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  • Posted Feb. 2, 2013 12:01 a.m.
  • The Ruff Report: Dogs and Surveys


  • Where does your dog's breed rank in popularity?

    The Labrador Retriever, the dog known best for its happy-go-lucky, fun-loving demeanor, is the most popular purebred dog in America for the 22th consecutive year, and larger breeds, such as the Golden Retriever, are fetching more interest from dog lovers.

    The American Kennel Club, which has released its list of the 10 most popular purebred dogs for 2012 based upon the organization's registration statistics, says bigger breeds, such as Bulldogs and Rottweilers, are gaining in popularity.

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    "Bigger breeds are making their move," AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson states in a media release. "The popularity of the pint-sized, portable pooch just gave way to a litter of larger breeds in the top 10. These predictable, durable, steady breeds, like Labs and Goldens, are great with kids and offer the whole family more dog to love."

    The Labrador Retriever's hold on first place for the 22nd straight year ties the Poodle, which at one point held the top spot for 22 years. The German Shepherd remains the second most popular purebred dog, placing in the same position it has held since 2009, and Golden Retriever has pushed its way into the third spot. The Beagle has slipped from third to fourth.

    Even though the Beagle has slipped a bit, Peterson says the breed is still a family favorite, too. "The Beagle's merry personality combined with his love of outdoor activities make him such a wonderful family pet," she said.

    The other dogs rounding out the top 10 are: Bulldog, fifth; Yorkshire Terrier, sixth; Boxer, seventh; Poodle, eighth; Rottweiler, ninth; Dachshund,10th.

    The Bulldog's move into fifth place came at the expense of the tiny Yorkshire Terrier, which dropped into sixth place, and Rottweilers moved into ninth by supplanting the Dachshund, which dropped to 10th.

    According to the AKC, notable trends in 2012 involve:
    • Sporting breeds gaining in popularity. The Spinone Italiano moved up from 123 to 114, Boykin Spaniel from 138 to 116 and Welsh Springer Spaniel from 130 to 125.
    • Small breeds slipping in popularity. The Chihuahua dropped from 14 to 18, Pomeranian from 17 to 19 and Pug from 26 to 30.
    Trends during the past decade include:
    • Mastiff-type breeds rising in rank. The Mastiff jumped from 34 to 26 and the Bullmastiff from 47 to 39. The Cane Corso has moved up from 67 to 60, Neapolitan Mastiff from 116 to 112 and Dogue de Bordeaux from 69 to 67 since the year they became recognized.
    •  "Bully" breeds rising in popularity. The Bull Terrier has moved up from 79 to 51, Staffordshire Bull Terrier from 91 to 76 and Miniature Bull Terrier from 132 to 126.
    The dogs that placed in the top 10 in 2011 are: Labrador Retriever, first; German Shepherd, second; Beagle, third; Golden Retriever, fourth; Yorkshire Terrier, fifth; Bulldog, sixth; Boxer, seventh; Poodle, eighth; Dachshund, ninth; Rottweiler, 10th.

    The dogs that placed in the top 10 in 2010 are: Labrador Retriever, first; German Shepherd, second; Yorkshire Terrier, third; Beagle, fourth, Golden Retriever, fifth; Bulldog, sixth; Boxer, seventh; Dachshund, eighth; Poodle, ninth; Shih Tzu, 10th.

    More reports about dogs and surveys:

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    AKC's 2012 ranking list

    1. Labrador Retriever
    2. German Shepherd
    3. Golden Retriever
    4. Beagle
    5. Bulldog
    6. Yorkshire Terrier
    7. Boxer
    8. Poodle
    9. Rottweiler
    10. Dachshund
    11. Shih Tzu
    12. Doberman Pinscher
    13. Miniature Schnauzer
    14. French Bulldog
    15. German Shorthaired Pointer
    16. Siberian Huskey
    17. Great Dane
    18. Chihuahua
    19. Pomeranian
    20. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
    21. Shetland Sheepdog
    22. Australian Shepherd
    23. Boston Terrier
    24. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
    25. Maltese
    26. Mastiff
    27. Cocker Spaniel
    28. Havanese
    29. English Springer Spaniel
    30. Pug
    31. Brittany
    32. Weimaraner
    33.    Bernese Mountain Dog
    34. Vizsla
    35. Collie
    36. West Highland White Terrier
    37. Papillon
    38. Bichons Frises
    39. Bullmastiff
    40. Basset Hound
    41. Rhodesian Ridgeback
    42. Newfoundland
    43. Russell Terriers
    44. Border Collie
    45. Akita
    46. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
    47. Miniature Pinscher
    48. Bloodhound
    49. St. Bernard
    50. Shiba Inu
    51. Bull Terrier
    52. Chinese Shar-Pei
    53. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    54. Airedale Terrier
    55. Portuguese Water Dog
    56. Whippet
    57. Alaskan Malamute
    58. Scottish Terrier
    59. Australian Cattle Dog
    60. Cane Corso
    61. Lhasa Apso
    62. Chinese Crested
    63. Cairn Terriers
    64. English Cocker Spaniel
    65. Dalmatian
    66. Italian Greyhound
    67. Dogues de Bordeaux
    68. Samoyed
    69. Chow Chow
    70. German Wirehaired Pointer
    71. Belgian Malinois
    72. Great Pyrenees
    73. Pekingese
    74. Irish Setter
    75. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
    76. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
    77. Irish Wolfhound
    78. Old English Sheepdog
    79. American Staffordshire Terrier
    80. Bouviers des Flandres
    81. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
    82. Japanese Chin
    83. Tibetan Terrier
    84. Brussels Griffon
    85. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
    86. Border Terrier
    87. English Setter
    88. Basenjis
    89. Standard Schnauzer
    90. Silky Terrier
    91. Flat-Coated Retriever
    92. Norwich Terrier
    93. Afghan Hound
    94. Giant Schnauzers
    95. Borzoi
    96. Wire Fox Terrier
    97. Parson Russell Terrier
    98. Schipperke
    99. Gordon Setter
    100. Treeing Walker Coonhound
    101. Keeshonden
    102. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
    103. Toy Fox Terrier
    104. Leonberger
    105. Norwegian Elkhound
    106. Belgian Tervuren
    107. Anatolian Shepherd Dogs
    108. Welsh Terrier
    109. Black and Tan Coonhound
    110. Pointers
    111. Tibetan Spaniel
    112. Neapolitan Mastiff
    113. American Eskimo
    114. Spinoni Italiani
    115. Smooth Fox Terrier
    116. Boykin Spaniel
    117. Bearded Collie
    118. Saluki
    119. Norfolk Terrier
    120. Black Russian Terrier
    121. Manchester Terrier
    122. Briard
    123. Australian Terrier
    124. Belgian Sheepdog
    125. Welsh Springer Spaniel
    126. Miniature Bull Terrier
    127. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
    128. Kerry Blue Terrier
    129. Tibetan Mastiff
    130. Irish Terrier
    131. Clumber Spaniel
    132. Redbone Coonhound
    133. Bluetick Coonhound
    134. English Toy Spaniel
    135. Lakeland Terrier
    136. German Pinscher
    137. Xoloitzcuintli
    138. Affenpinscher
    139. Scottish Deerhound
    140. Beauceron
    141. American Water Spaniel
    142. Ibizan Hound
    143. Icelandic Sheepdogs
    144. Bedlington Terrier
    145. Pulik
    146. Greyhound
    147. Field Spaniel
    148. Swedish Vallhund
    149. American English Coonhounds
    150. Plotts
    151. Kuvaszok
    152. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
    153. Curly-Coated Retriever
    154. Irish Water Spaniel
    155. Irish Red and White Setter
    156. Lowchen
    157. Entlebucher Mountain Dog
    158. Pharaoh Hound
    159. Canaan Dog
    160. Finnish Spitz
    161. Sealyham Terrier
    162. Glen of Imaal Terrier
    163. Norwegian Buhund
    164. Finnish Lapphund
    165. Pyrenean Shepherd
    166. Skye Terrier
    167. Sussex Spaniel
    168. Otterhound
    169. Komondorok
    170. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    171. Harriers
    172. American Foxhound
    173. Norwegian Lundehunds
    174. CeskyTerriers
    175.    English Foxhound

    AKC's 2011 ranking list

    1. Labrador Retriever
    2. German Shepherd
    3. Beagle
    4. Golden Retriever
    5. Yorkshire Terrier
    6. Bulldog
    7. Boxer
    8. Poodle
    9. Dachshund
    10. Rottweiler
    11. Shih Tzu
    12. Miniature Schnauzer
    13. Doberman Pinscher
    14. Chihuahua
    15. German Shorthaired Pointer
    16. Siberian Huskey
    17. Pomeranian
    18. French Bulldog
    19. Great Dane
    20. Shetland Sheepdog
    21. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
    22. Boston Terrier
    23. Maltese
    24. Australian Shepherd
    25. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
    26. Pug
    27. Cocker Spaniel
    28. Mastiff
    29. English Springer Spaniel
    30. Brittany
    31. Havanese
    32. Weimaraner
    33.     American English Coonhound
    34. Bernese Mountain Dog
    35. West Highland White Terrier
    36. Collie
    37. Vizsla
    38. Papillon
    39. Bichons Frises
    40. Bullmastiff
    41. Basset Hound
    42. Miniature Pinscher
    43. Newfoundland
    44. Rhodesian Ridgeback
    45. Border Collie
    46. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
    47. Akita
    48. Bloodhound
    49. St. Bernard
    50. Chinese Shar-Pei
    51. Bull Terrier
    52. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    53. Shiba Inu
    54. Scottish Terrier
    55. Airedale Terrier
    56. Portuguese Water Dog
    57. Whippet
    58. Alaskan Malamute
    59. Cairn Terrier
    60. Australian Cattle Dog
    61. Chinese Crested
    62. Lhasa Apso
    63. English Cocker Spaniel
    64. Pekingese
    65. Italian Greyhound
    66. Dogues de Bordeaux
    67. Cane Corso
    68. Chow Chow
    69. Samoyed
    70. Irish Setter
    71. Great Pyrenees
    72. American Staffordshire Terrier
    73. Dalmatian
    74. Belgian Malinois
    75. German Wirehaired Pointer
    76. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
    77. Brussels Griffon
    78. Japanese Chin
    79. Irish Wolfhound
    80. Border Terrier
    81. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
    82. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
    83. Bouviers des Flandres
    84. Old English Sheepdog
    85. Silky Terrie
    86. Tibetan Terrier
    87. English Setter
    88. Afghan Hound
    89. Norwich Terrier
    90. Flat-Coated Retriever
    91. Standard Schnauzer
    92. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
    93. Basenjis
    94. Gordon Setter
    95. Giant Schnauzers
    96. Norwegian Elkhound
    97. Parson Russell Terrier
    98. Keeshonden
    99. Welsh Terrier
    100. Wire Fox Terrier
    101. Toy Fox Terrier
    102. Borzoi
    103. Leonberger
    104.     Finnish Lapphund
    105.     Schipperke
    106.     Cesky Terrier
    107.     Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
    108. Belgian Tervuren
    109. Black and Tan Coonhound
    110. Neapolitan Mastiff
    111. Anatolian Shepherd Dog
    112. Bearded Collie
    113. Smooth Fox Terrier
    114. Tibetan Spaniel
    115. Pointers
    116. American Eskimo
    117. Saluki
    118. Belgian Sheepdog
    119. Manchester Terrier
    120. Norfolk Terrier
    121. Australian Terrier
    122. Tibetan Mastiff
    123. Spinoni Italiani
    124. Kerry Blue Terrier
    125. Briard
    126. Redbone Coonhound
    127. Miniature Bull Terrier
    128. Black Russian Terrier
    129. English Toy Spaniel
    130. Welsh Springer Spaniel
    131. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
    132. Irish Terrie
    133. Clumber Spaniel
    134. Bedlington Terrier
    135. Lakeland Terrier
    136. Bluetick Coonhound
    137. German Pinscher
    138. Boykin Spaniel
    139. Affenpinscher
    140. Greyhound
    141. Field Spaniels
    142. Scottish Deerhound
    143. Icelandic Sheepdogs
    144. Beauceron
    145. Plotts
    146.     Entlebucher Mountain Dog
    147. Irish Red and White Setter
    148. Kuvaszok
    149. Ibizan Hound
    150. Irish Water Spaniel
    151. Pharaoh Hound
    152. Lowchen
    153. Swedish Vallhund
    154. Curly-Coated Retriever
    155.     Xoloitzcuintli
    156.     Pulik
    157. American Water Spaniel
    158. Glen of Imaal Terrier
    159. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
    160. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    161. Sussex Spaniel
    162. Pyrenean Shepherd
    163. Sealyham Terrier
    164. Skye Terrier
    165. Norwegian Buhund
    166. Komondorok
    167. Finnish Spitz
    168. Canaan Dog
    169. Otterhound
    170.     Norwegian Lundehunds
    171.     English Foxhound
    172. Harriers
    173. American Foxhound

    AKC's 2010 ranking list

    1. Labrador Retriever
    2. German Shepherd
    3. Yorkshire Terrier
    4. Beagle
    5. Golden Retriever
    6. Bulldog
    7. Boxer
    8. Dachshund
    9. Poodle
    10. Shih Tzu
    11. Rottweiler
    12. Miniature Schnauzer
    13. Chihuahua
    14. Doberman Pinscher
    15. Pomeranian
    16. German Shorthair Pointer
    17. Great Dane
    18. Siberian Husky
    19. Shetland Sheepdog
    20. Boston Terrier
    21. French Bulldog
    22. Maltese
    23. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
    24. Pug
    25. Cocker Spaniel
    26. Australian Shepherd
    27. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
    28. Mastiff
    29. English Springer Spaniel
    30. Brittany
    31. Havanese
    32. Weimaraner
    33. Leonberger
    34. West Highland White Terrier
    35. Papillon
    36. Basset Hound
    37. Bichons Frise
    38. Collie
    39. Bernese Mountain Dog
    40. Miniature Pinscher
    41. Vizsla
    42. Bullmastiff
    43. Bloodhound
    44. Newfoundland
    45. St. Bernard
    46. Rhodesian Ridgeback
    47. Border Collie
    48. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
    49. Akita
    50. Chinese Shar-Pei
    51. Cane Corso
    52. Scottish Terrier
    53. Bull Terrier
    54. Airedale Terrier
    55. Portuguese Water Dog
    56. Cairn Terrier
    57. Chinese Crested
    58. Alaskan Malamute
    59. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    60. Whippet
    61. Pekingese
    62. Lhasa Apso
    63. Shiba Inu
    64. Australian Cattle Dog
    65. Chow Chow
    66. English Cocker Spaniel
    67. Italian Greyhound
    68. Dogues de Bordeaux
    69. Dalmatian
    70. American Staffordshire Terrier
    71. Great Pyrenees
    72. Samoyed
    73. German Wirehair Pointer
    74. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
    75. Japanese Chin
    76. Belgian Malinois
    77. Irish Setter
    78. Silky Terrier
    79. Irish Wolfhound
    80. Brussels Griffon
    81. Old English Sheepdog
    82. Icelandic Sheepdog
    83. Border Terrier
    84. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
    85. Bouviers des Flandre
    86. Afghan Hound
    87. Keeshonden 
    88. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
    89. Basenji
    90. Tibetan Terrier
    91. Black and Tan Coonhound
    92. Parson Russell Terrier
    93. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
    94. Giant Schnauzer
    95. Standard Schnauzer
    96. Borzois
    97. Wire Fox Terrier
    98. Gordon Setter
    99. Toy Fox Terrier
    100. Norwich Terrier
    101. English Setter
    102. Schipperke
    103. Flat-Coated Retriever
    104. Tibetan Spaniel
    105. Welsh Terrier
    106. Norwegian Elkhounds
    107. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
    108. Belgian Tervuren
    109. Anatolian Shepherd
    110. Smooth Fox Terrier
    111. Pointer
    112. Bearded Collie
    113. Neapolitan Mastiff
    114. American Eskimo
    115. Saluki
    116. Belgian Sheepdog
    117. Norfolk Terrier
    118. Spinoni Italiani
    119. Bluetick Coonhound
    120. Kerry Blue Terrier
    121. Manchester Terrier
    122. Redbone Coonhound
    123. Australian Terrier
    124. Tibetan Mastiff
    125. Briard
    126. English Toy Spaniel
    127. Welsh Springer Spaniel
    128. Irish Terrier
    129. Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeen
    130. Miniature Bull Terrier
    131. Clumber Spaniel
    132. Field Spaniel
    133. Boykin Spaniel
    134. Plott
    135. Black Russian Terrier
    136. Affenpinscher
    137. Lakeland Terrier
    138. German Pinscher
    139. Greyhound
    140. Bedlington Terrier
    141. Scottish Deerhound
    142. Swedish Vallhund
    143. American Water Spaniel
    144. Kuvaszok
    145. Pulik
    146. Curly-Coated Retriever
    147. Lowchen
    148. Irish Water Spaniel
    149. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
    150. Irish Red and White Setter
    151. Ibizan Hound
    152. Sealyham Terrier
    153. Beauceron
    154. Komondorok
    155. Sussex Spaniel
    156. Pharaoh Hound
    157. Glen of Imaal Terrier
    158. Finnish Spitz
    159. Norwegian Buhund
    160. Skye Terrier
    161. Otterhound
    162. Pyrenean Shepherd
    163. Canaan
    164. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
    165. Harrier
    166. American Foxhound
    167. English Foxhound

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