Jake Gyllenhaal and his German Shepherd play in a Hollywood dog park.

Top 10 Dog Breeds for 2007

Today, the American Kennel Club announced their top ten dog breeds for 2007 based on registration statistics of its members...

2007 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Bulldog

For the first time since 1935, the Bulldog has broken into the top 10. The organization says that this breed has recently gained appeal to a very wide range of dog lovers. The Bulldog is both docile and adaptive, and can thrive in small or large homes. It's also one of the few dog breeds to be adopted as a mascot for some sports teams.

The Bulldog was first recognized by the AKC in 1886, just two years after the organization's founding, and was most popular in 1915 when it peaked in 5th place. The breed's popularity ebbed and flowed throughout the mid-20th century, but since hitting a low of 41st place in 1973, its ranking has steadily increased.

The AKC published statistics by cities...

• The Bulldog is most popular in Los Angeles where is it currently ranked 2nd right after the Lab.



• Atlanta, GA did not include the Bulldog in its top 10, despite being the home to University of Georgia's "Bulldogs".



• The Poodle and Dachshund, who each once enjoyed the top spot in Manhattan (2006, 2005 for the Poodle and 2004 for the Dachshund) now share a tie for 3rd place, ousted by America's top choice, the Labrador Retriever.



• Detroit, Knoxville, Miami, Honolulu and Orlando are the only cities that do not have the Labrador Retriever in the top spot. Detroit and Miami favor the German Shepherd, Orlando puts the Yorkie in 1st place, Honolulu the Golden Retriever and Knoxville the Boxer.



• Salt Lake City is the only city to place the Shih Tzu in one of its top two spots. It moved from 3rd in 2006 to 2nd in 2007.



• The only cities to not have the Yorkie on their lists are Buffalo, Milwaukee and Des Moines.



• Des Moines had the most unique list of all 50 cities, considering that it shared only four dogs with the national Top 10.



• The Miniature Schnauzer, which was displaced on the national list this year by the Bulldog, still claims top dog status in Oklahoma City where it ranks 3rd, higher than in any other U.S. city.



• San Francisco and Los Angeles were the only cities in the nation to include the French Bulldog in their Top 10 lists.

Other interesting dog breed preference facts...

• The Miniature Schnauzer was bumped off the Top 10 list in 2007 to make room for the Bulldog.



• The Yorkshire Terrier held steady in 2nd place, after making news last year by displacing the Golden Retriever and German Shepherd.



• The Havanese, a small dog with a coat type that is a good choice for people with allergies, has enjoyed the greatest surge in popularity since 1997, increasing 994%. It now ranks as the 37th most popular breed.



• Other small dogs (under 20 lbs.) that have gained popularity in the past decade include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (+406%), the French Bulldog (+404%) and the Brussels Griffon (+157%).



• Large dogs with notable increases are two Swiss breeds -- the Bernese Mountain Dog (+74%) and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (+127%) -- as well as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (+130%).



• Breeds on the decline include the Rottweiler (-81%) and the Dalmatian (-96%). Many breeds of Asian origins are also waning in popularity: Chow Chows (-84%), Pekingese (-79%), Akitas (-76%), Lhasa Apso (-75%), Chinese Shar-Pei (-73%) and Shiba Inu (-38%).



• The Beagle is the only breed that has consistently been included in the Top 10 list since 1915. It reigned as the most popular breed from 1954 to 1959.



• Poodles enjoyed a long reign as the most popular dog for 23 years (1960–1982), the longest any breed has held that position consecutively.



• Cocker Spaniels ranked number one from 1936-1953 (replaced by the Beagle in 1954). Cocker Spaniels made a comeback and were number one again from 1983-1990, making them the dog with the longest total reign in the top spot at 25 years.



• The Toy group has been steadily on the rise since the 1970s, when it made up only 12% of the registry versus 23% today.



• The Working group peaked in the 1990's at 17%, most notably due to the Rottweiler being in the Top 10 at that time, including several years in 2nd place.

German Shepherd

COUNTRY: Germany
WEIGHT: 75-95 pounds
HEIGHT: 22-26 inches

COAT: Moderately short, with dense undercoat
COLOR: Black/tan, sable, all black
OTHER NAMES: Deutsche Schaferhund, Alsatian Herding

The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most widely recognized breeds in the world. The breed is known and favored in many countries for its intelligence, trainability, adaptability and fortitude. The foundation of this breed is comparatively recent (1899), making the climb to its current numbers and status of renown even more amazing. Rittmeister Max von Stephanitz, proclaimed "the father of the breed," and his friend, Herr Artur Meyer, bought a working dog seen at a show in order to foster a strong, capable German herder. Von Stephanitz led the group that promoted German Shepherds from 1899 to 1935. During that time, he brought the breed to its current status of respect.

With less demand for herding over the years, von Stephanitz was determined not to let the Shepherd decline and encouraged its use by the police and the military. During World War I, there were 48,000 Shepherds "enlisted" in the German Army. Today, the GSD serves perhaps in more ways than any other breed; search-and-rescue (S&R), police, army and sentry, scent discrimination and, of course, companion. They are superb dog guides for the blind and helpers for the handicapped.

Perhaps the best testimony to its S&R ability comes from the Hospice at St. Bernard, which still offers refuge to travelers. Today the Hospice raises Saint Bernards as a tourist attraction, but German Shepherds do the rescue work.

Despite fads, poor breeding practices, malign-ment of character as "attack" dogs, and discrimination against anything German during the years of and following World War I, the breed has thrived. During the German phobia, English owners refused to give up the breed they had come to admire. They did compromise and change the name to Alsatian, which prevailed for nearly 40 years after all hostilities ended. Their American counterparts, in a similar attempt to disguise the breed's origins, temporarily dropped the word "German" from the name. Two German Shepherds helped to soothe the post-War wounds. The film stars Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart reawakened interest in the breed, with their breath-taking adventures and thrilling rescues. During the Second World War, the Shepherd served the Allied forces in the fight against its homeland. These dogs have amazed even their trainers in feats of power and agility. A shepherd named "Max of Pangoula" scaled a high jump of 11 feet SVs inches, and "Young Sabre" topped a ribbed wall of 11 feet 8 inches.

As late as 1915, there were three coat types— the smoothhaired, the longhaired and the wire-haired. The wirehaired has since disappeared; "long coats" are still born, but do not meet with approval in the conformation ring. They do, however, make fine companions, and there are admirers that prefer them.

Shepherds can tolerate extremes in weather conditions: barking with delight at a romp in below-zero temperatures, rolling in a snowbank; or withstanding the heat of a steamy jungle in a combat zone.

Their ears are required to stand erect naturally, although aid through taping may be given to youngsters with "lazy" ears. A correct, noble Shepherd head can best be described as possessing "the look of eagles." Their tails should reach long and be carried low, with the gentle curve of a saber at the end. All-white coloration is a disqualifying fault, and the Shepherd is one of the very few breeds that is disqualified for vi-ciousness. This commendable practice has accomplished a great deal of good for the breed. It is a GSD, Champion Covy-Tucker Hill's Manhattan, who holds the honor of the most best in shows, over 200, carrying off prestigious wins at Westminster and the AKC Centennial.

The dog is sensible and has a devout loyalty to its family. Perhaps this is why the breed is so popular. Shepherd lovers seem to wear blinders when it comes to their favorite breed, thinking no other can compare. It is claimed the German Shepherd Dog has the intelligence of a seven-year-old child. Shepherds are often top contenders in the obedience ring.

As occurs with any breed that is so numerous, some poor breeding practices exist which perpetuate temperament and health problems. Buyers should study the dam and, if possible, the sire to see if they are physically sound and good-natured. A Shepherd is willing to do anything for the person he loves, to the point of giving his own life. The breed adores its own family and is naturally protective of it and of property. The standard stresses that it must stand its ground and be approachable in public situations.