Dog Breeds - Most Popular vs Least Popular

[Nana Annie]

Hi Everybody,

I need your help.

A dear friend of ours is researching dog breeds for his family and has asked our help. He can't decide what breed is perfect for his family. He tends to go out of his way NOT to follow trends, so has checked out the list of the least registered dogs in the AKC. He would like to know why these dogs are on the bottom of the popularity list. Is there a reason - do they not make good family dogs? Also, why are the dogs in the top so popular? What makes them so great that Labs have 3 times more registrations than any other breed? I told him that if anybody could help, the great people on this could!

Here is the list of the Top 20 registered Breeds and the Bottom 20 Registered breeds. Let us know if you have any of these dogs and why they are good for your family. Also, if you have one of the 100+ breeds in between the top and bottom most popular - please chime in! And Last But Not Least - for all you European folk out there - we know there are many European breeds that are not recognized by the AKC. Any of them make outstanding family pets? He mentioned on - a Dutch spaniel dog (can't remember the name) but it was cute as the dickens.

So - tell us why your breed is the best and post pictures if you can ug:

The top 20 registered breeds:_________The bottom20 least registered breeds
#1 Retrievers (Labrador)_____________ #135 Lowchen
#2 Retrievers (Golden)______________ #136 Pulik
#3 German Shepherd Dogs___________ #137 Spaniels (Irish Water)
#4 Beagles________________________ #138 Spaniels (Field)
#5 Yorkshire Terriers________________ #139 Pharaoh Hounds
#6 Dachshunds____________________ #140 Black and Tan Coonhounds
#7 Boxers_________________________ #141 Ibizan Hounds
#8 Poodles________________________ #142 Canaan Dogs
#9 Shih Tzu_______________________ #143 Komondorok
#10 Chihuahuas___________________ #144 German Pinschers
#11 Miniature Schnauzers___________ #145 Plotts
#12 Pugs_________________________ #146 Sealyham Terriers
#13 Pomeranians__________________ #147 Dandie Dinmont Terriers
#14 Bulldogs______________________ #148 Finnish Spitz
#15 Spaniels (Cocker)______________ #149 Skye Terriers
#16 Rottweilers___________________ #150 Harriers
#17 Boston Terriers________________ #151 Spaniels (Sussex)
#18 Shetland Sheepdogs____________ #152 Foxhounds (American)
#19 Maltese______________________ #153 Otterhounds
#20 Pointers (German Shorthaired)___ #154 Foxhounds (English)

 

[mouseclick1]

We currently have a Lab and a Boxer (#1 and #7). However, my childhood dog was a Black and Tan Coonhound (#140!). I honestly don't think I have ever seen another one of those since I was little! aw: aw: aw: aw:


Sorry, I hit reply before I really answered your question!

Our Lab - She is a great family dog. Very gentle, yet still energetic at 9 years old. We have had her since she was a puppy. Our boys were 4 & 5 when we first got her, and they all just loved to play together. She was actually quite hyper until about 5, but always very lovable. She really is a sweet girl!

Our Boxer - She is our second Boxer. We got her when she was 1 1/2. She is also a great dog, though her disposition isn't quite as sweet as the Lab's. I think her previous owner used to hit her, and she always seems a little on the nervous side. Still, she is a great family dog. We already had our first Boxer when my first son was born. She was very good with the baby, and seemed to be protective of him. Her favorite spot to sleep was beside his crib.

My old Black and Tan Coonhound - OK, this dog passed away 30 years ago, so I don't remember too much about him. I do remember that he was always a good dog. So, even though he is #140 on the list, there was not one thing negative that I can remember about him.

 

[Maddy Dog]

I'm a Weimaraner. Originally we were bred to hunt bear in Germany! Scary huh? Eventually they bred us for a more "gentle" mouth and we are now bird dogs- a close cousin of the German Short Hair Pointer. My Mom likes how "different" I look. People always want to know what kind of dog I am! I am VERY loyal- I only want to be where my "people" are- and I hated being alone when I was younger. I'm almost 8 now and I don't mind a little alone time. My mom works 4 hours a day and that's okay, I don't chew the woodwork anymore.

 

[mrsv98]

Well, Labs and retrievers are popular because they are such good family dogs. Patient, kind, intelligent (well, for the most part ) excellent with children, etc. German shepards are wonderful and very intelligent. Excellent guard dogs and very good protectors of family. I had two German shepards growing up and now have two Labs so you can see my bias!

As for some of the others, they may have traits that *most* people don't like. Please, don't flame me, it is JMHO and I like just about all dogs.

That being said here goes:

Hounds - these are very vocal and active dogs. They are bred to pursue and like to run. The can be noisy and more difficult to train.

Ibizan and Canaan dogs are very new to the AKC registry, within the last 5 years and that may account for their low rank.

I know that the Lowchen is not supposed to be good with children as are many of the toy group. I think those are older folks and non-children households.

Please, I KNOW there are exceptions and I am sure someone can refute everything I have said, this is just my view on why these dogs are popular/unpopular

 

[chadfromdallas]

So - tell us why your breed is the best and post pictures if you can ug:

Need I say more?

 

[stinkerbelle]

I just looked up ours - Spaniel (Brittany)- #30 on that list.
Jazzy is a great dog. Not a big barker (when she barks - you KNOW something is wrong...by nature they are a 'quiet' dog as they do a lot of field work)

she likes to sniff EVERY.THING. (should have called her Sniffy!) and she LOVES the water (see siggy pic) and playing catch/retrieve/frisbee.

No kiddies in the family yet...I'm sure she'll calm down when she is around kids on a longer term basis...but with it just be her, me, and DH in the house...whenever she meets someone new/someone comes over/etc...she goes nutty for a bit.


My parents have 2 shelties (#18) BEAUTIFUL, loyal, sweet dogs...however they bark no end and shed horribly.

 

[fairytalehaven]

I'm sorry but I have to say this (just voicing my opinion):

The best dog is a mixed breed. Always had them, always will. They have always been friendly, good with kids, and trained well. I prefer dogs with a unique look instead of looking like all the rest.

Beagle/something, lab/shep, coonhound/lab
http://mysite.verizon.net/ccaughman/id7.html

There are too many animals in shelters to be spending money on purebreds. However, if that is what you want check for purebred rescue leagues.

Golden retrievers, beagles, labs


mil has maltese- too yippy and scared of everything
sis has golden doodle for the amount of money I think it is completely ridiculous, nothing special.
neighbor has golden ret- good family dog

 

[pospisil]

All of the dogs on the top twenty are bred extensively by backyard breeders. This make for cheap, low-quality dogs, but ones that can be registered, which makes them rank high on the popularity lists. The lower twenty haven't been discovered by the masses yet, so they are generally bred by reputable breeders, which makes them more expensive, so there's not as big of a demand. The popularity charts don't have anything to do with what kind of dog makes a good pet.These things wax and wane with public opinion. When I was a kid, dobermans were high on the list and rottweilers way down low, now they are reversed. Tell your friend to go to a pound and find a dog that clicks with him, he'll know him when he meets him. He'll be saving a life!

 

[Mimi Q]

Well, we have a pug. She is a great family dog. Loves my children. The only downside to the pug is they shed, shed, and shed. If you want a dog who wants to sit in your lap and needs lots of love and attention, then a pug is for you. ug:

 

[ziggystardust]

I have a chocolate lab and a pug.

This is our 3rd lab, 1st chocolate (before that they were yellow). My parents decided to get a lab after adopting a dog from the local shelter that was supposed to be an angel and growled at me when I was crawling. So after that, my mom only wanted pure breeds. (BTW, I love mutts too, but this one dog left a bad taste in my mom's mouth)

Labs are great. They are such friendly dogs. I love my Kadie and I still get upset when I think of my last 2 labs. But any pet owner will feel the same, no matter what the breed.

I vote for a lab, if you have the space in the yard. They love and need to run. Choc. ones are also more hyper than the black and yellow, so if you decide on a choc. you need more space and patience. They take a few more years to calm down too. They are great with kids of all ages, even the naughty ones that pull on their tails.

One piece of advice, if your friend goes the pure bred route, DO NOT GO TO A PET STORE!! they are bad places and treat their animals poorly. Do some research and go to a reputable breeder or a lab(or any breed's)rescue.

 

[DoeWDW]

I have a dachshund. She definitely likes to bark and is a bit scared of the world, though I'm sure not all doxies are like that. She's a compact little hound and loves to sniff! She is very loyal to and protective of our family and doesn't like being alone very much.

 

[RC Fan]

I love German Shepherds! We have had several Germans over the years and they are awesome dogs. They are very intelligent and loyal.

 

[Auggietina]

We are the proud owner of a mutt. He is a shepard/husky/lab mix and he is just the best dog ever!

Great family dog! Doesn't jump, he waits for you to wake up in the morning before asking to go outside. He can be outside without a leash and not leave the yard, he doesn't bark, plays ball, when he is inside he finds his corner and just hangs out, the only thing is that he thinks he is an 80lb lap dog...

 

[phillybeth]

I can tell you for sure that Foxhounds, both the English and the American, and the Harrier, do not make good family pets. They are working, hunting, pack dogs.
Most of the others on that list are recently AKA-accepted breeds, so it would make sense that not many are registered yet.
Pulik are the 'mop' dogs- they look like walking string mops. Coat maintenance is probably prohibitive.
Dandie Dinmonts, Sealyhams and Skyes are one-owner dogs.

 

[snoopy]

Well, we have a pug. She is a great family dog. Loves my children. The only downside to the pug is they shed, shed, and shed. If you want a dog who wants to sit in your lap and needs lots of love and attention, then a pug is for you. ug:

Awww I love pugs! My boys are driving me crazy to get a dog, but we've always had labs and that is just too big of a dog for us at this stage of our lives. I would actually consider a pug, nice to know yours loves children.

 

[thelionqueen]

After a ton of research regarding dogs, breeds, behaviors and histories, we decided on a Great Pyrenees.

The Great Pyrenees is a fairly "rare" breed. I only say rare because they are not well known or recognizable. We have owned our male Great Pyr "Timber" for 5 years. He is the BEST TEMPERED DOG I have ever encountered!!!

He has NEVER EVER snapped, or been aggressive in any way to our 2 boys. He is not an attack dog, but is very large!! He is compared in size to a St. Bernard. Our Male is full grown and weighs in at 177lbs. He is VERY protective over the kids. If any kids play too rough or do something he is uncomfortable with, he will "herd" them. Herding them means he will surround the person with as much of his body as possible, and push them away from the situation. Our dog has done this several times, and is quite a site.

If you do your research on this breed, you will see they are by far the best, far and above any other for children and families.

Apart from being absolutely BEAUTIFUL (look like a polar bear) they are super in every other way.

We cannot go to the park without someone asking us "what kind of dog is that, he is so pretty, etc"

You cann't go wrong. The one picture in the snow is the huge Denver Blizzard of 2003 (15ft of snow) so he is a little soggy looking, but so cute!!

Good luck!!
aw:

aw:

 

[snoopy]

A good friend of mine had a Great Pyrenees, his name was Blue. He was an AMAZING dog, so sweet and so loving to children even though he was almost as big as a small pony! My son LOVED him and wanted one just like him! (would never have worked in our teeny tiny row house in the city tho!)

 

[Hercules10]

Well just taking a stab here by looking at the bottom 20 list. I'd say they're not popular because they're working dogs. Terriers (some were bred to dig prey out of the ground), hounds and spaniels are all dogs that need lots of excercise and thrive more in the outdoors then in backyards or apartments. But that's just my guess

 

[glass-slipper]

we have 2 collies. They are very gentle, loyal, smart, and great with children.
Ours are totally spoiled!

 

[lovetheparks]

We have 2 rat terriers and I love love love them! One is a mini - she's 12lbs and one's a standard, he's 20lbs at almost a year old. They are very smart, loyal and loving dogs. Energetic but not so much that they have to be outside 24/7. They are great with kids and are wonderful watch dogs. They both love to snuggle with you at night.

Only pic I have here work: