For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in the US, according to 2008 registration statistics released today by the American Kennel Club (AKC). While more than twice as many Labs were registered last year than any other breed, the Bulldog continues to climb, or should I say snort, its way up the list. The breed made news last year by returning to the AKC’s Top 10 for the first time in more than 70 years and now has jumped 6%, advancing two spots to land in 8th place. Smushy faces represent!

2008 Most Popular Dogs in the US
1. Labrador retriever
2. Yorkshire terrier
3. German shepherd
4. Golden retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Bulldog
9. Poodle
10. Shih tzu

Each year, the AKC looks at the most popular breeds in the 50 largest cities in the U.S.

  • The Bulldog continues to climb the national list and is gaining popularity in western cities such as -- Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Diego – where it comes in 2nd, right after the Lab.
  • Only Honolulu, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Portland, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City snubbed the Bulldog, leaving it off their Top 10.
  • Detroit and Miami are the only cities that do not have the Lab in the top spot, both favouring the German Shepherd.
  • The Boxer is muscling its way to the top in a few cities, ranking 2nd in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Des Moines, Louisville, Omaha and Kansas City. It’s 3rd in Atlanta, Cleveland, New Orleans, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Philadelphia.
  • Californians apparently adore the Miniature Pinscher. Ranked 32nd nationally, it came in 6th (up from 15 last year) in San Diego and also ranked 8th in Sacramento.
  • The Vizsla is tied for 10th with the Shih Tzu in Chicago. Ranked 44th nationally, the Vizsla has long been a Chicago favourite and made the local Top 10 list in 2007 and 2003.
  • Less common breeds on local Top 10 lists include the Great Dane (10th in St. Louis), the Mastiff (10th in Indianapolis), the Brittany (10th in Minneapolis), the Belgian Malinois (8th in Kansas City) and the Siberian Husky (9th in Long Beach).

Notable recent trends in the past decade include:

  • The Bulldog (+69%) and four of its relatives are among the breeds that have increased most significantly over the last decade: Miniature Bull Terrier (+109%), Bull Terrier (+102%), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (+69%) and the Bullmastiff (+22%).
  • The French Bulldog (+467%), the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (+209%) and the Brussels Griffon (+73%) continue to be among the breeds with the largest increases.
  • The Border Collie saw a significant increase (+50%).
  • Lesser known breeds that saw an increase include the Ibizan Hound (+74%), Norwich Terrier (+39%) and Bedlington Terrier (+28%).
  • Large dogs with notable increases are two Swiss breeds – the Bernese Mountain Dog (+78%) and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (+88%) – as well as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (+117%).
  • Among breeds on the decline are the Lhasa Apso (-80%), Rottweiler (-76%), Schipperke (-75%) the Basset Hound (-66 %) and, despite its popularity in California, the Miniature Pinscher (-75%).
  • Portuguese Water Dogs are currently ranked 64th and have increased 44%. No doubt this will increase significantly if the Obama family choose this breed.

Be sure to tune in on Saturday, January 31, 2009 for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. The country’s top dogs will compete for $225,000 in prize money and the title of "National Champion". It airs on Animal Planet and  Discovery Channel from 8-11 p.m. (ET/PT). Highlights from the AKC Agility Invitational will air on Animal Planet on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).