America抯 Favorite Dog Breeds

Each year, the American Kennel Club releases a list of the most popular dog breeds. This list is created by the types of dogs that are registered with the AKC. The top five dog breds for 2009 are Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Yorkshire Terriers, Golden Retrievers, and Beagles.

Labrador retrievers have been an American favorite for nineteen years running. These dogs are considered very loyal and affectionate, which is why they are a highly sought after breed. Labs are great swimmers and great all-around athletes. They love to play catch and retrieve with their owners. Their strong muscular bodies make them great service dogs for the blind, epileptic or other special needs individuals.

Labs come in one of three colors. Black is the most common, followed closely by yellow. Chocolate labs are less common but provide a beautiful rich color that many seek out. Labs are the descendants of St. John抯 Dog, a breed that originated in Newfoundland. The retriever name actually comes from their historical use for hunting and retrieving birds of the water such as ducks. Labradors have coats that repel water more easily than other dogs, and they also have brawny legs, webbed toes, and thick, wide tails that make them strong swimmers.

German shepherds, the second most popular dog breed for 2009, originate from Germany. They are known for being highly intelligent, strong and easy to train. This is why they were used for military purposes in both the First and Second World Wars, as well as for police dogs and search and rescue dogs throughout the world. The size and strength of a German shepherd can be daunting, but these dogs are also very lovable and loyal with their families.

Yorkshire terriers, the favorite small dog for 2009, are short, stocky dogs with blue and tan coats. Their hair, which is usually very fine and straight, makes them a preferred hypoallergenic dog for allergy sufferers. Their hair can be kept short with regular grooming sessions or it can be grown longer as is often the case with show dogs.

Yorkies is the nickname for Yorkshire terriers. These dogs originated in Yorkshire, England in the 1800s. They are a favorite lap dog and enjoy being spoiled. Although, they may be small, they are very vocal, which makes them great watchdogs to alert their owners of any visitors or even of trouble.

Golden retrievers pull in solidly at fourth on the 2009 best of dog breeds list. These beautiful dogs have a cheerful temperament that is contagious and loved by many. They are great with children, which makes them among the first choices for family dogs. Like the Labrador retriever, there loyalty, strength and smarts make them great service dogs.

The golden retriever breed originated in Scotland as gun dogs in the retrieval of ducks during hunting. These dogs have been bred to be gentle with their mouths to avoid damaging the hunt. This is part of what makes them so great with children. They seem to understand the importance of being gentle.

Beagles, fifth on the AKC list, are energetic , great tempered and funny loving dogs. Like the other four dogs, they are great family dogs. There size is usually small or medium, which is much preferred by some who find larger dog breeds overwhelming. Although beagles are smaller, they are still quite strong. These hound dogs are known for their very vocal howls as well as their great sense of smell. This makes them great at hunting or even search and rescue missions. Their history as small game hunters can be traced from England and may even date back to Ancient Greece.