Dog Breeds

Most Popular Dog Breeds

For 15 years in a row, the Labrador Retriever has the most popular purebred dog in America, according to the 2004 registration figures released by the American Kennel Club. All of 2004's top ten were here a year earlier in 2003.

Top 10 Most Popular Dogs

The top 10 most popular dogs according to 2004 AKC registrations are:

1. Labrador Retriever (146,692 registered dogs, up 1758 over last year's figures)
2. Golden Retriever (52,550 registered dogs)
3. German Shepherd Dog (moving up one place with 46,046 registered dogs, up over 2000 dogs from last year)
4. Beagle (44,555, down over 1000 dogs, moving back down one place to their 2002 position in the dog populary list)
5. Yorkshire Terrier (43,522, up over 5000 registrations from last year, brining the Yorkie up one notch to fifth place)
6. Dachshund (40,770, up over a thousand but moving down one place from the 2004 position)
7. Boxer (37,741, up over 3000 registrations from last year)
8. Poodle (32,671, up only 500 from last year, and holding steady in eighth place)
9. Shih Tzu (28,958, gaining two thousand registrations since last year)
10. Chihuahua (24,930)

Least-popular Dogs

At the other end of the popularity list, the least-registered purebred dog (with just 17 registrations) is the English Foxhound.

Rarest Dog Breeds in America:

1. English Foxhound (17 registered dogs, down 2 from last year)
2. Otterhound (23, down 12)
3. American Foxhound (52)
4. Sussex Spaniel (45)
5. Harrier (53, up 10)

Increasing Popularity

Registrations in 2003 increased for the Bernese Mountain Dog (up 22%), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (up 32%), and Skye Terrier (up 75%). Lesser-known breeds with increased popularity are the Finnish Spitz (up 52%), the Havanese (up 42%) and the Ibizan Hound (up 84%).

Historically Popular Breeds

Between 1905 and 1935 the Boston Terrier held the number one or two position. From 1926, the German Shepard was the top dog (thanks to the popularity of Rin Tin Tin). From 1940 to 1952, the top position was held by the Cocker Spaniels.

Currently third-place Beagles were the top breed from 1953-59, only to be replaced by Poodles, which held the top spot for 23 years (from 1960–83). 1984 saw the comeback of the Cocker Spaniel. In 1990, the current favorite (Labrador Retriever) took over the top spot.

Differences Abroad

In other countries, the most-popular pedigree lists differ. The Labrador Retriever is also top dog in Britain, but after this initial consensus, differences emerge.