For the 28th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is once again the most popular breed according to the American Kennel Club registry list for 2018. Statistics were released on March 20, 2019 as AKC registration continues to expand for the sixth year in a row. Rankings were determined by tracking a year’s worth of national registrations for purebred dogs. You can find out more about AKC’s dog and litter registration here.
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Also of note, March 23rd is National Puppy Day! The event was established in 2006 as a way to promote dog adoption and educate the public about puppy mills. “Puppies are the most trusting and joyous creatures on the planet,” said National Puppy Day founder, Colleen Paige. “Oh, to be more like a puppy.” [source]
You can join in on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nationalpuppyday/ or find out more at www.nationalpuppyday.com.
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And now back to the rankings…
This year’s Top 10 remain little changed from last year’s rankings, with the exception of the 9th and 10th spots switching places.
1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Golden Retriever
4. French Bulldog
5. Bulldog
6. Beagle
7. Poodle
8. Rottweiler
9. German Shorthaired Pointer
10. Yorkshire Terrier
You can read about last year’s rankings from a previous post.
If you are wondering why the Labrador Retriever is so popular, you can look to the insights from three longtime breeders according to the AKC. “Linda Maffett, of Bellingham, Washington; Judy Heim, of Turlock, California; and Erin Henlon-Hall, of Villa Ridge, Missouri, all cite versatility, stable temperament, friendliness, trainability, and athleticism as just a few of its special qualities.” According to Maffett, “The qualities I focus on when placing my puppies in pet homes are the same as I am in looking for in a pup to keep for myself – temperament, temperament, temperament, and, of course, overall health and breed type.” [source]
Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2018
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Most Popular Dog Breeds By City
Atlanta Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever German Shepherd Dog French Bulldog Bulldog |
Boston Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever German Shepherd Dog French Bulldog Yorkshire Terrier |
Chicago Labrador Retriever German Shepherd Dog Golden Retriever French Bulldog Bulldog |
Dallas Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever French Bulldog Bulldog German Shepherd Dog |
Denver Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever German Shepherd Dog Bulldog French Bulldog |
Houston Labrador Retriever Bulldog French Bulldog German Shepherd Dog Golden Retriever |
Los Angeles French Bulldog Bulldog Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever German Shepherd Dog |
Miami German Shepherd Dog French Bulldog Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever Rottweiler |
New York City French Bulldog Labrador Retriever Bulldog German Shepherd Dog Golden Retriever |
Raleigh Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever German Shepherd Dog Beagle Yorkshire Terrier |
San Francisco French Bulldog Golden Retriever Labrador Retriever Pembroke Welsh Corgi Poodle |
Seattle Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever French Bulldog German Shepherd Dog Pembroke Welsh Corgi |
Washington D.C. Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever French Bulldog Bulldog Poodle |
West Palm Beach French Bulldog Labrador Retriever German Shepherd Dog Golden Retriever Bulldog |
RESOURCES
AKC’s Most Popular Dog Breeds (2017) [dogshowconfidential.com]
Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2018 [akc.org]
Most Popular Breeds by City [akc.org]
The 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds in the Country [countryliving.com]