Top 5 Most Popular Dog Breeds
Published:Did you know that according to the World Canine Organization, there are currently 339 breeds of dog currently in the world, and some are much more common and beloved than others. Every year the American Kennel Club releases its statistics on the most popular dog breeds in America, and not surprisingly, the list does not change drastically from year, and the Top 5 Most Popular Dog Breeds has been mostly unchanged for years! Check out the list below to see the most current top 5 (2015), and learn some neat trivia about the top breeds while you're at it!
1) Labrador Retriever
- One of the most popular breeds in both the US and the UK
- This breed is often used for disability assistance and as therapy dogs
- The breed was created in the 1880s when British noblemen specifically bred them to be gundogs
- Foundational breed of what is now the lab was the St. John's Water Dog
- Their most popular coat colors are yellow and chocolate
2) German Shepherd
- Their officially recognized name is "German Shephed Dog" or GSD
- In Britain they used to be called Alsatians
- A fairly recent dog breed, they only date back to 1899
- Popular for disability assistance, search-and-rescue, police and military roles, and even acting
- German Shepherds were bred specifically for their intelligence
3) Golden Retriever
- Named 'retriever' because of their ability to retrieve shot game undamaged
- They have an instinctive love of water
- They are also easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards
- Often used as a guide dog for the blind and a hearing dog for the deaf
- They are very friendly, so they do not make good guard dogs
4) Bulldog
- They are a muscular, heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose
- Recognized as excellent family pets because of their tendency to form strong bonds with children
- The designation "bull" was applied because of the dog's use in the sport of bull baiting
- Bulldogs are one of the few breeds with a naturally short tail
- Bulldogs' lives are relatively short. At five to six years of age they start to show signs of aging
5) Beagle
- A well-loved a scent hound, developed primarily for hunting rabbits
- With a great sense of smell and their tracking instinct, the Beagle is often employed as detection dog
- A popular pet due to its size, good temper, and lack of inherited health problems
- Although beagle-type dogs have existed for 2,500 years, the modern breed was developed in Great Britain around the 1830s from several breeds
- Progenitor breeds include the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier
