The American Kennel Club® recently unveiled it's Top 10 breeds in America. While the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in the country once again—a spot it has held since 1991 the Yorkshire Terrier, fondly called the "Yorkie" by millions of enthusiasts, has overtaken the beloved Golden Retriever and the iconic German Shepherd Dog to become the second most popular purebred dog in America according to AKC® registration figures.
"We have been closely tracking dog ownership trends and AKC data reveals that the popularity of smaller breeds continues to grow over the last decade," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Not since the Boston Terrier* hit the top nearly 70 years ago has a small breed worked its way to such a high spot on the list."
"Dogs have become a fixture in the American family. The recent rise of the Yorkie proves that many modern dog owners prefer a portable, pint-sized pet that fits their modern, fast-paced lifestyle," added Peterson.
2006 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Dachshund
7. Boxer
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Miniature Schnauzer
Despite the prevalence of the Yorkie and the increased popularity of other small breeds, the Top 10 once again includes four large breeds all known for their intelligence, versatility and ability to be a loving family companion -- the Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever and Boxer. The German Shepherd Dog rose in popularity to third in 2006.
TOP 50 CITIES:
The AKC also looked at the Top 10 breeds in the nation's 50 largest cities. Click here to find your city.
Some key findings:
• Among major U.S. cities, the Bulldog makes the Top 10 in 27 cities, followed by the Pug in 22 cities, the Rottweiler in 15 cities, the Chihuahua in 14 cities and the Pomeranian in eight cities.
• Other breeds that made multiple appearances on the local lists but were not in the national Top 10 include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer, Shetland Sheepdog, Maltese, English Springer Spaniel and the Boston Terrier.
• Knoxville is the only major city in America with the same Top 10 breeds as the national list.
• Milwaukee is the only city that does not include the popular Yorkshire Terrier on its local Top 10 list.
AKC registration statistics are compiled from Jan. 1- December 31 of the previous year. In 2006, AKC registered 153 different breeds.
© 2007 The American Kennel Club, Inc.
