Americans love dogs and the dog of choice, according to the American Kennel Club rankings released on Wednesday, is once again the energetic, smush-faced cutey more commonly known as the French Bulldog, which placed at No. 1.
The Frenchie took the top spot from the classic former favorite Labrador Retriever in 2020 and remained in the top spot two years later. However, some canine enthusiasts are calling foul.
Rounding out the top ten were Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Poodles. They were followed by Dachshunds, Bulldogs, Beagles, Rottweilers, and German Shorthaired Pointers.
The Yorkshire Terrier and the Boxer were in the top 10 way back in 2014 but not on the current ranking list.
50 years ago the Irish Setter was the third most popular breed in the United States, but that breed ranks 76th today.
The types of dogs Americans love shift with time and preferences are difficult to predict. While the AKC releases few real numbers, popularity rankings are only among the AKC's recognized breeds and don't include deliberate hybrids like Doodles or mixed-breed dogs, though they can be listed as 'All-American dogs' for such events as agility and obedience.
Small, stacked like a little tank, smush-faced, and comically inclined, French Bulldogs are all the rage in big cities.
"They're interesting little beings," says Naneice Bucci, who has owned and shown them for decades.
Their short faces can result in difficulty breathing, frequent gagging, difficulty with exercise, and other inherent maladies. The Netherlands has banned breeding individual dogs with muzzles deemed too short.
The dachshund, commonly referred to as the Hot Dog by children everywhere, ranked No. 6 on the list, its highest rank since 2004. It ranked as high as third multiple times in the 1950s-70s.
The cane corso, which only started being recognized by the AKC in 2014, ranked 16th.
The dogs are praised as protective, trainable, and attached to their people. But the strong breed is "not for somebody that doesn't know how to control a dog," AKC spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden says.
Popular pure breeds are cool, but remember that shelters are always a great option for you to get your next canine companion.
