Veterinary Pet Insurance published its list of the 10 most popular purebred dogs insured through their service in 2006...

1. Labrador Retriever (34,824)


2. Golden Retriever (17,417)


3. Yorkshire Terrier (11,268)


4. Shih Tzu (10,949)


5. Boxer (8,863)


6. German Shepherd (8,183)


7. Chihuahua (7,254)


8. Cocker Spaniel (6,905)


9. Maltese (6,851)


10. Pug (6,414)

The above list parallels statistics on popular dog breeds issued by the American Kennel Club, with the Labrador Retriever remaining at the top post for 16 consecutive years, with more than 137,000 Labs registered with AKC as of 2005. The AKC also lists the Golden Retriever as the second most popular breed registered, and the Yorkshire Terrier as the third most popular.

With Christmas around the corner, and the fact that Americans love to buy dogs during this time, Dr. Carol McConnell, Director of Veterinary Relations at VPI offers some recommendations...

Dr. McConnell recommends Labrador and Golden Retrievers for households with children. "Smaller breeds -- like a Maltese, Pug or Chihuahua -- are great for empty-nesters and working professionals because they're smaller and need less exercise," she adds. "Single individuals who have time to exercise a dog would be perfect matches for active breeds like the Retrievers, a Boxer or a German Shepherd."

If you intend to purchase a pet as a gift, make sure you let the intended recipient know ahead of time so that they can prepare and express their commitment to care for the animal.

Via VPI Press Release