You may have heard the news about the French bulldog toppling the Labrador retriever off its podium as the American Kennel Club’s most popular purebred dog.
The cute but solid little “Frenchies,” with their celebrity Instagram accounts, have outnumbered the Labrador retriever based on AKC registration statistics for 2022. We’ve seen the little dogs in “Modern Family,” and they’re popular with celebrities including Martha Stewart, Reese Witherspoon and Lady Gaga.
Sure, French bulldogs are cute, they’re small, and they’re playful, smart and adaptable, according to the AKC. Everyone is their best friend, they’re good with kids, they’re not yappers and they’re only medium droolers.
But face it: A French bulldog will never fetch you a dead duck from an icy cold lake at the break of dawn.
French bulldogs don’t serve as ‘bat dogs’ for a minor league baseball team.
They don’t have webbed paws that act as snowshoes in winter.
There are good reasons the Labrador has reigned for over 30 years as the AKC’s most popular breed. Thanks to its mild temperament, the Labrador will likely most graciously concede its position to the Frenchie without complaint.
Their loyalty, calm demeanor, memory and intelligence make Labradors one of the top breeds to serve as guides for the blind, and they will willingly put themselves between their handler and a speeding car.
Labradors were the family pets on "Downton Abbey." Ernest Hemingway and Queen Elizabeth had Labs, so did a number of presidents, prime ministers, musicians and other celebrities, according to Country Life.
Clifford the Big Red Dog was a Labrador, Old Yeller was played by a Lab mix, and H.Brian Griffin of “Family Guy” is a Labrador. And don’t forget “Marley and Me.”
A black Labrador named Jake became a national hero after burrowing through the debris in search of survivors of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He also later helped search for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005.
One of the most famous of this breed was Endal, a Labrador in England, who was known as "the most decorated dog in the world" for his work as a service dog and as an ambassador for service dog charity.
A Labrador once threw up in the British House of Commons during a Parliamentary speech.
A Labrador can hold an egg in its mouth without breaking it.
They can open refrigerators.
They come in chocolate.
We're not knocking the French bulldog. Just a nod to the long reign of the Labrador, and to all of these other great dogs: Here are the 30 most popular dog breeds, according to the AKC.
The Most Popular Dog Breeds
1. French Bulldogs
- Non-sporting group
- Weight: under 28 pounds
- Playful, smart, adaptable
We’ve seen these dogs in “Modern Family,” and “Titanic,” and they’re popular with celebrities including Martha Stewart, Reese Witherspoon and Lady Gaga.
2. Labrador Retrievers
- Sporting group
- Weight: 65-80 pounds (male) 55-70 pounds (female)
- Active, friendly, outgoing
Clifford the big red dog was a lab, a lab starred in one version of Old Yeller, H.Brian Griffin in "Family Guy" is apparently a Labrador, and don't forget "The Incredible Journey" and "Marley and Me."
3. Golden Retrievers
- Sporting group
- Weight: 55-75 pounds
- Intelligent, friendly, devoted
4. German Shepherd Dogs
- Herding group
- Weight: 50-90 pounds
- Courageous, confident, smart
5. Poodles (Toy, Miniature, Standard)
- Toy group and Non-sporting group
- Weight: 4-6 pounds for toys, 10-15 pounds for miniatures, and 40-70 pounds for Standard poodles
- Intelligent, agile, self-confident, active, proud, and very smart
6. Bulldogs
- Non-sporting group
- Weight: 40-50 pounds
- Friendly, courageous, calm
7. Rottweilers
- Working group
- Weight: 80-135
- Loyal, loving, confident guardian
8. Beagles
- Hound group
- Weight 20-30 pounds
- Curious, friendly, merry
9. Dachshunds
- Hound group
- Weight: 11-32 pounds 9(there are standards and miniatures)
- Curious, friendly, spunky
10. German Shorthaired Pointers
- Sporting group
- Weight: 45-70 pounds
- Friendly, smart, willing to please
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgis
- Herding group
- Weight: up to 28-30 pounds
- Alert, affectionate, smart
12. Australian Shepherds
- Herding group
- Weight: 40-65 pounds
- Smart, work-oriented, exuberant
13. Yorkshire Terriers
- Toy group
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Affectionate, sprightly, tomboyish
14. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
- Toy group
- Weight: 13-18 pounds
- Affectionate, gentle, graceful
15. Doberman Pinschers
- Working group
- Weight: 60-100 pounds
- Alert, loyal, fearless
16. Boxers
- Working group
- Weight: 65-80 pounds (males)
- Active, bright, fun-loving
17. Miniature Schnauzers
- Terrier group
- Weight: 11-20 pounds
- Friendly, smart, obedient
18. Cane Corsi
- Working group
- Weight: 90-110 pounds
- Intelligent, affectionate, majestic
19. Great Danes
- Working group
- Weight: 140-175 pounds (males) 110-140 (females)
- Friendly, patient, dependable
20. Shih Tzu
- Toy group
- Weight: 9-16 pounds
- Playful, affectionate, outgoing
21. Siberian Huskies
- Working group
- Weight: 35-60 pounds
- Loyal, outgoing, mischievous
22. Bernese Mountain Dogs
- Working group
- Weight: 70-95 pounds (female) 80-115 (male)
- Good-natured, calm, strong
23. Pomeranians
- Toy group
- Weight: 3-7 pounds
- Inquisitive, lively, bold
24. Boston Terriers
- Non-sporting group
- Weight: 12-25 pounds
- Friendly, bright, amusing
25. Havanese
- Toy group
- Weight: 7-13 pounds
- Intelligent, outgoing, funny
26. English Springer Spaniels
- Sporting group
- Weight: 40-50 pounds
- Friendly, playful, obedient
27. Shetland Sheepdogs
- Herding group
- Weight: 15-25 pounds
- Playful, energetic, bright
28. Brittanys
- Sporting group
- Weight: 30-40 pounds
- Bright, fun-loving, upbeat
29. Cocker Spaniels
- Sporting group
- Weight: 20-30 pounds
- Smart, happy, gentle
30. Border Collies
- Herding group
- Weight: 30-55 pounds
- Energetic, affectionate, smart
Weights and descriptions are from the AKC.
