Illinois Residents Love This Dog Breed The Most

All hail, the Labrador retriever, king of the canines! At least, that's according to the American Kennel Society. The organization crowned the breed Wednesday as the most popular in the United States for 2017, the 27th consecutive year with that distinction.

And the Labrador's reign extends to Illinois, as well. Residents apparently love the breed, as it ranks No. 1 in the state for 2017, the club said.

“The sweet-faced, lovable Labrador retriever is America’s most popular dog breed,” the kennel club said. “Labs are friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited companions who have more than enough affection to go around for a family looking for a medium-to-large dog.”

While the Labrador is steadfast in its popularity, the beagle was knocked out of the top five category for the first time since 1998. The French bulldog jumped two spots to No. 4 and was responsible for dethroning the beagle, according to the AKC.

Here are the 10 most popular dog breeds in America for 2017:

1. Labrador retriever
2. German shepherd
3. Golden retriever
4. French bulldog
5. Bulldog
6. Beagle
7. Poodle
8. Rottweiler
9. Yorkshire Terrier
10. German shorthaired pointer

You can see the full list of the most popular dog breeds for 2017 here.

Patch editor Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this report.

Photo via Shutterstock