The Labrador Retriever holds the top spot, and this friendly favorite has been No. 1 since 1991.
Pit Bull
Out of all the dog breeds most commonly found in shelters, it's the Pit Bull that wins by a landslide.
But among dogs, which are well known for their hybrid (or mongrel) varieties, different breeds can mate and have viable offspring, so they are all found under the umbrella of a single species, Canis familiaris. Dogs are highly unusual in their variation, from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane.
Chihuahua. The Chihuahua is commonly regarded as the smallest dog breed in the world.
There has been historical documentation of identical twins in dogs, but until very recently, it has not been able to be genetically verified. That is, until a litter of Irish Wolfhounds in South Africa produced a litter including a set of brothers born in the same sack with attached umbilical cords.
Small dogs the world over can all trace their ancestry back to the Middle East, where the first diminutive canines emerged more than 12,000 years ago. Small dogs the world over can all trace their ancestry back to the Middle East, where the first diminutive canines emerged more than 12,000 years ago.
While the once widely believed theory that dogs see everything in black and white has been proven false, the truth is that dogs see a color spectrum similar to that of humans with red-green colorblindness, says the American Kennel Club (AKC).
The research indicates that the Maltese is Australia's most unsatisfactory dog. it is the most dumped purebred dog at RSPCA shelters.
Black Dog Syndrome
Most experienced shelter workers will tell you that black dogs are often adopted less than any other coat color. Be it black Labrador Retrievers, Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc., they are often passed over by potential adopters. This discrepancy in adoptions is referred to as “Black Dog Syndrome.”
Pit bulls, pit bull mixes, black cats and black dogs are the most unlikely animals to be adopted from local shelters, according to those who run them. While stigma and negative perceptions may make pit bulls or pit bull mixes an undesirable adoption choice, overbreeding may also play a factor.
Having two dogs can feel like a lot of work sometimes, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons. From easier training to better mental and emotional health (for you and your dogs!), to saving the lives of animals, there are so many solid reasons to adopt a second dog today.
Impressively, the Netherlands is not part of this statistic. It has become the first country in the world without any stray dogs! Dutch people love their pets.
One of the rarest breeds in the world, Swedish Vallhunds are certainly something special. Bred as a working animal these dogs are as intelligent, energetic and loyal as you'd expect, but they do require lots of activity. Provide that, though, and you'll have a happy and loving dog on your hands for many years.
About the Breed
A companion dog whose name is German for 'little lion,' the Löwchen has been a popular pet among Continental Europeans for more than 500 years. The portable, non-shedding Löwchen is said to be affectionate, lively, and brave as a lion.
Physical Maturity: Physically speaking, dogs are fully grown by the time they're 1 year old, although large breeds may keep growing until they're 2 years old.
Reason 2: A litter of puppies can have different fathers.
Since dogs are polygamous, females will mate with any available male dog while in heat. As a result, puppies from the same litter may actually have different fathers.
And they do exist—mules, for instance, are the result of a horse and donkey mating. But creating hybrids of animals that are very genetically distinct from each other—such as a dog and a cat—is scientifically impossible, as is one species giving birth to an entirely different one.
Average Lifetime Cost: $20,000
The high price of an Azawakh often stems from its bloodline. They make terrific show dogs and are also very rare. Azawakhs hail from Western Africa where they hunt gazelle, running as long and as fast as they can.
The world's richest pet, a German shepherd known as Gunther VI, is owned by the Gunther Corporation who also manage the dog's estate and fortune and through real estate investments have rocketed Gunther's grandfather's inherited fortune from a mere £59 million in 1992 to the £370 million reported today.