American Kennel Club Reveals Austin's Top Dogs

-- Nationally, Labrador Retriever Remains America's Most Popular Breed As German Shepherd Dog Makes A Move For The Top Spot --

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Kennel Club® (AKC) announced today the "Top 5" most popular AKC-registered dog breeds in Austin for 2009.* Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Austin's top spot.

"After Austin's top five remained static in 2007 and 2008, last year brought changes to the Live Music Capital of the World's list," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier and Dachshund gained ground in the rankings – music to the ears of small dog enthusiasts in Austin."

The AKC also announced their nationwide registration statistics today, revealing that for the 19th consecutive year the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America.  But, the AKC notes that this year the German Shepherd Dog made a move for the top spot by overtaking the Yorkshire Terrier and is now ranked second most popular in the nation for the first time in more than three decades.    

Dog lovers can see and learn more about all of their favorite breeds on Saturday, February 6, 2010, when the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship — where the country's top dogs compete for $225,000 in prize money and the title of "National Champion" — airs on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, 8-11 p.m. (ET/PT). You can also catch the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence honorees, which include the Golden Retriever "Robin" in the Law Enforcement category.    

The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.  Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog.  For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

SOURCE American Kennel Club

RELATED LINKS
http://www.akc.org/