Labrador Retriever is #1 Once Again in Seattle

Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Seattle’s top spot in the 2016 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S.

The Lab was also recognized as the #1 pup in Raleigh, Washington, D.C., and Dallas.

The big movers and shaker in Seattle for 2016 was the Havanese, jumping from 12^th to 5^th, while the Poodle fell out of favor in the city, dropping from 5^th to 8^th.

“The Lab may be number one in Seattle, but the 2016 was the year of the Havanese,” said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo. “The outgoing, funny little dog broke into the top five and shows no signs of stopping.”

Seattle’s Top 5 Breeds for 2016

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Golden Retriever

3. German Shepherd Dog

4. French Bulldog

5. Havanese

* Registration data pulled from Seattle zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service

We also announced our nationwide rankings today in a press conference at our new pet care space, AKC Canine Retreat. The intelligent, family friendly Labrador Retriever firmly holds on to the number one spot on the most popular list for a record-breaking 26th consecutive year.

While the Labrador Retriever continues its reign as America’s dog, the Rottweiler has been slowly but surely rising up the list over the past decade. The confident, loyal and loving Rottie was the eighth most popular breed in the nation in 2016, its highest ranking since landing at number two in 1997. The Rottweiler has risen nine spots over the past decade and is poised for a comeback.

Most Popular Breeds Nationwide 2016

1. Labrador Retriever

2. German Shepherd Dog

3. Golden Retriever

4. Bulldog

5. Beagle

Learn more about all of the AKC-recognized breeds here. And for the list of the top 10 most popular breeds in America click here.