2011 Most Popular Dog Breeds

The AKC released their annual list of most popular dog breeds today.  The list for 2011 has only changed a little from the 2010 Most Popular Dog Breeds list they published last year.  The list changed so little that the exact same ten breeds are on the list, only a few spots were shuffled around.  Take a look at the list, arr you surprised by the dogs on the list, do you feel that your favorite breed has been overlooked?

10.  Shih Tzu

9.  Poodle

8.  Dachshund

7.  Boxer

6.  Bulldog

5.  Golden Retriever

4.  Beagle

3.  Yorkshire Terrier

2.  German Shepherd

1.  Labrador Retriever

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How to Spot a Good Breeder

I am sure we are all aware of the different levels of quality that exist across the board when it comes to consumer goods.  I personally know the difference between a pair of speakers and a good pair of speakers, the difference between pizza and good pizza, and most definitely the difference between dog training and good dog training.

The exact same thinking applies to breeding dogs; yes, it goes way beyond simply breeding two dogs because they are both purebred.  When considering getting a puppy from a breeder, here are some of things you will want to look for:

• They interview you to see if they want to sell you a dog, a good breeder will not sell a puppy to anyone simply because they have money
• After doing a lot of research and planning, they have matched the mother and father up for specific reasons
• They keep the pups with their mother and litter mates 8 weeks or longer
• They select a puppy for you that will best fit your lifestyle and needs
• They start handling and socializing the pups very early
• They don’t breed 10 different types of dogs at their facility
• They require that you return the dog only to them if the dog ever needs to be re-homed
• They don’t constantly have litters available, and don’t have multiple litters at one time
• They discuss the potential drawbacks of getting two dogs from the same litter

There is so much to think about when selecting a dog from a breeder, and from a shelter.  A responsible breeder doesn’t have to hit every single one of these points on the above list, but many of them should be covered.

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2010 Most Popular Dog Breeds

If you are looking for the AKC list of the Most Popular Dog Breeds that was released on January 26, 2011, click here!

The AKC recently announced their annual list of the top ten most popular dog breeds in America.  Some of the list may surprise you, but others may not.  Check out the list of the top 10 most popular dog breeds.

10.  Shih Tzu

9.  Poodle

8.  Dachshund

7.  Bulldog

6.  Boxer

5.  Beagle

4.  Golden Retriever

3.  Yorkshire Terrier

2.  German Shepherd

1.  Labrador Retriever

What do you think it is about the Labrador that makes them extremely popular year after year?  Is it their size, personality, versatility, cultural viewpoint, or something else?

As the owner of a Labrador (that is my dog Boomer pictured above) I chose the breed because of the high energy level and the ability to excel is many different disciplines (obedience, field work, dock dogs, etc).  For those of you with Labs, and those of you who don’t have Labs, what is your input; why did you chose the breed you did?

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Should I Breed My Dog?

We often run into dog owners with un-neutered/spayed dogs and the subject often leads to breeding.  I can not tell you how many times we have heard, “Yeah, I’m gonna let her have one litter”, or “He has papers”.  Simply put, these are not very good reasons to breed your dog.

Breeding is a huge responsibility and should not be taken lightly.  There are so many factors, all of which are above my head, that go into selecting the parents; just having “papers” on your dog or being a purebred is not enough.  I have no right to tell anyone what they can or can not do, but here are some things to consider if you are thinking of breeding your dog.

• Does your dog have something to contribute to the breed, some outstanding attribute that is lacking in the breed overall?
• Do you understand the standard enough to know what ARE faults and attributes?
• Do you have enough knowledge of genetics to understand modes of inheritance?
• Have you spent the time studying pedigrees and understanding which dogs are producing what?
• Are you aware of the health problems in the breed, and how to test for them, how to at least try to avoid them, how they are inherited? If not, do you have a mentor in the breed, someone who DOES have the knowledge required?
• Do you have the emotional, physical, and financial ability to care for every puppy for it’s lifetime in the event that you can not sell all of the dogs or they come back?
• Are you prepared emotionally and physically in the event that you have to drop an entire line and start all over again?
• If you breed him/her to “get your investment back” you are breeding for the wrong reasons.

I realize that all breeders had to start with their “first” litter at one point, and new groups of breeders are needed to carry on lines and standards.  However, please make sure you are starting a breeding program with the right knowledge base and for the right reasons.

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