The sweet-faced, lovable Labrador Retriever is no longer America’s favorite dog breed. The breed best known for having a heart of gold has been replaced by the smaller, more urban-friendly French Bulldog. The French Bulldog’s popularity has grown exponentially over the past decade, with around 108,000 recorded in the U.S. in 2022. Their popularity has been bolstered because of celebrities who have gone public with their love of French Bulldogs. In fact, Lady Gaga’s French Bulldogs made headlines in 2021 when her dog walker was shot while on a walk and the dogs kidnapped. The dog walker recovered from his injuries and the dogs were later returned. French Bulldogs are popular for a variety of reasons, including the fact that they’re perfect for people who live in apartments because they don’t bark much and don’t require a lot of outdoor exercise. Unfortunately, French Bulldogs are prone to multiple health problems, including skin, ear and eye infections, respiratory problems, and spine deformations and nerve pain as they age. Here are the AKC’s top 10 most popular dog breeds:
- 1. French Bulldogs
- 2. Labrador Retrievers
- 3. Golden Retrievers
- 4. German Shepherds
- 5. Poodles
- 6. American Bulldogs
- 7. Rottweilers
- 8. Beagles
- 9. Dachshunds
- 10. Pointers
