You might be familiar with the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. The list from the AKC didn't change very much this year, with the French bulldog, Labrador retriever, golden retriever, German shepherd, and poodle leading the pack. The biggest recent shakeup happened in 2023 when the Lab gave up its 32-year reign to the Frenchie. But, have you ever wondered what the list looked like 50 years ago? It was actually pretty different! (The Lab made its debut on the list for the first time in the decade!) Here, we take a look at the top 7 dog breeds from the 1970s, as determined by the American Kennel Club.

1.Poodle

gettyimages-1501055279

2.German Shepherd

gettyimages-1398662527

Known to be loyal guard dogs adept for police and service work, German Shepherds held the number 2 spot in the 1970s. Currently, they're number 4 on the AKC's list.

3.Doberman Pinscher

gettyimages-1449439279

In 2024, you'll find the Doberman all the way at number 16 on the most popular list. In the 1970s, he was one of the most popular dogs around.

4.Beagle

gettyimages-566943335

In 2024, the beagle moved from number 8 to number 7 on the most popular breed list. Maybe the hunting dog is on his way to reclaim a spot in the top 5!

5.Dachshund

gettyimages-1248212508

You might be surprised to learn that the dachshund's popularity has held strong over the past 50 years. In the 1970s, the breed was number 5, and in 2024, it's number 6.

6.Irish Setter

gettyimages-1362813935

The beautiful Irish setter marks a major change in the list. While the breed sat firmly in the top 10 in the 1970s, it's plummeted all the way to 85 in 2024.

7.Cocker Spaniel (American)

gettyimages-2193764720

The American cocker spaniel appeared at number 7 in the 1970s. Today, it's ranked 32, and the English cocker spaniel is at 36.

The rest of the top 10 from the 1970s is rounded out by the miniature Schnauzer (#18 in 2024), Labrador retriever (#2 in 2024), and collie (#39 in 2024).