likely to find one in the state of Iowa than a bulldog. They're our favorite breed, at least to research. The website Honest Paw put out a list of the most Googled dog breed by U.S. state, and Iowans are Googling bulldogs more than any other breed. But why?

Bulldogs are having a moment... everywhere

The American Kennel Club recently had a whole story on the rising popularity of the French Bulldog, stating the breed was the second most popular dog breed in the country. Now, is it possible when looking at Google search trends Americans were simply searching for the difference between a French bulldog and an English one? Lord know I did that search - oh and if you're wondering, English bulldogs tend to be a little larger. Maybe that's part of it. But it also doesn't hurt that bulldogs have been among the most popular breeds in the U.S. and internationally for decades now.

In much of Europe, they became popular during the Second World War when they became likened to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was in strong opposition to Nazi Germany. Though, why you'd adopt an animal because it looks like a person is a bit beyond me.

Other states are gaga for bulldogs, too

Iowa is in good company, 10 other states also searched for 'Bulldogs' more than any other breed. The Havanese came in a distant second. They were the most search breed in five states while cocker spaniels, golden retrievers, and German shepherds were most popular in a couple of states. Pitbulls did not make the list. That's ruffff.

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.

Hilarious Iowa DOT Signs

Anyone else share a sense of humor with a state's Department of Transportation? Just me? Well, every Monday the Iowa Department of Transportation puts up a sometimes hilarious, sometimes straightforward message on their road signs across the state. This is called "message Monday" and Iowa DOT tries to entertain and educate drivers through these signs. Here are just a few of our favorites.

 

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