Americas most popular dog breeds – Part 2

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC, founded in 1884), the top 10 most popular dog breeds in America in 2006 (not 2005, not 2004, but just last year) are as follows:

1. Retrievers (Labrador)…123,760

2. Yorkshire Terriers……48,346

3. German Shepherd Dogs….43,575

4. Retrievers (Golden)…..42,962

5. Beagles……………..39,484

6. Dachshunds…………..36,033

7. Boxers………………35,388

8. Poodles……………..29,939

9. Shih Tzu…………….27,282

10. Miniature Schnauzers…22,920

However, according to the United Kennel Club (UKC, founded in 1898) the top 10 most popular breeds for 2006 are:

1. Treeing Walker Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

2. American Pit Bull Terrier (Terrier Group)

3. Bluetick Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

4. English Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

5. American Black and Tan Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

6. Redbone Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

7. Labrador Retriever (Gun Dog Group)

8. Beagle (Scenthound Group)

9. Plott Hound (Scenthound Group)

10. Jack Russell Terrier (Terrier Group)

Notice the differences between the kennel clubs? There’s even a National Kennel Club (NKC, founded in 1969) that (along with the UKC) registers purebred dogs that the AKC doesn’t recognize.

What makes the AKC such an authority? Is a dog registered with the NKC or UKC truly any different from one registered with the AKC? Does a dog being listed as one of the most popular breeds influence its continued growth?

Time usually tells…