Lola, a French bulldog, lies on the ground previous to the beginning of a St. Francis Day service on the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Oct. 7, 2007, in New York. French bulldogs have change into the United States’ most prevalent canine breed, ending Labrador retrievers’ record-breaking 31 years on the prime, the American Kennel Club introduced Wednesday.

Tina Fineberg/AP

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Tina Fineberg/AP

Lola, a French bulldog, lies on the ground previous to the beginning of a St. Francis Day service on the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Oct. 7, 2007, in New York. French bulldogs have change into the United States’ most prevalent canine breed, ending Labrador retrievers’ record-breaking 31 years on the prime, the American Kennel Club introduced Wednesday.

Tina Fineberg/AP

With its compact body, smushed face, bat-like ears and vast smile, the French bulldog has simply change into the most well-liked canine breed within the U.S.

The American Kennel Club introduced Wednesday that the crinkly-faced canine was the top breed in 2022, overtaking the Labrador retriever, which had held the No. 1 spot for a whopping 31 years.

“They’re comical, friendly, loving little dogs,” French Bull Dog Club of America spokesperson Patty Sosa told the Associated Press.

The pint-sized French bulldog was first acknowledged as a breed in 1898, and has a “charming and adaptable nature” and “generally quiet demeanor,” the AKC stated. Those qualities have boosted demand for the breed amongst households and single folks dwelling in houses each massive and small.

Yet regardless of the breed’s recognition, French bulldogs can have a raft of health issues.

They are one among a number of breeds referred to as brachycephalic canine, which suggests their shortened skulls and snouts make them extra vulnerable to respiratory, eye, pores and skin and spinal issues.

The Netherlands introduced in 2019 that it will enforce a ban on the breeding of short-muzzled canine. Norway banned the breeding of bulldogs till it was overturned by a judge final yr. And in 2017 the president of the British Veterinary Association said people should not buy brachycephalic canine.

Still, the canine that originated in England and later served as companions in late Nineteenth-century French brothels are actually among the many prime breeds favored by celebrities and are even one of many most hashtagged pooches on Instagram in recent times.

That explosion in recognition has additionally made the dear canine targets for thieves. A person was sentenced to 21 years in prison in December for capturing Lady Gaga’s dogwalker whereas stealing two of the pop star’s French bulldogs in 2021.

The AKC says it has the world’s largest registry of purebred canine, which it makes use of to provide you with the annual rankings.

After French bulldogs and Labrador retrievers, the next-most standard canine breeds final yr had been — so as — golden retrievers, German shepherds and poodles.