For the 22nd year, the Labrador Retriever has been awarded the title of top dog by the American Kennel Club; and this year the German Shepherd is top dog #2.
The American Kennel Club presented an adorable line-up of the top five breeds that hold the title of top dogs. Watch the video to see these precious pups and the breeds they represent on Today.com.
Ranking by Breed
- #1: Labrador Retriever
- #2: German Shepherd
- #3: Golden Retriever
- #4: Beagle
- #5: Bulldog
Yahoo!News reported today:
The AKC revealed its rankings in advance of next month's Westminster Kennel Club dog show, the nation's most prestigious dog competition that culminates with the "best in show" award at Madison Square Garden.
Two new breeds, the Russell terrier and the treeing Walker coonhound, will compete this year.
Best of the best
All ranking aside, dog lovers consider their own the Best in Everything; so, formal rank means nothing.
Dogs, and pets, become so much a part of our lives and such a significant source of love in our lives.
Growing up we had German Shepherds and as an adult I’ve had a couple of them. They’re incredibly intelligent and sensitive animals. We currently have a big, playful Black Lab/Husky mix and a sweet little Chihuahua. He’s my first Lab, but second Husky. He’s calm, intelligent, gentle, physical and every bit as stubborn as I’ve heard Labs are! He has one surprising and quirky trait for a Lab: he hates water! If the ground is wet or his toy gets wet, he wants nothing to do with it! And, he's very suspicious about the bathtub when it's filled with water! He does love the snow and will happily roll in it - we have plenty of that on the ground for him right now!
Another quirky trait: he loves lattes - no flavor, skinny, extra-hot, extra-foam...he's downed a near-full cup without the lid coming off!
Bulldogs are awfully cute and I can see why they’re growing in popularity; they seem to have several health considerations, but perhaps this is an uneducated perspective.
The Dog and The Snake
Chinese astrology suggests that people born in the Year of the Dog (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006) possess the best traits of human nature: loyalty, honesty, and trustworthiness.
In the Chinese calendar, in a couple of weeks on February 10th, we will be leaving the Year of the Dragon and transitioning to the Year of The Snake, as the New Year is celebrated.
Snake Personality
In Chinese Astrology, those born in the following years are Snakes, one of the twelve animals that symbolize characteristics and qualities in us.
1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013.
According to gotohoroscope.com:
The Snake personality is considered wise and intense with a tendency towards being vain and high tempered.
The Snake can become a philosopher, a theologian, a political lizard or a wily financier. Such person is a thinker who also likes to live well. The snake - person loves books, music, clothes, and fine food; but with all his fondness for the good things of life, his innate elegance gives him a dislike for frivolities and foolish talk.
They like communicating and like interesting conversations, although if the conversation becomes repetitive their attention may soon wander. It is almost impossible to fix their attention for long talking about the weather. They prefer to focus on new interesting unusual ides and intelligent discussion in general.
Animals by invitation only
The most well-known of the Chinese zodiac legends states that Buddha invited the animals to participate in a race. The prize was a coveted position on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. The first 12 animals to cross the river would appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar in the order in which they completed the race.
The first animal to make it across the finish line according to Chinese Zodiac legends and mythology was the Rat (I admit to being personally pleased by this, as I am a Rat). It seems unlikely that such a small animal could win such a strenuous race, especially when one considers all the contenders.
Chinese Zodiac legends and mythology explains that the Rat used his brain rather than his brawn. It hitched a ride on what it perceived was the mightiest swimmer. Just before the Buffalo reached the shore, the Rat jumped off the Buffalo’s back and crossed the finish line before the Buffalo, putting the Rat in first place.
The Buffalo came in second and as promised in the legends and mythology, was the second animal listed on the Chinese Zodiac.
The Tiger, also being strong, came in third, followed by the Rabbit that jumped his way across and was helped during the last stretch by the Dragon.
A Snake hid in the hoof of the Horse which is how it managed to make it across the river. At the last minute the Snake jumped out and scared the Horse into seventh place.
The Sheep, Monkey and Rooster helped one another across and earned their spots on the calendar as well.
The Dog made it too, but decided a bath was more important than the position which is why it came in eleventh.
Finally, the Pig appeared and is listed last. According to Chinese Zodiac legends and mythology, the Pig feasted and rested half-way through the race, but made it across guaranteeing its position.
Congratulations to the Labrador Retriever, the other breeds and all our Bests in Show!
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