Most Popular AKC Dog Breeds for 2015

Which dog breed is the most popular? According to the AKC, the Labrador Retriever is number one again – for the 25th consecutive year. The German Shepherd was #2 and the Golden Retriever ranked third. The rest of the top 10 included the Bulldog, Beagle, French Bulldog, Yorkshire Terrier, Poodle, Rottweiler, and Boxer. Coming in at #11 was the German Shorthaired Pointer, a breed that includes this year’s Westminster Best in Show winner, CJ.

My favorite breed, the Chihuaha, came in 28th according to the AKC, though first in the Newcomb household.

The statistics reflect puppies and other newly registered dogs. The AKC does not release raw numbers, only rankings. They don’t include mixed-breed dogs (or hybrids such as Labradoodles and maltipoos that aren’t AKC-recognized breeds).

According to AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo, “Americans ‘like easy-to-care-for, fun family dogs,’ whether that means big, strong animals that can protect their families or small pets with big-dog personalities.” says AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo. The Lab is known for being easygoing, multitalented and friendly. And they have held the top spot for longer than any other breed since the AKC started counting in the 1880s.

 

ABOUT THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER:

• Breed was officially recognized by the AKC in 1917.
• They come in three main colors – yellow, black and chocolate.
• Labs excel as guide dogs for the blind, as part of search-and-rescue teams or in narcotics detection with law enforcement.
• Considered a great family dog but one that demands a lot of exercise including swimming and fetching games.
• Average size for male is 22.5-24.5 inches tall and weighing 65-80 pounds.
• Average size for female is 21.5-23.5 inches tall and weighing 55-70 pounds.

THE TOP 100 [source: AKC.org]

Labrador Retriever German Shepherd Dog Golden Retriever Bulldog Beagle French Bulldog Yorkshire Terrier Poodle Rottweiler Boxer German Shorthaired Pointer Siberian Husky Dachshund Doberman Pinscher Great Dane Miniature Schnauzer Australian Shepherd Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Shih Tzu Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pomeranian Boston Terrier Shetland Sheepdog Havanese Mastiff

Brittany English Springer Spaniel Chihuahua Bernese Mountain Dog Cocker Spaniel Maltese Vizsla Pug Weimaraner Cane Corso Collie Newfoundland Border Collie Basset Hound Rhodesian Ridgeback West Highland White Terrier Chesapeake Bay Retriever Bullmastiff Bichons Frise Shiba Inu Akita Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Papillon Bloodhound St. Bernard

Belgian Malinois Portuguese Water Dog Airedale Terrier Alaskan Malamute Bull Terrier Australian Cattle Dog Whippet Scottish Terrier Chinese Shar-Pei English Cocker Spaniel Samoyed Dalmatian Dogues de Bordeaux Miniature Pinscher Lhasa Apso Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Great Pyrenees German Wirehaired Pointer Irish Wolfhound Cairn Terrier Italian Greyhound Irish Setter Chow Chow Old English Sheepdog Chinese Crested

Cardigan Welsh Corgi American Staffordshire Terrier Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Staffordshire Bull Terrier Pekingese Giant Schnauzer Border Terrier Bouviers des Flandres Keeshonden Coton de Tulear Flat-Coated Retriever Basenji Norwegian Elkhound Borzoi Tibetan Terrier Standard Schnauzer Anatolian Shepherd Dog Leonberger Wire Fox Terrier Brussels Griffon English Setter Japanese Chin Belgian Tervuren Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Afghan Hound

 

RESOURCES:
http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/
http://view.ceros.com/akc/most-popular-breeds-in-america-akc/p/1
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3458417/Labrador-retrievers-hit-25th-year-US-dog-breed.html
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/labradorretrievers.html