Who are the most popular dogs?
We're not talking about which pooch has the most pals at the dog park; we're taking a look at the most popular dog breeds! With a little help from the AKC, we've got the scoop on which breeds have been top dog over the last 125 years.
Did your favorite dog make the cut?
Though not officially recorded, it is believed that the English Setter or Pointer was the most popular dog from 1884 to 1888. More recently though, the breed appeared in the Disney animated movie "Pocahontas".
Most Popular Breeds of the Last 125 Years
English Setter (or Pointer)
Though not officially recorded, it is believed that the English Setter or Pointer was the most popular dog from 1884 to 1888. More recently though, the breed appeared in the Disney animated movie "Pocahontas".
AKC
Boston Terrier
You may recognize this adorable pup thanks to its collegiate better half, Rett, the official mascot of Boston University. The energetic and adorable Boston terrier was the most popular breed from 1920-1939. The exception was 1925, when the German Shepherd stole the title until the Boston terrier took it back in 1928. Go terriers!
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German Shepherd
It's really no surprise that the German Shepherd saw a huge rise in popularity in the '20s. In 1922, Rin Tin Tin (a German Shepherd) was featured in the Warner Brothers film "Man From Hell's River."
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Cocker Spaniel
Cameos in "Lady and the Tramp" and the "Fun with Dick and Jane" book series may have helped Cocker Spaniels longest reign in the top spot -- for 25 years, from 1940-1952. They came back to number one again in 1983 and held that spot until 1990.
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Beagle
Everybody loves a Beagle, especially Charlie Brown. Yep, Snoopy is a scent hound! The breed was top dog from 1953-1959, and after the recent "Underdog" movie, it saw another surge in popularity, though not enough to bring it back to the top spot.
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Poodle
They've got brains, brawn, and style so it's no wonder Poodles have long been popular. The stylish and sporty breed, which held the number one spot from 1960-1983, is the inspiration behind Poodle skirts and John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley: In Search of America," which documents the road trip he took with his Standard Poodle Charley in 1960.
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Labrador Retriever
In 1991, the Labrador Retriever grabbed the number one position and has held it as fiercely as a Lab puppy holds onto a precious shoe. This may be due to the Lab's stronghold within pop culture.The Yellow Lab was portrayed in the wildly popular book and film "Marley & Me" and is often used as the quintessential dog within advertising -- Cottonelle, Estee Lauder, K-9 Advantix and more. Black Labs hit the news circuit in 2007 when two counterfeit detection dogs sniffed out nearly 2 million pirated DVDs. Sweet and smart? It's no wonder this breed is Top Dog!
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In honor of the American Kennel Club's 125th Anniversary, we're searching for the top 125 dogs in pop culture! Do you prefer Snoopy or Scooby Doo? Cujo or Clifford The Big Red Dog? Make your woof heard in the AKC 125 Popular Dogs Poll Series! Each Monday, we'll poll you about your favorite dogs in pop culture, then the AKC will reveal the top dogs!
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