フレンチブルドッグ、米人気犬種で１位　ＡＫＣ

【ニューヨークＡＦＰ＝時事】米国の２０２２年人気犬種で、３１年連続トップだったラブラドルレトリバーを押さえ、フレンチブルドックが１位となった。米愛犬団体「アメリカンケネルクラブ（ＡＫＣ）」が１５日、リストを公表した。（写真はフレンチブルドック。資料写真）
　フレンチブルドッグについてＡＫＣは、ラブラドルレトリバーと同様にファミリー向けのペットとして飼育しやすく、大きな耳がトレードマークの「唯一無二」の犬と説明している。
「他の動物とも仲良くでき、人間にも友好的」「仏パリのような大都市から米国の地方都市まで、この愉快でフレンドリーな犬種に愛着を感じるのは理解できる」と付け加えた。
　トップ５にはこの他、ゴールデンレトリバー、ジャーマンシェパードドッグ、プードルが入った。
　フレンチブルドッグは米歌手レディー・ガガさんの愛犬としても知られるが、ガガさんの愛犬２匹が２０２１年に武装集団に強奪される事件もあった。２匹は後日、ガガさんの元に戻され、犯人には禁錮刑が言い渡された。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/03/17-15:33）

The lovable Labrador Retriever is no longer the most popular dog breed in the United States, as French Bulldogs take over the top spot, the American Kennel Club (AKC) announced Wednesday.
Labs, which the New York-based registry describes as famously friendly and an enthusiastic athlete, had been the most popular dog breed for 31 years prior to 2022.
But Frenchies had been quietly climbing the charts for many years, the AKC said in a statement.
The small-dog breed, which like Labs are considered great pets for families, are described by AKC as one-of-a-kind, with their trademark feature being their large bat ears.
They get on well with other animals and enjoy making new friends of the human variety, the AKC says, adding it is no wonder that city folk from Paris to Peoria swear by this vastly amusing and companionable breed.
After Frenchies and Labs, rounding out the top five breeds for 2022 were the Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and Poodle.
French Bulldogs -- like their English cousins and squish-faced pugs -- have a short snout, which can lead to trouble breathing and other health complications.
The Dutch agriculture minister in January said he would seek to ban ownership of animals which suffer from his or her appearance.
The Netherlands banned the breeding of pets that are affected by their appearance in 2014, but some animals were still being traded illegally or bought from abroad.
Frenchies also made headlines in 2021, when pop star Lady Gaga had two French Bulldogs stolen while a dog-walker was taking them for a stroll.
They were later returned, while the three robbers were later caught and jailed for the incident, during which the dog-walker was shot.