American Kennel Club Says Labrador Retriever Top Dog Again

— -- American dog owners have spoken and once again they say they love Labrador retrievers.

The family-friendly breed of dogs is atop the American Kennel Club’s list of the Most Popular Dogs in the U.S., for the 24th consecutive year.

“The Lab truly is America’s dog,” AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo said in a statement.

The AKC’s 2014 list, released today, shows German shepherds, golden retrievers, bulldogs and beagles following Labrador retrievers in the top five.

The beagle, which ranked number five on the AKC list, saw its breed get attention earlier this year when a Beagle named Miss P, from British Columbia, took home the top Best in Show honor at the Westminster Kennel Club Show earlier this month.

The AKC's most popular list is derived from the number of dogs within each breed registered with the club, an AKC spokeswoman told ABC News.

The bulldog moved up one spot, into number four, above the beagle, on this year's list. The AKC attributes the bulldogs' rise to the breeds’, “natural tendency to form strong bonds with kids, an easy-to-care-for coat and minimal exercise needs. “

A more specific type of Bulldog, the French bulldog, moved into the top 10, at number nine, this year for the first time in nearly 100 years, according to the AKC.

The Labrador retriever’s spot atop the Most Popular Breeds’ list continues its streak as the longest reign in AKC history.

Here is the full top 10 list of the 2014 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

1. Labrador Retriever

2. German Shepherd Dog

3. Golden Retriever

4. Bulldog

5. Beagle

6. Yorkshire Terrier

7. Poodle

8. Boxer

9. French Bulldog

10. Rottweiler