The most popular dog breeds have been revealed - and we’re not surprised to see who came out on top.
Retrievers (labrador) have been found to be the UK’s favourite dog breed with 39,905 registrations in 2020, according to money.co.uk.
Following closing behind, and crowned the ‘dog breed increasing most in popularity', is the French bulldog, with its yearly increase in popularity standing at 31 per cent.
In 1997, there were 185 registrations for French bulldogs compared to 39,266 in 2020 – an increase of 21,125 per cent.
The Hungarian wirehaired vizsla showed the second-largest increase, with 41 registrations in 1997 and 782 in 2020, the breed increased in popularity by 1,807 per cent.
Pugs had the third-largest increase with 545 registrations in 1997 and 6,033 in 2020, increasing in popularity by 1,007 per cent.
Salman Haqqi, money.co.uk’s pet insurance expert, said: “Choosing the right dog breed for you depends on a host of factors, including: the size of your house and garden, walking requirements, malting, and more.
“Our findings show that people are now opting for breeds which require less walking and smaller gardens than we used to.
“When adopting a pet of any kind, it is important to research their breed thoroughly before making up your mind.
“Online adoption sites, such as the RSPCA, often give plenty of information including breed, age and temperament which can help inform your decision.
“Pets that need rehoming will also often come with more information about their care requirements as an expert has spent time getting to know the dog itself.”
The most popular breed type since 1997 is a gundog, such as a retriever and cocker spaniel, and the breed type increasing in popularity most is a utility dog, such as bulldog and toy poodle, now 267 per cent more popular than in 1997.
