Lifestyle Pets Labrador Retriever Named the Most Popular Dog Breed for the 30th Year in a Row The American Kennel Club (AKC) released their annual list of the most popular dog breeds on Tuesday By Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice Instagram Twitter Nicholas Rice is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. Nicholas has previous work experience with Billboard, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Elite Daily. When not working, Nicholas can be found playing with his 5 dogs, listening to pop music or eating mozzarella sticks. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 16, 2021 02:14 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty (3) The Labrador retriever remains top dog! On Tuesday, the American Kennel Club (AKC) released their annual list of the most popular dog breeds. For 2020, the Labrador retriever took the top spot, marking the loveable canine's 30th consecutive year ranking first on the list. Below the Lab in the No. 2 spot is the French bulldog, who now ranks above the third-place German shepherd for the first time. The golden retriever and the bulldog round out the top 5, taking the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. "America's love for Labs is undeniable," AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo said in a statement. "They're such versatile, family-friendly dogs that it's no wonder they've been so popular for 30 years." According to the AKC, the Labrador retriever was also the number one breed in Albany, NY, Milwaukee, WI, and Salt Lake City, UT. American Kennel Club Recognizes New Toy Dog Breed — Meet the Biewer Terrier! Getty But Labs have some competition to keep an eye on, as French bulldogs are gaining steam and inching closer and closer to the top of the list, the AKC adds. "The French bulldog, however, seems poised to end the Lab's reign," DiNardo said. "The playful, adaptable Frenchie has become increasingly popular over the past decade and shows no signs of slowing down." "As always, we encourage people to do their research to make sure they are not just getting a purebred dog, but most importantly a well-bred dog from a responsible breeder," she added. To get a full list of where every breed ranks and which dog is number one in your state or city, visit AKC.org.