Every Australian state and territory's most popular dog breeds revealed

But which breed of man's best friend is really Australians' favourite?

According to microchip database Central Animal Records (CAR), three breeds rating highly in most Australian states and territories are the Maltese, Staffordshire bull terrier and Jack Russell terrier.

The Maltese ranks among the top three in all jurisdictions making it one of the most popular breeds.

Dogs Australia describes the Maltese as sweet tempered and intelligent, toy-sized with a high-maintenance coat.

The Staffordshire bull terrier, or Staffy, couldn't be more different in looks but are hailed as an all-purpose companion dog, highly intelligent and affectionate with a love of people.

Finally Jack Russell terriers, the top breed in the ACT and Victoria, are small yet have a lively and active personality.

IN OTHER NEWS:

CAR is a national database of microchipped pets including more than 3.5 million dogs as well as cats, horses and other companion animals, registered by their owners voluntarily or in line with local laws.

The database helps vet clinics, councils and authorised animal welfare organisations to find the right owner of registered lost pets.

"We know that pets are more than just microchip numbers and want to ensure that all pets can be reunited with their families if they ever go missing," CAR business management manager Reece Weeder said.

"To date, we have facilitated the recovery of over 2.2 million pets."

Here are the top dog breeds in every state and territory, according to the database.