German Shepherd Dog Reigns Supreme Once Again in Miami

Nationally, Labrador Retriever Remains America's Most Popular Breed As the Bulldog Quietly Creeps Up the List

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Once again, the German Shepherd Dog took Miami's top spot in the American Kennel Club's (AKC®) 2010 ranking of the most popular AKC-registered dog breeds in the U.S.

"The French Bulldog has gained popularity in Miami, which reflects the national trend for the breed," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson.  "The Frenchie has been steadily climbing up the list of AKC's most popular breeds, jumping 50 spots (from 71st to 21st) over the past decade nationally, but Miami is clearly ahead of the rest of the U.S., making the French Bulldog the 5th most popular in the city."

Among the Changes in Miami's Rankings:

• The Maltese makes an appearance in the top 10, along with the Poodle.
• The Dachshund fell out of Miami's top 10 to number 11 last year.

The AKC also announced its nationwide registration statistics today, revealing that for the 20th consecutive year the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America.  However, this year's list includes some shakeups in the top 10 - the Beagle overtook the Golden Retriever for the 4th spot, and the Bulldog took 6th place away from the Boxer, who dropped to 7th in 2010.

The Bulldog has been steadily rising up the list over the past decade, going from 21st to 6th.  While impressive, it is not the biggest mover – that distinction goes to the French Bulldog.  The Frenchie jumped 50 spots (from 71st to 21st) over the past 10 years.

In addition, the AKC expanded its litter of registered breeds on January 1 to welcome the Norwegian Lundehund, the Xoloitzcuintli and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog - growing next year's list of Most Popular Breeds to 170 dogs.  

Additional information on the AKC's ranking of the Most Popular Breeds in the U.S. can be found online at www.akc.org.

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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