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Bulldog Rolls Into Top 10 Breeds

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By KRISTEN LEVINE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

While the predictable canine favorites continue to top the list, the adorable, full-figured bulldog has snorted its way into Tampa's top 10 favorite dog breeds.

Last month, the American Kennel Club revealed local and national favorites based on number of AKC registrations in 2007.
Labrador retrievers and Yorkshire terriers continue to lead the pack. They're tied in Tampa. Nationally, Labradors remain in the top spot, a position they have held for 17 years.

Could the tote-able Yorkie overtake the mighty Lab in Tampa in 2008? It's possible when you consider that it bumped the golden retriever out of No. 2 locally and nationally just last year.

But the big news is the bulldog. For the first time since 1935, it reached No. 10 nationally and No. 8 in Tampa.

"This breed appeals to a very wide range of dog lovers so it's no surprise that it is a favorite amongst AKC's 157 breeds," AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson says. "The bulldog is both docile and adaptive and can thrive in small or large homes. It's an excellent all-around family pet."
Jeff Dillon and Katie Intihar of Palm Harbor agree.

Three years ago, the couple brought home Dayzee, an 8-week-old female bulldog. Dillon had to convince his fiancee that a bulldog would be better suited for their lifestyle. Intihar pined for the more popular golden retriever. Persistence, apparently, paid off for Dillon.

"I always wanted a bulldog," he says. "They just seemed like big stuffed animals to me."

Bulldogs are "equable and kind, resolute and courageous (not vicious or aggressive), and demeanor should be pacific and dignified," according to the AKC's breed profile.

In layman's terms: adorable and indolent.

"For some reason, I like lazy dogs," says Dillon, a personal trainer. "I run around all day training clients, so when I come home, I don't want to run around with my dog."

The couple calls Dayzee "family," and they love the way other people gush over their pooch.

"Our groomer says Dayzee is the cutest thing she's ever seen," Dillon beams. "And she would know because she sees a lot of dogs."

Here's how Tampa's top dogs match up with the rest of the country:

Tampa

1. Labrador retriever and Yorkshire terrier (tie)

3. Golden retriever

4. German shepherd

5. Boxer

6. Dachshund and poodle (tie)

8. Bulldog

9. Rottweiler

10. Chihuahua

United States

1. Labrador retriever

2. Yorkshire terrier

3. German shepherd

4. Golden retriever

5. Beagle

6. Boxer

7. Dachshund

8. Poodle

9. Shih Tzu

10. Bulldog

"Tampa, 'the Sunshine City,' is filled with active, outdoorsy people, and their favorite dogs reflect that," the AKC's Peterson says. "A large percentage of the list is filled with large sporting and working dogs, such as the Rottweiler, which didn't make the national list."

Locally, the Shih Tzu dropped out of the top 10 and fell to 13th, making room for the bulldog, which rose from 12th to eighth.

Tampa has several marked differences with the national list. The Doberman pinscher and the Havanese are ranked 14th and 17th, respectively, while only coming in at 21st and 37th nationally. The beagle, a favorite nationally at fifth, is 21st in Tampa.

(Learn about your favorite breeds when the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship airs from 8 to 11 tonight on Animal Planet.)

That's fine for purebreds, but what about the mutt? Yes, it's arguably still the most popular dog in America. But since mutts have no official registry, it's difficult to determine their numbers.

With so many breeds to choose from, a combination of two, three or more can produce the most terrific family companion imaginable. Mixed-breed dogs tend to be healthier than purebreds because they are not exposed to genetic deficiencies resulting from overbreeding or poor breeding. Mutts also tend to have even temperaments compared with some purebred varieties.

A multitude of combo canines is readily available and inexpensive at your local animal shelter or rescue organization. For a list of local animal agencies, go to TBO.com, keyword: Pets, or petfinder.com.

Hybrids, or "designer dogs," are intentionally cross-bred canines. The fancy mixes have rocketed to popularity in recent years. The goldendoodle (golden retriever-poodle cross) and the pugle (pug-beagle cross) are clever combinations of favorite breeds and are showing up in noticeable numbers around town.

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