GOLDEN RETRIEVER DETHRONES THE LAB AS MOST POPULAR BREED IN DENVER

NEW YORK, March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- There's a new top dog in town! This past year, the Golden Retriever took Denver's top spot in the American Kennel Club's (AKC^®) 2021 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S.

The Golden Retriever was also recognized as the #1 pup in Nashville, TN and Boston, MA.

The Golden Retriever is not the only one to shake up the top ten most popular breeds. German Shepherd Dogs, Poodles, and Rottweilers are all moving up the charts as well as the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, which broke into the top ten in 2021.

"The trends that we're seeing in Denver are similar to the national trend, as we see the Poodle climb up the charts nationally as well." said AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo. "It's no surprise the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is climbing in popularity as well. It's a good family dog and responds well to training."

Denver's top 5 breeds for 2021:

1. Golden Retriever
2. Labrador Retriever
3. French Bulldog
4. German Shepherd Dog
5. Bulldog

* Registration data pulled from Denver zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service

The AKC also announced its nationwide rankings today at a virtual press conference at the AKC Museum of the Dog in NYC. No one can keep the Lab down! The ever-popular Labrador Retriever is the nation's favorite dog for the 31^st consecutive year.

While the loveable Lab remains a constant at the top of the charts, the Poodle has pawed its way back into the top five after 24 years, bumping the perennial favorite Bulldog out for the first time in almost a decade. The Bulldog has been a fixture among the top five most popular breeds since 2012.

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About the American Kennel Club
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization, which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred and mixed breed dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

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SOURCE American Kennel Club