Beagle owners have spoken! The cute and lovable Beagle has ousted the tiny Yorkie to become the third most popular breed in the United States for 2011. Known to be sociable, gentle, lively and brave, the Beagle has become more popular during the past year. According to American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson, "the Beagle's merry personality combined with his love of outdoor activities make him such a wonderful family pet that I wouldn't be surprised to see this spunky breed sniff his way to the top of the list next year."

Also making a strong push is the Golden Retriever – moving from fifth to the fourth most popular position. The Shih Tzu has been in the top 10 since 2000 but was pushed aside by the robust Rottweiler, which captured the number 10 spot on the list.

Though several breeds changed positions this year, the number one spot continues to be held by the family favorite Labrador Retriever. For the past 21 consecutive years, the Lab has been the top dog thanks to its playfulness, loyalty and its use in police and search and rescue work.

It seems that the trend for 2011 was steering towards larger dogs. Along with the Lab, Golden and Rottweiler, the mighty German Shepherd Dog was number 2 and the Boxer was number 7. The Yorkie dropped from third to fifth place and the Dachshund moved from eighth to ninth place. Rounding out the top ten is the Poodle that moved up from ninth to eighth place.

Although the Lab is the number one breed in Atlanta, GA, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel comes in at number 4, the French Bulldog ranks eighth and the English Springer Spaniel. is tied for ninth place. "Look out Labs," said Peterson, "the English Springer Spaniel jumped 18 spots last year to become ninth most popular locally. This eager to please breed is ranked 29th nationally, but has a good chance to continue on his quest to become Atlanta's top dog."

In Chicago, IL, the top breed is the German Shepherd Dog, followed by the Lab at number two and the Golden Retriever at number three. In Detroit, the little Yorkie holds the number one position, while the Rottweiler is held the number three position for the past two years. In Baltimore, MD, the Pug is number nine and the Siberian Husky is number 10, and in Columbus, OH, the little Chihuahua makes a statement by coming in at number 10. The Finnish Lapphund and the German Shorthaired Pointer entered Milwaukee's top 10 last year while the playful Boxer and Siberian Husky both fell out of favor. New Yorkers still love their little Yorkies and have welcomed the German Havanese to their list of top dogs.