NEW YORK (AP) – The American Kennel Club has listed the nation’s top dogs.

For the first time in 72 years, the bulldog has muscled its way back into the Top 10 most popular breeds in the nation, coming in 10th last year.

The No. 1 dog remained the Labrador retriever, for the 17th consecutive year.

“The bulldog is both docile and adaptive and can thrive in small or large homes,” the AKC said Wednesday. “It’s an excellent all-around family pet.”

The thickset canine, with its low-swung body, sagging snout and wide shoulders, last made the Top 10 list in 1935, when it again placed 10th.

With the ascent of the bulldog, the miniature Schnauzer dropped off the list.

The beagle is the only breed that has consistently been included on the Top 10 chart since 1915, coming in fifth place last year.

Other purebreds that made the 2007 most popular dogs based on the nation’s 50 largest cities were: 2. Yorkshire terrier 3. German shepherd 4. golden retriever 6. boxer 7. dachshund 8. poodle 9. Shih Tzu.

The AKC maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and sets the standards for 157 breeds.

AP-ES-01-16-08 1140EST