Top 5 Dog Breeds for 2026: Dachshund, Golden Retriever, More

We're going to the dogs this morning we are unleashing that was from Mister Roker unleashing an exclusive announcement, the American Kennel Club has compiled its list of most popular dog breeds in the country joining us to share this year's top 5 is Brandi Mundin the vice president of communications and PR for the club Brandi good morning. Good morning, this is going to be a fun one whether we should have put the fire hydrants out there on the set will remain to be seen. I know legs are lifted during the. We'll see what happened. How did this list get put together. It is actually based on a Casey's registration statistics. So we go through at the end of every year and we look at our most popular registered breeds and these are it all right we're going to count down now backwards yeah, I'm 5 yes is the number 5 spot number 5 for the first time in about 20 years ago the dachshund yeah, they are all of the reveal. And he is a long haired version of the dachshund dachshunds come in 2 sizes, miniature and standard and they have 3 coat varieties which is smooth long hair and wire hair and they're very smart very independent thinkers, but they're endearing to their families and they were originally bred to hunt badger so they're a little fearless and a little stubborn and we we love that about them, but they are absolutely beloved and long hairs require a little bit more grooming but you can get a smooth and it's kind of moved to a small but mighty. Number 4 now what was what was that for the German shepherd. Yeah, so everybody loves the German shepherd and this is a great. In this 5 and this is a breed we really see excel in working and therapy and they're excellent companions for their family of course they make a wonderful guide dog, but they're also easily. Very well love, yeah, and they're very loyal highly trainable and they also help keep us safe and a myriad of ways but they're also great family companions they do require a good amount of work out so you want to have a good amount of space for a very active lifestyle. If this is a breed you want to own because you want to make sure you're giving them that stimulation and keeping them healthy. Okay number 3 always a favorite, no surprise always smiling always want to be everybody loves a golden. Gold is our wonderful family dog, excellent companions great with kids they do have a high energy level. So if you like to go a lot you like to be on the beach, you like to run you like to hike this breed is definitely for you they thrive best when they are out there just really get into it and having fun in the yard. They do require some grooming so if you're not a dog hair person. It blacks your favorite color maybe not. If you don't mind that everybody that love the golden says is a 100% worth it so grab a brush get some love and cuddle up to a golden. All right, so very popular for 31 years, yes, it topped our list all and it is the Labrador retriever this is a lot and everybody that owns a lab loves them for a myriad of reasons, but their ideal of sporting dogs are great for activity levels good with families. We also see them excel in working and therapy jobs as well so they do make our communities better as well as being wonderful companions they love their families, great disposition excellent with kids. Yeah, I do not have a lab I do not own a breed in the top 20 actually own a West Highland white terrier and have to rescues at home, but every time I need a lab on the floor with them as I was with a lot of surprise, I'm not wearing his hair and I want to yeah, here we go. 25 registrations, yes, the French bulldog. He is a wonderful dog he is very well bred very well loved he this is a smart breed, they're affable they're great for apartment living. They are highly adaptable they don't require a lot of exercise. So this is my I call the my netflix and chill dog. Watch and hang out is what they like to do and they're wonderful companions, they're very smart affable and they actually make pretty good guard dogs are a little protective so they're going to let you know somebody is coming. Let's bring them all out one more time the retriever just yeah, just in case folks for that just a little just a little bit, but everybody loves the Golden everybody loves a lab and there's a wonderful reasons for that you've got to argue the French bulldog you've got all the Labrador retriever Griswold the Golden retriever, a man, the German shepherd dog and there's press. Well, yeah, well, very well trained. Yes, well, the congratulations. Yes, can make you want to get another one now okay, you've got to get one more. In there. I was told should have been in the top 5. You know what they can be a k a k c k 9 partner so you come hang out with us to yeah, thank you great job by the way yeah.