The Labrador retriever was Denver’s most popular dog breed in 2011.

The American Kennel Club released its list of most popular dog breeds this morning.

The Labrador retriever has been ranked the most popular dog breed nationally for 21 years.

In Denver the top dog breeds are:

1. Labrador retriever

2. German shepherd dog

3. golden retriever

4. bulldog

5. rottweiler

6. Yorkshire terrier

7. boxer

8. Bernese mountain dog and German shepherd pointer

9. dachshund and poodle

The rottweiler, which broke into Denver’s top 10 in 2010, moved up a spot in 2011. The boxer moved down two spots.

“Appropriate for the Gateway to the Rockies, the Bernese mountain dog is Denver’s eighth most popular breed,” spokes woman Lisa Peterson said in the release. “This cold weather dog ranks 34th in the rest of the nation but holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Denver.”

Nationally, the beagle moved up a spot and the Yorkshire terrier moved down two spots.