Top US Dog Breeds: Which Pups Made The Cut?
The top U.S. dog breeds for 2014 were released today by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Did your favorite canine breed place first? If you’re pulling for Labrador retrievers, you’re in luck.
For the 24th year in a row, the Labrador retriever grabbed the top spot in AKC’s “Top 10 Breeds” award, the Wall Street Journal reports. While it certainly shows that the U.S. loves those amiable Labradors, it was the poodle, known for their intelligence and pride, that once held a decade-long achievement as “top dog” until the friendly, outgoing Labrador broke the record in 2013.
It’s the Labrador retriever’s congenial nature coupled with an enthusiasm to partake in just about any kind of game that helps the breed rank so high, year after year. According to the AKC, the rankings are primarily based on how many dogs in each breed are registered with the club, which include recently-enrolled dogs and puppies.
Per fans and breeders, such as Micki Beerman, of Brooklyn, it’s the breed’s intuitive nature and caring manners for children that make them so popular. AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo agrees, but thinks that the lovable Labrador may have some competition in the steadfast Bulldog.
“The Lab truly is America’s dog, but the lovable Bulldog breeds are clamoring to dominate. Watch out for an upset next year.”
In fact, bulldogs are steadily climbing in popularity so much that they reached No. 4 this year. Additionally, the French bulldog landed in the top 10 for the first time in close to 100 years. Bulldog lovers are happy to see their slobbery, flat-faced friends make into the top 10, but given that the breed is known to be charming yet persistent, it’s not much of a surprise to people who know the breed well.
For decades, the AKC has held the largest registry of purebred canines in the U.S. in an effort to educate the public about different types of dog and accentuate each breed’s positive attributes as companions. With numerous stories and research on dog personalities and what they can reveal about you, AKC offers various types of programs and contests to help the public better understand dog breeds. Some examples include the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, obedience trials, hunt tests, and, of course, the yearly “Top 10” award.
The full list of the top U.S. dog breeds for 2014 are as follows.
- Labrador Retriever
- German Sheperd
- Golden Retriever
- Bulldog
- Beagle
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Poodle
- Boxer
- French Bulldog
- Rottweiller
[Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons/User:Habj]
