Have you ever wondered what the top favourite dog breeds are? According to an Arizona Republic analysis of county dog-license data, the county has more than 350,000 licensed dogs. Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and Southwest Valley cities follow the regional trend, with Chihuahuas and Labrador Retrievers in the #1 and #2 spots.

1. Chihuahua

2. Labrador Retriever

3. German Shepherd

4. Shih Tzu

5. Dachshund

6. Yorkshire Terrier

7. Golden Retriever

8. Pitbull

9. Boxer

10. Australian Shepherd

        In the 1960s, Poodles were the small status dogs and the most popular dog for 23 years. People pick their dog based on lifestyle. “Poodles needed constant grooming and maintenance. People with today’s fast-paced lifestyle may not have time for all that grooming,” said Lisa Peterson, spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club. Peterson also believes the Chihuahua replaced the Poodle in Arizona because of the southwest influence, roles in movies and celebrities such as Paris Hilton who include her dogs as part of her fashion as an accessory.

        7th graders Alejandro Larios and Lance Russell-Johnson both own dogs that they consider to be a part of their family. Lance owns two dogs that he loves, a Labrador retriever named Rosco and a Dachshund named Payton. Lance was surprised by the number one spot, stating, “Rosco is a great dog. I’m surprised the Chihuahua is number one and not the lab when they are puppies they chew everything but when they are older they are calm. I use to have a Chihuahua but it was annoying.” A dog becomes an important part of your family. Picking a dog that matches your family’s lifestyle should be the most important when picking a breed.