The Labrador Retriever tops the American Kennel Club’s annual list of most popular dog breeds
Each year, the AKC, a non-profit purebred dog registry in the United States, uses its registration data to compile a list of the most popular breeds. This year, the Lab was joined by the French Bulldog, Golden Retriever and German Shepherd in the top spots, with most dogs retaining their popularity as of 2020.
However, there have been some upheavals in the rankings. The poodle – a water dog known for its distinctive curly fur – smashed its way into the top five for the first time since 1997, beating the bulldog. And the Field Spaniel, a medium-sized dog, climbed 24 places to 136th place.
The Biewer terrier, a long-haired toy dog first recognized by the AKC in 2021, debuted in the rankings at #83.
- labrador retriever
- french bulldog
- Golden retriever
- German shepherd
- Poodle
- Bulldog
- Beagle
- Rottweiler
- german shorthaired pointer
- Dachshund
The dogs are in demand largely due to their versatility and laid-back temperament, according to the AKC. Labs are also popular guide and rescue dogs because they can easily be trained to perform a variety of tasks.