Ranking the top ten most popular dog breeds of 2017

All breeds have their strong points, and all dogs are individuals, but some breeds are more sought after than others. rnThe American Kennel Club ( AKC ), which exists in part to keep track of these sorts of things, publishes an annual ranking of the most popular of their nearly two hundred recognized breeds.rnrnGoing by the most recent stats available, for 2017, we've got a primer on each of the top ten most popular dogs in the United States.rnrn[nextslide teaser="And%20so%20the%20list%20begins" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1274" align="aligncenter" width="300"] NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 17: CJ, the German Shorthaired Pointer and winner of the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Winner Visits One World Observatory at One World Trade Center on February 17, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)[/caption]rn No. 10 - The German Shorthaired Pointer rnThe GSP is an athletic, friendly and eager to please medium-large dog typically used for hunting purposes, and occasionally featured in literature . They're a pretty healthy breed, but they do shed almost constantly.rn No.. 9 - The Yorkshire Terrier rn Yorkies have a reputation as a prissy and overly yappy breed, but they make great companions. They live extremely long lives for dogs, and they would shine in shampoo commercials with their silky, sleek coats. They don't shed very often, either, which is a good thing if you or someone in your household has dog allergies.rnrn[nextslide teaser="The%20elite%20eight" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1036" align="aligncenter" width="300"] NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 21: A Rottweiler, the 8th most popular breed of 2016, is shown at The American Kennel Club Reveals The Most Popular Dog Breeds Of 2016 at AKC Canine Retreat on March 21, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)[/caption]rn No. 8 - The Rottweiler rn Rottweilers have a pretty terrible reputation, but these strong and stocky dogs can be great family pets - if they are well-trained. If not....they could be terrifying. They also sometimes are used in novels and movies.rn No. 7 - The Poodle rn Poodles are often underestimated due to their ridiculous haircuts, but they're one of the smartest canines out there. Their coat is hypoallergenic, making them a good breed for those with allergies. Another plus? They also have long lifespans, up to 18 years.rnrn[nextslide teaser="The%20superior%20six" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_804" align="aligncenter" width="300"] NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 21: A Beagle, the 5th most popular breed of 2016, is shown at The American Kennel Club Reveals The Most Popular Dog Breeds Of 2016 at AKC Canine Retreat on March 21, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)[/caption]rn No. 6 - The Beagle rnWho doesn't love Beagles ? They're loyal companions, excellent watchdogs, and can be good hunting dogs, if you're interested in that kind of thing. Besides, Snoopy is one of their number, and they're just so doggone photogenic!rn No. 5 - The Bulldog rn Bulldogs are one of the classic school mascots , often depicted as fierce due to their origins as bullfighters, but they're generally good-natured and get along well with children and other dogs.rnrn[nextslide teaser="The%20final%20four" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_719" align="aligncenter" width="300"] NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 12: A French Bulldog competes at the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at The Piers on February 12, 2018 in New York City. The show is scheduled to see 2,882 dogs from all 50 states take part in this year's competition. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)[/caption]rn No. 4 - The French Bulldog rnA separate breed distinct from traditional English cousins, Frenchies are quite a bit smaller and more playful. They look kind of similar to Pugs, and have trouble regulating their temperature due to their thin coats.rn No. 3 - The Golden Retriever rn Goldens are the supermodels of the canine world, but everyone loves them anyway. They do well when filmed or in PR roles, and they're athletic and could do equally well as hunting companions or family pets. They're most people's dream dog for good reason.rnrn[nextslide teaser="And%20the%20winners%20are..." /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_973" align="aligncenter" width="300"] NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Rumor the German Shepherd poses for photos after winning Best In Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, February 14, 2017 in New York City. There are 2874 dogs entered in this show with a total entry of 2908 in 200 different breeds or varieties, including 23 obedience entries. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)[/caption]rn No. 2 - The German Shepherd rn German Shepherds , also known as Alsatians, aren't actually used in shepherding very often any more, but they excel in a variety of working roles, especially as police or military dogs. The most famous Hollywood, Rin Tin Tin , was a German Shepherd.rn No. 1 - The Labrador Retriever rnThe most popular breed for the past five years in a row is the Lab , because they're basically perfect at anything you might ask of a dog - they're friendly, loyal, athletic and smart, and can be protective of their people if the need arises.rnrnThey make fantastic service dogs or guide dogs. Besides, they're just so cute, whether their coat color is black, chocolate or yellow.rnrn[story_link_next description="The%20top%20ten%20most%20popular%20dog%20names%20of%202017" url="https://dogoday.com/2018/08/25/popular-dog-names-2017/" /]rnrnFor more general canine information, news and tail-waggin' fun, be sure to follow and interact with Dog O'Day on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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The top ten most popular breeds of 2017

All breeds have their strong points, and all dogs are individuals, but some breeds are more sought after than others.

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