Labrador Retriever Reigns Supreme Once Again in Washington D.C.

Nationally, Labrador Retriever Remains America's Most Popular As Bigger Breeds Dominate the List

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Washington D.C.'s top spot in the American Kennel Club's (AKC^®) 2013 rankings of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds, holding strong in the nation's capital as well as the nation overall.

The Lab was also recognized as the #1 pup in Seattle, Boston, and Denver.

"Our nation's capital agrees with the rest of the country that the Lab is number one," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson.  "In keeping with the national trend, the family friendly breed remained the top dog in Washington D.C."

Shake-ups and surprises were evident throughout Washington D.C.'s rankings.  The Bulldog continued its rise in our nation's capital, leaping two spots to number three.  The Bernese Mountain Dog was a newcomer to Washington D.C.'s top 10 most popular in 2013, landing at number eight. The favorite breed of the White House – the Portuguese Water Dog – also finally cracked the top 10 list, settling in at number six.

Washington D.C.'s top five breeds for 2013 (as compared to 2012) are as follows:

* Registration data pulled from Washington D.C. zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service

The AKC today also announced its nationwide rankings, and Labrador Retriever lovers have spoken!  The intelligent, family-friendly breed has taken the #1 spot for the 23^rd consecutive year, the longest reign at the top in AKC history.  In addition to the Lab holding strong to its most popular title, the French Bulldog has seen a sharp rise in popularity over the past decade with a 323% increase in registrations since 2003.  The affectionate, easy to care for Frenchie rose three spots this year to number 11, its highest position since its AKC induction in 1898.  French Bulldogs are known to be loveable lap warmers and are easily adaptable to city or suburban living due to their easily-groomed coats and minimal exercise requirements.

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The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.  Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog.  For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

To become a fan of the AKC on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/americankennelclub. To follow the AKC on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/akcdoglovers.

SOURCE American Kennel Club

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