Labrador Retriever remains at top of AKC's most popular dog list for 2011

Raleigh, N.C.

— Labrador Retrievers remained where they have been for the last 21 consecutive years—at the top of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) most popular dogs list for 2011.

The new ranking, released Feb. 27, reveals no changes in the top two breeds from last year, with Labrador Retrievers ranking first and German Shepherds coming in second. Beagles moved up one place on the list over 2010, clenching the spot for third most popular, and Golden Retrievers also moved up one place over last year to fourth on the list. Yorkshire Terriers lost ground, dropping two slots from 2010 to rank at fifth most popular breed in 2011. Bulldogs remained the sixth most popular dog, followed by Boxers in the seventh slot. Poodles advanced one place to eighth most popular, trading places with Dachshunds, which moved down one spot to ninth place. Making their debut on the top 10 list, Rottweilers placed number 10 on the list, replacing the Shih Tzu.

The most notable breed trends for the year show that larger dogs are moving up in popularity, says AKC. Aside from the breeds in the top 10, other large breeds like the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Bullmastiffs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Irish Wolfhounds and the Belgian Malinois also experienced surges in numbers.

Setter breeds—including the Irish English Setter, the Irish Setter, the Irish Red and White Setter and the Gordon Setter—also saw large jumps in numbers. Terriers have been on the decline for several years, the club adds, but number rose throughout 2011. As far as decreases, Coonhounds saw the largest popularity drop, AKC notes.