A golden retriever puppy yawns during the American Kennel Club's most popular purebred dog in America news conference in New York January 21, 2009.

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular pure-bred dog in the United States for the 18th consecutive year, according to the American Kennel Club.

More than 100,000 Labs were registered last year, more than twice as many other breed, the club said in a statement.

The Yorkshire Terrier came in second place with nearly 42,000 registrations, followed by the German Shepherd, the Golden Retriever, the Beagle, the Boxer and the Dachshund.

The Bulldog is moving up the list with a 69 percent increase over the past decade, jumping two spots this year to number eight. Last year it made the top 10 for the first time in 70 years.

"The playful Lab may still reign supreme, but the docile and adaptive nature of the Bulldog is gaining ground as a family favorite," said American Kennel Club spokeswoman Lisa Peterson.

The Poodle and the Shih Tzu completed the top 10.

Other breeds on the rise over the past decade are the Miniature Bull Terrier, up 109 percent, the Bull Terrier (102 percent), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (69 percent) and the Bullmastiff (22 percent).

Among the breeds on the decline are the Lhasa Apso, down 80 percent, Rottweiler (down 76 percent), Schipperke (75 percent), the Basset Hound (66 percent) and the Miniature Pinscher (75 percent).

Glen of Imaal Terriers, with 32 registrations, and English and American Foxhounds, with 17 registrations each, were the least popular breeds.