For years, the Labrador retriever has been recognized as the most popular dog breed in the United States.
But this year, a new top dog was crowned the nation’s No. 1 most popular dog by the American Kennel Club, and Gina DiNardo, executive secretary of the AKC, stopped by “Good Morning America” Wednesday to make the big announcement.
Drum roll please….
1. French Bulldog
This year, the French bulldog, like Winston who visited the “GMA” set Wednesday morning, was named best dog, beating out 2021’s most popular pick, the Labrador retriever.
“The No. 1 breed in America is the French bulldog,” DiNardo said. “Not only is the French Bulldog the most popular breed in America, but Winston was the No. 1 dog in America of all breeds last year as a show dog at American Kennel Club events.”
“For 31 years, the Labrador retriever was the most popular breed, but the Frenchie has been on the rise for several years,” DiNardo continued. “We followed its popularity and thought it would reach the top spot sooner or later, and it is this year.”
DiNardo said French bulldogs are especially popular among apartment dwellers because of their sturdy stature, easy-to-groom short coats and wonderful temperaments.
2. Labrador retriever
Although it fell to second place this year, the Labrador retriever has long been one of the odds-on favorites, having been named AKC Top Dog for at least three decades. Labs are active and have a friendly, outgoing attitude and can live up to 11 to 13 years, according to the AKC. They are especially good with young children and have wonderfully sweet temperaments, DiNardo said.
3. Golden retriever
Golden retrievers, like AKC ratings, are known for being friendly, devoted and intelligent dogs, so it’s no wonder they are a hit with families and are the #3 most popular dog. Like the Lab, golden retrievers have a typical life expectancy of a decade, between 10 and 12 years.
DiNardo said Goldens are perfect for those with an adventurous lifestyle because they are very easy to train and love being outdoors.
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4. German Shepherd
German Shepherds are the fourth most popular dog and are often family dogs and K-9 officers. They are well suited to homes with a large yard because they are natural herders and they love to run, DiNardo said. According to the AKCGerman Shepherds generally have a brave, confident and intelligent personality and can live on average between 7 and 10 years.
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5. Poodle
Not to be overshadowed, the poodle, with its characteristic curly coat, rounds out the top five most popular dog breeds. Standard Poodles, according to the AKCare active, proud and intelligent dogs who also tend to have a longer average lifespan, between 10 and 18 years.
DiNardo said poodles in particular are good friends and love to cuddle.
For individuals and families interested in welcoming a new dog into the flock, DiNardo recommends a few considerations to keep in mind.
“The best thing to do is evaluate your lifestyle to make sure you have the time, energy and money to devote to the breed you choose,” DiNardo said.
DiNardo added, “So think about grooming needs: Do you want a wash-and-wear kind of dog or are you willing to take the dog, like a poodle, to groom it or groom it yourself? How much exercise do these dogs need? These large sporting breeds and the herding dog need plenty of exercise to be happy, both mental stimulation and physical exercise. So, do you have time to do it? Do you have time to train? And then, of course, food. — do you want to spend a lot of money on food? Do you want to buy a $100 bag of dog food or do you want a small $20 bag of dog food?”