Topline
The expensive and highly sought after French bulldog was the most popular dog breed in the U.S. in 2022, according to American Kennel Club rankings out Wednesday, usurpring labrador retrievers who have held the coveted top spot for the past 31 years.
Lola, a French bulldog, lies on the floor prior to the start of a St. Francis Day service at the … [+]
Key Facts
The popularity of the “smart, compact breed,” as the AKC describes it, grew by over 1000% in the past 10 years, climbing the AKC ranks of nearly 200 breeds and making it to the number two spot in 2021.
The labrador retriever, golden retriever, German shepherd and poodle rounded out the top five breeds in 2022, while sloughi, Norwegian lundehund and English foxhound were at the bottom of the list, ranking 197 through 199 respectively.
The AKC first recognized the French Bulldog breed in 1898.
Key Background
The small dogs—averaging 11 to 13 inches and 28 pounds—have become increasingly common in recent years as they do not require a lot of outdoor activity, they are adaptable to a variety of home circumstances and are “excellent watchdogs,” the AKC said. Celebrities are among the folks making the breed so popular, everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have touted their frenchies on social media.
Surprising Fact
In 2021, Lady Gaga made headlines when her two French bulldogs were stolen from her dog walker—who was choked and shot during the attack—in Los Angeles. Five people were arrested for the attack in April 2021, who police told the New York Times attacked the dog walker because they knew the dog breed was valuable.
Further Reading
The Price French Bulldogs Pay for Being So Cute (New York Times)
Never Mind Your Wallet. Armed Robbers Want Your French Bulldog. (New York Times)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/03/15/french-bulldogs-are-now-americas-most-popular-dog—dethroning-this-popular-breed-after-31-years/