French bulldogs, “affectionate and playful,” have won the hearts of dog lovers this year.
The “Frenchie” came in sixth on the American Kennel Club’s list of most popular dogs. Although it didn’t come close to ousting the perennial favorite, the Labrador retriever, “the Frenchie has risen 32 spots over the past decade and shows no sign of stopping,” the Kennel Club said.
The list ranks 184 breeds of purebred dogs.
For the past 25 years, the Lab — which the kennel club calls “intelligent” and “family friendly” — has held the No. 1 spot nationally.
Dr. Robyn Barbiers, veterinarian and president of the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, wasn’t surprised to hear that Labradors maintained first place.
Barbiers, who has a Lab, says they are great family dogs. But that doesn’t always help them avoid the same fate as many other dogs: being abandoned or put up for adoption.
“Labs are adorable, and it’s easy to fall in love with them,” said Sheila Spitza, marketing coordinator for Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue in Lombard. But they also have a longer puppyhood than many breeds and require lots of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them from becoming bored and potentially destructive, she said.
“Unfortunately, many people acquire Labs without doing the proper research to determine if their home and lifestyle is a good fit,” Spitza said.
The Kennel Club’s list also “brings awareness to a lot of different breeds,” she said, and people get excited about the some of those lesser-known dogs, like the Cirneco dell’Etna. Still, some of those seemingly exotic breeds may not be the best option for a family pet.
What is? Well, your local shelter has some very nice mixed-breed options.
“I think people have to recognize that these breeds are nice to look at, they’re beautiful, but mutts are really nice dogs,” Barbiers said.
AKC spokeswoman Jessica Rice D’Amato said the list is compiled based on how many of that breed were registered with the club that year.
Labradors won the hearts of Chicagoans, and the Kennel Club named Labs as the city’s most popular dog. Rounding out the top five locally are German shepherds, French bulldogs, bulldogs and golden retrievers.
The city of Chicago has its own list, too. The clerk’s office keeps track of all dogs registered in the city. Labrador retrievers and Chihuahuas are nearly tied, with about 1,500 of each registered in the city, chased by German shepherds and golden retrievers.
Barbiers said the variety of dogs up for adoption at animal shelters includes plenty of purebreds — perhaps one-fourth of those available, depending on location. Beagles, Labs and various hounds are frequently in the mix.
Lowest on the AKC’s list is the gentle, affectionate and sociable English foxhound. Ranked 184, the English foxhound has consistently held low rankings the past few years: 183 in 2014 and 177 in 2013.
Other low-ranking breeds were the Norwegian lundehund (182) and the American foxhound (181).
