U.S. in puppy love: Labs still tops, corgis rise
NEW YORK » America’s dogs are having their day as the coronavirus keeps many people at home more with their pets and spurs so much adoption and fostering that some shelters’ kennels have emptied.
But while much is changing for people and pooches around the country, here’s something holding as steady as a dog with a favorite toy: Labrador retrievers remain the nation’s most popular purebreds for a record-extending 29th year, according to American Kennel Club rankings being released Friday.
The rest of the top 10 includes German shepherds; golden retrievers; French bulldogs; bulldogs; poodles; beagles; Rottweilers; German shorthaired pointers — and, for the first time, Pembroke Welsh corgis.
Some highlights and lowdown on the canine charts:
Rankings explained
The rankings indicate the relative popularity of different breeds among the 589,868 purebred dogs, mostly puppies, that joined the nation’s oldest dog registry last year. Registration is voluntary.
The list includes the 193 breeds that the AKC recognizes — no Labradoodles, puggles, Yorkipoos or other “designer” hybrids, at least for now. Breeds sometimes get added over time.
The chart also doesn’t reflect the everyday mixedbreed dogs that make up a vast share of the estimated 77 million or more canines in U.S. homes.
The corgi charm
Pembroke Welsh corgis (not to be confused with somewhat larger, longertailed Cardigan Welsh corgis) have a long history of herding cattle and sheep in their native Wales.
But Pembrokes have become best known as companions of their most famous fancier, the U.K.’S Queen Elizabeth II. Another Pembroke was California’s social-mediafriendly “first dog” for a time during former Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration in the 2010s.
The short-legged, longbodied breed is known for being spunky and sociable.
“They’re really darned cute ... and they’re just fun to be with,” said Bobbe Lord of Boonton, New Jersey, a longtime owner and breeder.
Lord surmises Pembrokes got a boost in recent years from some popular, corgi-focused social media accounts and the Netflix series “The Crown,” which chronicles Queen Elizabeth II’S life.
Lord appreciates the interest in her beloved breed but also worries about inexperienced people thinking they can make big money by breeding trendy puppies.
“If you’re doing it right, that doesn’t happen,” she said.
The scarcest breed
The English foxhound is the rarest breed in the new rankings. The sizable, highstamina and vocal hounds have a long history in the U.S. but aren’t often found as purely house pets. Fans tend to deploy the dogs for their traditional, packhunting purpose.
“It’s a beautiful breed. I just don’t think people see them enough to know about them,” says AKC spokeswoman Brandi Hunter.