Most Popular Dog In U.S. Is Labrador Retriever: American Kennel Club

NEW YORK — The American Kennel Club says the Labrador retriever is the most popular dog in America for the 20th straight year.

The German shepherd is ranked second, with the Yorkshire terrier third, the beagle fourth and golden retriever fifth.

The AKC also has added three dogs to its list of registered breeds.

They include an ancient Mexican breed, the Xoloitzcuintli (shoh-loh-eets-KWEEN'-tlee). The calm, "noble," pointy-eared dog – also called Xolo (SHOH'-loh), comes in three sizes. Some varieties are hairless.

The Norwegian Lundehund (LUN'-du-hun) is handsome, athletic and playful. The sure-footed dogs hunted Puffins on treacherous cliffs before the bird became a protected species.

The Entlebucher (ehnt-lu-boo-KAHR') Mountain Dog made its mark as a cattle herder in Switzerland. The floppy-eared breed is described as energetic, loyal and "persistent."

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Online: http://www.akc.org

Comments

[BCrumbles]

08:40 AM on 02/01/2011

Any dog in my opinion has the opportunity to be a great pet. I have 3 rescue dogs that are all mixes and couldn't have asked for better pets. I currently have 2 rescue puppies that were rescued when they were 13 days old because the current owner refused to seek veterinarian care when one of the pups fell gravely ill. I ended up taking him and the runt and they are now 5 weeks old and thriving. They too, are black lab mixes and you can already see a loving personality- and spunk. They will need homes in about 3 weeks and hand raising these little guys has been so rewarding. They are truly my little babies. Please consider rescuing a dog if you are looking for that perfect family member. Shelter/Rescue dogs are amazing, amazing animals.

[Ramus]

10:46 PM on 01/31/2011

I inherited this dog from my adult child when the family moved to the U.K. before the quarantine law was changed. They looked for mellow, and good tempered as they were about to have a baby. He was GREAT with the baby and really mourned the family after the moved away. I was so rough on him even though he knew me and had spent days and days at my place. He is one great dog. I've also had Wirehaird Pointing Griffons (smarter than the poodle and this is not a good thing) and a very sweet mutt. The mutt from the animal shelter was a bit skittish and I could not trust her around small children. However, I've known many great mixed breeds. If my current Standard Poodle leaves his body I shall likely get a used Standard, and this time a female.

[SweetJudith]

10:31 PM on 01/30/2011

Please go to your shelter, there's a best friend waiting to go home with you and be a friend for life. Always respect and love him or her....

[DrFelch]

02:31 PM on 01/30/2011

This is BS. The Lab, a great dog, obviously, is the most popular pedigreed, purebred dog in America. The most popular dog overall is the American Pitbull Terrier. There are over 250,000 in NYC alone. Pitbulls and pitbull mixes are ubiquitous. They are #1 by far.

[JeanRR]

09:15 AM on 01/31/2011

Yes, see my earlier comment. This is based on AKC registrations only.

[David Fruits]

01:52 PM on 01/31/2011

I don't recognize the AKC as a real organization.

[CanAmFam]

01:55 PM on 01/29/2011

Save a life. Adopt a shelter dog. They're literally dying for homes.

Unless of course you must have the status of a purebred, non-shelter dog.

[innerpuppie]

02:37 AM on 01/30/2011

I have TWO shelter dogs - both purebred. There are thousands of purebred dogs that make their way into shelters around the world. Just because they have a pedigree doesn't mean someone won't toss them out. Bottom line - you want a dog or cat - ADOPT FROM YOUR LOCAL SHELTER.

[Enrique Navarro]

11:44 AM on 01/30/2011

Owning or breeding a purebred dog is not something bad my friend. When you get a purebred dog you know what you are getting. You know, the size, temperament, activity level, characteristics, skills, etc, etc. Many people want to know what they are bringing into their house before doing so.
I do think people should do more research before getting a dog, so that so many dogs won't end up in shelters. I just don't agree with people who think that anything other than their point of view is wrong. There are very valid reasons for adopting a shelter dog, but there are also many good reasons for getting a purebred dog. Maybe you should read my last article about this topic:

http://thegermanshepherddogbreed.blogspot.com/2011/01/german-shepherd-dog-breed-where-to-find.html

[innerpuppie]

12:49 PM on 01/30/2011

I totally understand your point. I have been a GSD person for decades and if not for a breeder I wouldn't have had the pleasure to spend my life with my breed of choice. However, my last three GSDs came from a shelter- all puppies - all tossed out shortly after someone had just spent 100s of dollars to a breeder. These were purebred dogs - all of them. I'm sure that when the breeder took the money from the adopter he or she didn't think that the pup they bred would end up neglected or homeless but - they did. In one instance I located the breeder and he expressed NO interest whatsoever in taking his puppy back but did share with me that 'some girl' paid for the dog just 10 days before.

I AGREE. If you adopt from a shelter or purchase from a breeder - DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Beagles follow their noses, greyhounds will chase down small animals, Siberians run with their hearing turned off - I could go on and on. You CAN"T take out of a dog what that dog was bred to do. It has a purpose and no matter how cute or popular - the dog is going to do what its instincts tell it to do.

[David Fruits]

01:54 PM on 01/31/2011

I work at a shelter, and purebreds are no better at anything other than costing too much and promoting puppy mills. you do NOT know what you are getting with a pure bred. They aren't born with knowledge. They all need training.

[DemFem]

06:11 PM on 01/28/2011

The Xoloitzcuintli (hairless version) was also a favorite of the ancient Aztecs & other Precolumbian Mexican groups. They raised them as food.

[MSROADKILL612]

01:49 PM on 01/28/2011

I grew up in "poor" part of a ritzy suburb near Sydney Zoo, Mosman. There was a dustman for the high street, who had an unleashed blue heeler cattle dog mutt for company. Rumour had it he was the local bookie (the dustman :)). All the shopkeepers loved him (the dog :)).

There is now a statue of him on world famous Balmoral beach. Thats what I wish for my dog.

http://www.google.com.au/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=800&bih=377&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=balmoral+beach+dog+statue&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

page 1&3

some pics of the beach

http://www.google.com.au/images?hl=en&q=balmoral+beach&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=UA5DTZX7H47JceCU0IYO&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CDQQsAQwAQ&biw=800&bih=377

[bcmom]

11:11 AM on 01/28/2011

Labs are great family dogs. Puppymillers and backyard breeders are now salivating. People need to know besides pit bulls, labs are close in numbers to be euthanized because there are so many. In the shelter and rescue world there is something called "black dog syndrome" which is mostly black dogs being the first to be euthanized and the last to be adopted. Most of these black dogs are labs and lab mixes. So can't wait for more to be dumped at the shelters and animal control facilities.

[ELS1976]

04:20 PM on 01/29/2011

When we adopted our Roxy I was surprised to hear about blac dog syndrome. People don't know what they are missing out on!

[andthatsnotall]

07:56 PM on 01/30/2011

I lost my black lab/spaniel mix long haired dog last August. She was only 7 and died suddenly. She was waiting to get into surgery but it was already occupied so she died waiting for help. She was one of the best dogs I ever had. Smart, loving and always good natured. Her name was Angel. She was all black but for a couple of white toes and an angel of white with it's wings spread out across her chest.
I got an Aussie Shepherd pup in October (a smaller sized dog) because the Pom mourned her 'big sister' so badly. The pup is mostly black. It's a shame so many people won't consider a black dog for a pet.
I'm more concerned with the personality of the dog. Is it patient? Will it be still when you put it on it's back? Or does it wiggle and struggle? A good, calm dog that will lie still for 5 seconds is a perfect pet for children. An easy test, tried and true.

[Pandoras Folly]

09:34 AM on 01/28/2011

weirmereiner is my favorite. but yea there is not bad breed of dog. they just want our love its their world.

[bigfun]

09:04 AM on 01/28/2011

fire up the puppy mills! americans want NEW dogs. shelter dogs are just too second-hand. may they rot in their tiny cages!

[MamacitaOfLove]

10:51 PM on 01/27/2011

Is there really a bad breed of canine? I've met bad owners, but rarely a bad dog. All they give is love.

[David Fruits]

02:02 PM on 01/31/2011

Chihuahua. I've been bit by 5 of them. Never by a Pit, Boxer, Mastiff. The little Napolean dogs are far more agressive. But people think it is cute because they can't do any real harm.

Rose colored glasses.

[MamacitaOfLove]

08:37 PM on 01/31/2011

Sorry for your misfortune, David.

Dogs ARE angels on Earth, in general :)

[JeanRR]

04:28 PM on 01/27/2011

Labs are not the most popular breed in America. They are the breed with the most AKC registrations. There are several other breed registries that were not counted in this poll. I suspect that pit bulls from all the different registries (especially when you throw in similar breeds that are often called pit bulls) would add up the the largest number. This is the main reason pit bulls rank here in bite statistics--there are simply more of them.

[MSROADKILL612]

02:50 AM on 01/31/2011

a sad reflection on alleged dog lovers

[JeanRR]

09:17 AM on 01/31/2011

How is this a sad reflection?

[David Fruits]

02:03 PM on 01/31/2011

Not to mention the news always reports bog bites as pits, even when it is clearly not.

[nmnana]

04:15 PM on 01/27/2011

My English Setter appreciates the "no mention". Keeps the breed one of the smartest and most loveable on the planet. She also loves that people think she's a springer spaniel for the same reason.

[unwashedmasses]

03:21 PM on 01/27/2011

PAPILLONS RULE!
(I should keep this quiet to preserve the breed!)

[MSROADKILL612]

02:54 AM on 01/31/2011

Exactly - breed inevitably come into fashion (how superficial is that), and become inbred defective, unwanted nightmares. Thank you for promoting mutts from the pound.

[ajsgmajc]

02:58 PM on 01/27/2011

Corgi are the best!

[ajsgmajc]

03:07 PM on 01/27/2011

Oops, that should have read Corgis!

[DandaPanda]

03:33 PM on 01/27/2011

yes they are!

[MSROADKILL612]

02:55 AM on 01/31/2011

Thankyou for sharing that.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

05:09 PM on 01/27/2011

Corgis are definately the best!!