Dogs Popular Breeds

Americans still dig French bulldogs, retrievers and German shepherds. But dachshunds are increasingly hot dogs. For the first time in over two decades, the sausage-shaped hounds were among the top five most prevalent dog breeds in American Kennel Club rankings released Wednesday. The list covers 202 breeds. The standings are based on puppies and older purebreds that were added last year to the AKC’s registry. The rankings aren't a complete picture of the U.S. canine population. They don't include mixed-breed dogs and trendy hybrids such as goldendoodles. The annual list regularly sparks criticism from dog breeding opponents such as the animal rights group PETA.