10 breeds of adorable dog that have soared in popularity over the last 25 years
Some types of dog have seen an astonishing growth in demand in recent years, especially during the pandemic, with Kennel Club registrations soaring. Here are the most popular.
A huge number of us decided to welcome new pups into our homes over the last couple of years – according to Kennel Club figures dog ownership soared by nearly eight percent over the global pandemic.
Read also: Bobi breaks Guinness world records for oldest dog ever
There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
Learn MoreThere’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
Fashions change when it comes to popularity of different types of dogs, and price comparison site www.money.co.uk recently looked at which breeds have seen their popularity surge since 1997.
The research shows how tasted have changed, with the large dog breeds favoured in 1997 overtaken by small dogs in 2012, which have remained most popular ever since.
And while gundogs like Retrievers and Spaniels remain the most popular group of dogs to own, the utility dogs such as Bulldogs and Poodles are quickly catching up – with demand increasing by a whopping 267 per cent since 1997.
Here are the 10 breeds that have grown most in popularity.
1. French Bulldog
There’s no doubting the top dog when it comes to increasing popularity. There were only 185 French Bulldogs registered in Britain in 1997 and now there are over 40,000 – an amazing increase of 21,125 per cent.
2. Hungarian Vizsla
The Hungarian Vizsla comes second in the growing popularity stakes, with a 1,807 increase in registrations since 1997. The Vizsla was originally bred to be used as a retrieving dog for falconers.
3. Pug
The adorabole Pug has seen registrations surge by 1,007 per cent in the last 25 years. A group of Pugs is called a grumble.
4. Dachshund
Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshunds have never been so popular, with registrations up by 882 per cent in 25 years. They were originally bred to chase and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals.
Read also: 12 most expensive dog breeds in 2023
5. Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier has seen its popularity increase by an impressive 889 per cent since 1997. Originally bred to be fighting dogs, they now make wonderful companion animals.
6. Belgian Malinois
Originally bred to herd sheep in their native Belgium, the Belgian Malinois is increasingly becoming a popular pet in the UK – with registrations up 741 per cent since 1997.
7. Australian Shepherd
Another herding dog that Brits have taken to their hearts in the last 25 years is the Australian Shepherd, with registrations up 697 per cent.
8. Portuguese Water Dog
Barrack Obama is one of the Portuguese Water Dog’s most famous fans, and the breed has seen a 680 per cent increase in popularity over the last quarter century. They were originally bred in the Algarve to help fishermen retrieve nets from the sea.
9. Dogue de Bordeaux
The muscular and loyal Dog de Bordeaux has seen a 669 per cent increase in Kennel Club registrations since 1997. A Dogue de Bordeaux co-starred with Tom Hanks in Hollywood film ‘Turner and Hooch’.
Read also: 12 most expensive dog breeds in the United States
10. Havanese
The Havanese is Cuba’s national dog and is getting pretty popular in the UK too, with registrations up by 652 per cent in the last 25 years.
By David Hepburn
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