TheLabradorRetrieverwasnamedthetopdogintheUnitedStatesonWednesdayforthe19thconsecutiveyearbytheAmericanKennelClub.
TheGermanShepherdcameinsecondplacefor2009,duetoitsincreasedvisibilityasapreferredbreedforlawenforcement,followedbytheYorkshireTerrier,theGoldenRetrieverandtheBeagle.
ButtheLabradorRetriever'slongrunatthetopmaynotlasttoomuchlonger.
"ForthefirsttimeinnearlythreedecadestheGermanShepherddogfindsitselfinthenumbertwoposition,displacingtheYorkshireTerrier,"saidAmericanKennelClubspokeswomanLisaPeterson.
Boxers,Bulldogs,Dachshunds,PoodlesandShihTzuroundedoutthetop10mostpopulardogsinthelistof164breeds.TherankingisbasedonthenumberofregistrationsforthebreedwiththeAmericanKennelClub.
Overthepastdecade,theHavanesewentfrom92ndmostpopularbreedto32ndandthePortugueseWaterDogjumpedto60thfrom80thplace,thanksinparttobeingPresidentBarackObama'sfamilypet.
OfficersfromtheNewYorkCityMetropolitanTransportationAuthority'sK-9unit,whotrainwitheitherLabradorsorGermanShepherds,saidthedogswereessentialtofightingterrorism.
"Thedogsarethebestthingthatwehave,they'rethebestthingthat'soutthere."saidWilliamMorangeoftheMetropolitanTransportationAuthority.
"WeknowtheonethingthatreallyworksistheK-9unit,itkeepsthetransportationsystemrunning."
(ReadbyReneeHaines.ReneeHainesisamultimediajournalistattheChinaDailyWebsite.)