Top 10 Most Popular Breeds in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities
2008 AKC Registration Figures – Discover the Most Popular Breeds in Various U.S. Cities
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Yorkshire Terrier** |
| 3. Miniature Schnauzer |
| 4. Boxer |
| 5. Bulldog |
| 6. Dachshund |
| 7. German Shepherd Dog |
| 8. Shih Tzu |
| 9. Golden Retriever |
| 10. Chihuahua |
* Registration data pulled from Oklahoma City zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
** Tied with #1
"For the past two years the nation’s two top breeds, the Labrador Retriever and the Yorkshire Terrier have been swapping first and second place in Oklahoma City, but in 2008 they tied for first place," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Equally big news is the Bulldog jumped halfway up the list from tenth to fifth. While the Poodle dropped off the list this year, the Miniature Schnauzer remains at third, one of the highest rankings for this breed among the 50 top cities. Along with the Chihuahua, these two breeds are the only ones in Oklahoma City not found on the national Top 10.
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Boxer |
| 3. German Shepherd Dog |
| 4. Yorkshire Terrier** |
| 5. Bulldog |
| 6. Golden Retriever |
| 7. German Shorthaired Pointer |
| 8. Rottweiler |
| 9. Poodle |
| 10. Shih Tzu |
* Registration data pulled from Omaha zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
** Tied with #3
"Despite the rise of the Yorkshire Terrier up three spots to tie for third with the German Shepherd Dog, Omaha continues to embrace larger breeds known for their working and sporting abilities," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "New breeds to the Top 10 list include the Rottweiler, Poodle and Shih Tzu as well as perennial favorites like the German Shorthaired Pointer. The Boxer continues to be extremely popular in Omaha ranking in the second spot for the second consecutive year."
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Yorkshire Terrier |
| 3. Bulldog |
| 4. German Shepherd Dog |
| 5. Maltese |
| 6. Dachshund |
| 7. Chihuahua |
| 8. Golden Retriever |
| 9. Boxer |
| 10. Pomeranian |
* Registration data pulled from Orlando zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
"The Labrador regained Orlando’s top spot in 2008 after being overtaken by the Yorkie in 2007," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Still, Orlando loves its portable pooches even more than the rest of the nation, with the Maltese, Dachshund, Chihuahua and Pomeranian all in the city’s Top 10."
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Yorkshire Terrier |
| 3. Boxer |
| 4. German Shepherd Dog |
| 5. Bulldog |
| 6. Rottweiler |
| 7. Golden Retriever |
| 8. Poodle |
| 9. Pug |
| 10. Doberman Pinscher |
* Registration data pulled from Philadelphia zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
"Working breeds are popular among Philadelphians with the Boxer highest on the list in third place – perhaps as a tribute to hometown hero and boxing brethren ‘Rocky.’ Rottweilers made big gains from ninth in 2007 to sixth in 2008 along with the Doberman Pinscher which debuted this year on the list in tenth place," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Smaller breeds with loveable mugs such as Pugs and Bulldogs, at ninth and fifth respectively, remain favorites in the City of Brotherly Love while the smallest breed on the list, the Yorkshire Terrier made a big leap from fifth to second place proving that you don’t have to be a tough guy to capture hearts in Philly."
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. German Shepherd Dog |
| 3. Golden Retriever |
| 4. Yorkshire Terrier |
| 5. Chihuahua |
| 6. Shih Tzu |
| 7. Dachshund |
| 8. Bulldog |
| 9. Boxer |
| 10. Poodle |
* Registration data pulled from Phoenix zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
"Bucking the national trend, the Bulldog dropped in popularity from seventh locally in 2007 to match its national spot in eighth place and the Golden Retriever made a huge leap of three spots to third place locally, one above its national ranking at fourth place," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Smaller breeds took a tumble in Phoenix with the Yorkshire Terrier falling two spots to fourth and the Dachshund dropping from fourth to seventh. The Chihuahua, which just missed the national Top 10 at eleventh place, continues in fifth place locally for the second consecutive year."
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Golden Retriever |
| 3. Boxer |
| 4. German Shepherd Dog |
| 5. Yorkshire Terrier |
| 6. Beagle |
| 7. Bulldog |
| 8. Poodle |
| 9. Pug |
| 10. Rottweiler |
* Registration data pulled from Pittsburgh zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
"No frou-frou for the Steel City – Pittsburgh’s top breeds are serious working dogs," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "When compared to the national list, the breeds meant solely for companionship, such as the Yorkie, fall lower in the city’s Top 10."
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Chihuahua |
| 3. Golden Retriever |
| 4. Poodle |
| 5. Yorkshire Terrier |
| 6. German Shepherd Dog |
| 7. Dachshund |
| 8. Pug** |
| 9. Havanese |
| 10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
* Registration data pulled from Portland zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
**Tied with #7
"Portland has the highest percentage of small breeds on their local Top 10 of any other big city in the nation, even keeping the nationally ranked Bulldog off their list at twelfth place. Four of the local Top 10, all smaller breeds, don’t even make the national list including the popular Havanese, Pug, Chihuahua, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from the Toy group," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Add to that the Chihuahua’s second place finish, jumping three spots from 2007, it’s easy to see that Portland’s love affair with pint-sized pooches can’t be beat anywhere in the country."
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Golden Retriever |
| 3. German Shepherd Dog |
| 4. Beagle |
| 5. Yorkshire Terrier |
| 6. Poodle |
| 7. Boxer |
| 8. Dachshund |
| 9. Shetland Sheepdog** |
| 10. Shih Tzu |
* Registration data pulled from Raleigh zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
** Tied with #8
"Raleigh remains a city devoted to its larger family-friendly breeds with the top three – Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever and German Shepherd Dog remaining in the same spots as last year. Other child-friendly breeds made gains with the Beagle rising two spots to fourth place and the Shetland Sheepdog making its Top 10 debut tied at eighth place," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Smaller breeds, like the Yorkshire Terrier and the Dachshund held steady at fifth and eighth respectively while the Shih Tzu dropped to tenth and the Maltese fell off the list completely. Surprisingly, for the second year in a row, the Bulldog while making strides on the national list remains off the Top 10 at thirteenth place locally."
| 1. Labrador Retriever |
| 2. Yorkshire Terrier |
| 3. German Shepherd Dog |
| 4. Golden Retriever |
| 5. Shih Tzu |
| 6. Bulldog |
| 7. Dachshund |
| 8. Miniature Pinscher |
| 9. Rottweiler** |
| 10. Cocker Spaniel |
* Registration data pulled from Sacramento zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
** Tied with #8
"While the top four breeds mirror the national list, the rest of Top 10 shows just how independent thinking Northern Californians can be with the Miniature Pinscher and Rottweiler tied for eight place followed by the Cocker Spaniel debuting at tenth place, none of which are ranked nationally in the Top 10," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "Sacramento residents even traded the popular Poodle and Boxer off the list and elevated the Shih Tzu to fifth place followed by the Bulldog at sixth."
