Popularity...

Breed popularity varies widely over time and in different parts of the world and different segments of the population.

Counting by AKC registration (not by licensing registration or by UKC registration, which could present different statistics), the Labrador Retriever has been the United States's most commonly registered breed of dog since 1991.

However, even within parts of the United States, popularity varies; for example, in 2005 the most-registered breed in New York City was the Poodle; the Yorkshire Terrier was the second-most-registered breed in Houston but didn't even make the top ten in Honolulu.

However, animal shelters in many parts of the United States report that the most-commonly available dog for adoption is the American Pit Bull Terrier or pit bull-type mixes, making up as much as 20% of dogs available for adoption, none of which would be registered with the AKC.

Two decades ago, in 1983, the AKC's top two registered breeds were the American Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle.

In Britain, The Kennel Club reports that the most-registered breed from at least 1999 to 2005 was the Labrador Retriever.

It rounds out the top three for 1999 to 2005 with the German Shepherd Dog, also popular in the States, and the English Cocker Spaniel which is no longer even in the top ten in the States.