5 Most Popular Dog Breeds and Where They Come From

With 40% of US households owning dogs it is clear that they are quite popular, but which ones are the most popular? With so many breeds to choose from why is it that some are much more popular than others? Does it have something to do with their origins or the amount of exposure they receive? While the list changes yearly many of the same breeds appear on the list year after year. Here is a list of the most popular dog breeds of 2008 according to the American Kennel Club.

1. The Labrador Retriever consistently places 1st on the list of the most popular dogs in the United States. Labradors, or Labs for short, are extremely popular due to their good nature, intelligence and loyalty. They have high energy levels, but are gentle and tolerant of children. Labs are widely used as service dogs to the blind and people with other disabilities. Labs originated on the island of Newfoundland as St. John’s Water Dogs in the 16th century. These early Lab ancestors were working dogs to local fishermen and assisted in bringing the fishing nets to shore by pulling them in by the floating corks on the edge of the nets.

2. Yorkshire Terriers are the 2nd most popular dog in the US and have been on the list in various positions on the top 10 for some time now. Yorkshire Terriers, also known as Yorkies, are famous for their playful nature and small size. Weighing in at around 5 pounds the Yorkie is surprisingly courageous and makes an excellent watch dog. Originating in Yorkshire, England during the early 19th century Yorkies were bred as a rat hunting dog and were carried in the pockets of their owners into the fields to hunt.

3. German Shepherd Dogs are 3rd on the list and have remained consistent in their placing year after year. Shepherds are working dogs originally developed for herding sheep. German Shepherds are widely known for their strength, obedience and intelligence and are popular police and military dogs. These dogs are extremely popular and some have even found their way onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Originating in Germany in 1899 this particular Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog and resulted from standardizing in breeding to preserve desirable qualities in herding dogs.

4. Golden Retrievers or Goldies are 4th on the list and have been in the top 5 for some time. Goldens are similar in temperament to their Labrador cousins and have an instinctive love of water. They are friendly, eager to please and patient and thus make good illegal drug and search and rescue dogs. Originating in Scotland and England around 1840 the Golden Retriever was developed as a result of improvements to firearms in 1800. Hunters were then able to shoot water foul from longer distances and the hunters needed a dog that could retrieve the downed birds from the water and bring them back intact. The Golden Retriever was a result of the St. John’s Water Dog (father of the Labrador), Irish Setter, sandy Bloodhound and two other wavy-coated retriever type dogs.

5. The Beagle rounds out the top 5 and is a constant in that position. Beagles are sweet, lively and curious little dogs who love everyone and everything. Beagles are scent hounds and were bred primarily to hunt rabbit and other small game. Their keen sense of smell and are used in detecting prohibited items among agricultural imports. While dogs of similar size and function can be traced to 5th century BC, the modern Beagle was developed in Essex, England around 1830.

While there are hundreds of dog breeds to choose from, these 5 are consistent American favorites. It isn’t difficult to see why considering the wonderful and useful traits of each dog on this list. Breeds that just missed the top 5 list this year include Boxers, Dachshunds, Bulldogs, Poodles and Shih Tzus.

This article was written by the authors at Pet-Super-Store.com - visit this pet supplies store for more information and great savings on orthopedic dog beds.