On Tuesday, March 21, 2017, the American Kennel Club announced its annual list of the United States top dog breeds of 2016. The announcement was made on the popular morning news and talk television program, Fox and Friends, which airs daily on the Fox News Channel. We’re sharing the highlights with you along with the top ten on the list, but check out the full list with rankings here.
Most Popular Dog Breeds in the US
The #1 dog breed, for the 26th year in a row, is the Labrador Retriever. So, what is it about the Labrador Retriever that has made it the number one dog breed for 26 years in a row?
According to Gina DiNardo, the Vice President of the American Kennel Club, “The Labrador Retriever has a strong hold on the top spot, and doesn’t show signs of giving it up anytime soon. The Lab is such a versatile dog that it’s no wonder it makes a great companion for a variety of lifestyles.”
The AKC, or American Kennel Club, was founded in 1884 and is the leading purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. Currently, there are 202 dog breeds that are recognized by the AKC. In addition, the American Kennel Club also promotes the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, held in New York City; the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show, held in Orlando, Florida and the National Dog Show, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Rounding out the list of the top 10 dog breeds are: #2- German Shepherd, #3- Golden Retriever, #4- Bulldog, #5- Beagle, #6- French Bulldog, #7- Poodle, #8- Rottweiler, #9- Yorkshire Terrier and #10- Boxer. Number 8 is the highest that the Rottweiler dog breed has ranked since 1997, when it ranked at #2.
The only changes from the 2015 list is numbers 7, 8 and 9, which are between the dog breeds of Poodle, Rottweiler and Yorkshire Terrier. Coming in at #7 in 2016 is the Poodle, whereas #7 in 2015 was the Yorkshire Terrier. Ranking at #8 in 2016 is the Rottweiler, whereas #8 in 2015 was the Poodle. And coming in at #9 in 2016 is the Yorkshire Terrier, whereas #9 in 2015 was the Rottweiler.
The American Kennel Club also ranks the top dog breeds by major city. For instance, in Atlanta, Georgia in 2016, the top 5 dog breeds are Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, French Bulldog and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In Dallas, Texas, the top 5 are Labrador Retriever, Bulldog, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd and French Bulldog. In Miami, Florida, the top 5 consists of German Shepherd, French Bulldog, Labrador Retriever, Dachshund and Golden Retriever.