According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), America’s most popular dog breeds are Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, and Beagles. Here are some interesting facts about some of our nation’s favorite dog breeds!
Labrador Retrievers are America’s most popular dog for the 29th year in a row! Labrador Retrievers originally come from Newfoundland and were officially accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1917. They are a medium-sized breed and can be black, chocolate, or yellow. Labrador Retrievers are known for their kind temperament and intelligence.
As members of the sporting group, Labrador Retrievers are strong and athletic. This makes them awesome hunting dogs, search and rescue dogs, and special needs assistance dogs. This friendly, energetic breed loves to play outdoors and is very active. Labrador Retrievers enjoy lots of exercise to stay healthy and happy and need occasional grooming because their coat sheds seasonally. Their thick double-coat is resistant to water, which makes them perfect dogs for both hunting waterfowl and playing out by the lake during the summer months.
Labrador Retrievers make great family pets because they are so loving and loyal. They are fantastic for children and they get along well with other pets.
German Shepherds are medium-sized dogs that were first recognized by the AKC in 1908. They can be 11 different colors and have no standard markings. These intelligent dogs thrive on obedience training and are known for their ability to retain their training. German Shepherds are admired for their self-confidence, dignity, and strength.
German Shepherds are members of the herding group, which means that, historically, they have been used by farmers to herd other animals and as guard dogs. German shepherds have also been used by police and law enforcement officials because of their intelligence, loyalty, bravery, and physical strength. They are very active and need lots of rigorous exercise to be happy and healthy.
German Shepherds are well suited to be spirited, loyal family pets that will faithfully guard their loved ones. They are known for loving and watching over small children who are in their lives and get along with other pets. This devoted breed is known for being especially loyal to their primary caretaker and is a great companion. German Shepherds have a thick coat that needs regular grooming.
Golden Retrievers are a fun loving breed known for their strength and affectionate nature. Originally bred in the United Kingdom in the 1800s to hunt, they are still used today to hunt various kinds of fowl. Golden Retrievers were accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1925 and are large dogs with medium energy. Their official colors are dark golden, gold, and light golden. Their famously beautiful coat sheds seasonally needs to be groomed regularly to maintain its healthy luster.
Golden Retrievers are loyal, loving, and comical. Their affectionate nature and playfulness make them the perfect companions for children. They also do well with other family pets. Golden Retrievers need companionship to feel happy and healthy as well as basic obedience training. As members of the sporting group, these obedient and hardworking dogs are also great hunting dogs, seeing eye dogs, and search and rescue dogs.
Bulldogs are an intelligent, patient, and, sometimes, humorous breed. These calm, clever dogs likely originate from the United Kingdom and were welcomed into the American Kennel Club in 1886.
Bulldogs are medium-sized dogs with medium energy. They are known for their wrinkled faces and sturdy frame. They can be 10 different colors and can have four different official markings. Bulldogs only need limited grooming to maintain their coat.
Though Bulldogs are known for being a bit stubborn, appealing to their perceptive nature and using positive reinforcement can help them succeed in basic obedience training. As a non-sporting breed, Bulldogs do not require as much exercise as most other breeds. However, Bulldogs still need regular exercise, such as going on regular walks, to remain healthy.
Beagles are a delightful breed and are great companions for children. They are smaller dogs that have a medium energy level and come in 11 recognized colors with one standard marking. Their fur needs only minimal care. Although beagles were accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1885, very little is known about their origins.
Beagles are highly energetic and need a lot of exercise. They love to play outside and are extremely curious. Beagles are scent hounds who hunt small game such as rabbits. Because they were bred to hunt in packs, beagles enjoy the company of other dogs. They are naturally curious dogs who enjoy following along whichever path their nose takes them, so they need to be kept on a leash or in enclosed surroundings. Their determination can make them a bit difficult to train, but they make loving pets that have been warming up households for years.
References:
Smith, S. (2015, February 26). Most Popular Dog Breeds in America. In American Kennel Club. Retrieved from http://www.akc.org/news/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-in-america/
