Labs Fetch Top Dog

The lovable Lab is once again the most popular purebred dog in the U.S., the American Kennel Club announced this morning. For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador retriever bested all other breeds in registration numbers by a wide margin.

Registration statistics for 2008 also show that the bulldog, which snagged a top-10 position last year for the first time in more than seven decades, increased in popularity, moving up two slots in the standings into number 8.

The other breeds on this year's top 10 include, in descending order: Yorkshire terrier, German shepherd, golden retriever, beagle, boxer, dachshund, poodle and shih tzu.

The AKC also released the most popular breeds in the 50 largest U.S. cities, a list that demonstrates an affection in some cities for breeds that don't make the national top-10 list.

The athletic vizsla leapt onto the year's top 10 for Chicago, just as in 2007 and 2003. The miniature pinscher made the top 10 in San Diego and Sacramento. The great dane was 10th in St. Louis, the Bullmastiff 10th in Indianapolis and the Siberian husky 9th in Long Beach.

[Source: USA Today]