NEW YORK - The American Kennel Club is releasing its 2014 breed popularity rankings on Thursday, and the loyal Labrador remains king (queen?) of the dog hill.
The list, released Thursday, shows Labrador retrievers reigned as the nation's top dog for the 24th year. They broke poodles' decades-old record in 2013.
But bulldogs have hit a new high: No. 4. Their smaller, bat-eared cousins, French bulldogs, sauntered into the top 10 for the first time in nearly a century. They're now No. 9.
German shepherds, golden retrievers and beagles are holding their own in the top five. Yorkshire terriers, poodles, boxers and Rottweilers fill out the top 10.
Dachshunds slipped from 10th to 11th.
The AKC doesn't release raw numbers, only rankings. They reflect puppies and other newly registered dogs.
