Sunday, November 23, 2008

TOP Ten Most Popular Dog Breeds


Knowing all of the minute details of each type of dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) may not be number one on your great list of to-do’s. In fact, only a small percentage of experts in the country can spout off the intricacies of each breed. After all, the AKC recognizes over 150 breeds of dogs, each boasting unique and exceptional qualities. Of them all, an average person might recognize ten percent, a dog-lover could identify as many as a quarter. But the simple fact is that not many Americans are presented with too wide a variety of dog breeds in their lifetimes. While dogs are growing in popularity as an American pet, the variety of dog breeds which we welcome as popular has not changed much in the past ten years.

The AKC separates recognized dog breeds into seven categories, or groupings: Sporting, Herding, Working, Terrier, Toy, and Non-sporting. Of these, the most popular dog breeds in America consistently hail from the Sporting group. These include the setters, spaniels, pointers, and retrievers. Specifically, the Labrador and Golden Retrievers were the most popular registered dogs in the majority of states in 2005. Their combination of agility, intelligence, and unusually friendly demeanor help them maintain their status.

Dog breeds from the Toy group are also starting to dominate American homes. In fact, eight of the most popular registered dog breeds in the United States in 2005 came from this group, including the Yorkshire terrier, poodle, Shih Tzu, and Chihuahua. The small size and playful nature of these dogs make them ideal for living in a big city. Specifically, poodles are now the most popular dog breed registered in New York City.

The Working group also contains some popular dogs among Americans. This list includes dog breeds like the Boxer, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, and Siberian Husky. These dogs tend to be more popular outside of cities, as their nature requires a great deal of training and they are not as naturally friendly or easy to control as some of the other dog groups.

One of the most popular dog breeds in the country is the German Shepherd Dog, a member of the Herding Group. These dogs are large and powerful but also extremely loyal and protective.

The two groupings with the least number of dog breeds on the published list are the Terrier group and the Hound Group. This is not too surprising, as most of these breeds serve specific purposes that are not playful ones. However, the Minuature Schnauzer, a member of the Terrier group, is growing in popularity in different regions around the country. And both the loud beagle and the slow dachshund, of the Hound group, remain in the top ten registered dog breeds in America. Below is the 2005 list of the ten most popular registered dog breeds released by the AKC. For the complete listing, see www.akc.org.

1. Retriever (Labrador)

2. Retriever (Golden)

3. Yorkshire Terrier

4. German Shepherd Dog

5. Beagle

6. Dachshund

7. Boxer

8. Poodle

9. Shih Tzu

10. Miniature Schnauzer


I want to have a Golden Retriever!:D Someday soon, I will. And I will name her Natasha.Ü

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