Chihuahua Overtakes the Lab To Become Honolulu’s Top Dog

– Nationally, Labrador Retriever Remained America’s Most Popular Breed While the Beagle and Rottweiler Make Strong Gains –

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The small but mighty Chihuahua made news by surpassing the beloved Labrador Retriever to become Honolulu’s top dog according to the American Kennel Club’s (AKC®) 2011 ranking of the most popular dogs in the U.S.

“Proving the people of Honolulu follow their own trends, the tiny yet spunky Chihuahua overtook the large and lovable Labrador Retriever last year to become the most popular dog,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Honolulu is one of the few cities without the Lab in its top spot.”

    Honolulu's Most Popular Breeds 2011* Honolulu's Most Popular Breeds 2010*
    -----------------------------------  -----------------------------------
    1.  Chihuahua                        1.  Labrador Retriever
    -------------                        ----------------------
    2.  Labrador Retriever               2.  German Shepherd Dog
    ----------------------               -----------------------
    3.  Shetland Sheepdog                3.  Shiba Inu
    ---------------------                -------------
    4.  German Shepherd Dog              4.  Chihuahua
    -----------------------              -------------
    5.  Pomeranian/Yorkshire Terrier**   5.  Golden Retriever
    ----------------------------------   --------------------
    7.  Bulldog/Poodle***                6.  Dachshund/Pomeranian****
    ---------------------                ----------------------------
    9.  French Bulldog                   8.  Beagle/Shetland Sheepdog*****
    ------------------                   ---------------------------------
    10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel    10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
    ---------------------------------    ---------------------------------

*Registration data pulled from Honolulu zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service
**Tied for #5 (2011)
***Tied for #7 (2011)
****Tied for #6 (2010)
*****Tied for #8 (2010)

Notable trends in Honolulu’s top breeds:

• New to Honolulu’s top 10 last year were the Yorkshire Terrier (up eight places to number five), the Bulldog (up six places to tie for number seven) the Poodle (up five places to tie for number seven), and the French Bulldog (up two places to number nine).
• Dropping out of the top 10 last year were the Shiba Inu (down 12 places to tie for number 15), the Golden Retriever (down six places to tie for number 11) Dachshund (down seven places to tie for number 13), and the Beagle (down seven to tie for number 15).
• The powerful and intelligent Boxer, the nation’s seventh most popular dog, is only tied for 11th in Honolulu.

The AKC also announced its nationwide rankings today. The Beagle made big news by overtaking the beloved Yorkshire Terrier to become the third most popular dog breed, while the Golden Retriever advanced from the fifth to the fourth most popular dog breed. The Rottweiler also made big news by unseating the Shih Tzu – which had been in the top 10 since 2000. But fans of the Labrador Retriever need not fear: the beloved Lab remained the champ – a spot it has now held for 21 consecutive years – thanks to its well-earned reputation for playfulness and loyalty, and its use as a police and search-and-rescue dog.

    Most Popular Breeds Nationwide
    ------------------------------
    1. Labrador Retriever
    ---------------------
    2. German Shepherd Dog
    ----------------------
    3. Beagle
    ---------
    4. Golden Retriever
    -------------------
    5. Yorkshire Terrier
    --------------------
    6. Bulldog
    ----------
    7. Boxer
    --------
    8. Poodle
    ---------
    9. Dachshund
    ------------
    10. Rottweiler
    --------------

A complete list of AKC’s Most Popular Breeds, including national trends and statistics for 50 U.S. cities, is available on the AKC website at http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm.

For more information on finding a responsible breeder in your area, go to www.AKCpuppies.org.

Get social with the AKC! Join AKC on Facebook and Twitter.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Add to your story with a list of AKC trivia questions based on the rankings or book an interview with an AKC Spokesperson by contacting Jessica Rice at (212) 696-8346 or jxr3@akc.org. Photos from the press conference are also available upon request to members of the press.]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) proudly celebrated its 125th Anniversary in 2009. Since 1884, the not-for-profit organization has maintained the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, and today its rules govern more than 20,000 canine competitions each year. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

SOURCE American Kennel Club