LA's Top Dog? The Frenchie, Of Course

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Labrador may be the most sought-after dog in the nation, but Angelenos, a breed apart, favor the French bulldog, the American Kennel Club announced Tuesday.

The Club Tuesday released its annual list of the most popular AKC-recognized breeds, and the Frenchie was LA's top dog yet again.

"The French bulldog continues to be a top favorite for people of Los Angeles for a third year in a row," said AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo. "This breed's playful, alert and smart temperament make it a popular choice for both current and potential dog owners."

The reign of the little dog is little surprise. Demand for the breed has become so high, as a spate of violent dognappings has made headlines over the last month, starting with the theft of two of Lady Gaga's three Frenchies. Her longtime dog walker was shot in Hollywood last month while trying to keep two men from taking the canines. The third dog ran away from the bandits and came to his side after he was wounded.

The singer's pets Koji and Gustav were subsequently found safe. They were brought back to police a few days later by a woman who said she found the dogs. Lady Gaga, who was in Italy filming a movie, had made a public plea for the return of her dogs and offered a $500,000 reward for their safe return.

And last Friday, Redondo Beach police reported the arrests of a man and woman who grabbed an 8-week-old French bulldog from his owner in Redondo Beach and sped off in a Mercedes-Benz. The pet was later recovered unharmed.

After the Frenchie, the second most popular dog in L.A. is the bulldog followed by the Labrador retriever, the German shepherd and golden retriever.

Pomeranians gained a bit of popularity -- moving from the 10th ranking to No. 9 and signifying the only real change in L.A.'s 2020 list, according to the AKC.

Dachshunds and cane corsos, a type of mastiff originating in Italy, are two other breeds that have gained popularity in 2020, moving up to 11th and 12th place rankings, respectively.

The French bulldog also was recognized as the top dog in San Francisco and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Nationally, the French bulldog came in at No. 2 in 2020 ahead of the No. 3 German shepherd, the No. 4 golden retriever and the No. 5 bulldog. according to the AKC rankings.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.