The 10 most popular dog breeds in the UK
The ten pedigree breeds registered most often with the Royal Kennel Club in 2025, what each is like to live with, how the rankings have changed, and why popularity shouldn't decide which dog you get.
The short answer
In 2025 the most registered pedigree dog breeds in the UK were the Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Miniature Smooth-haired Dachshund, French Bulldog, English Springer Spaniel, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, German Shepherd Dog, Miniature Long-haired Dachshund and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Labrador has topped the list for many years. French Bulldog registrations have fallen sharply. The rankings count Royal Kennel Club registrations, so crossbreeds such as the Cockapoo aren't included.
Key considerations
- 01The rankings are based on Royal Kennel Club registrations, so they only count registered pedigree dogs.
- 02The Labrador Retriever was the most registered breed in 2025, with 29,919 registrations.
- 03French Bulldog registrations fell from 13,789 in 2024 to 7,750 in 2025.
- 04A popular breed isn't automatically the right breed for you. Match the dog to your lifestyle.
Every year the Royal Kennel Club publishes how many puppies of each breed were registered with it. These figures are the best available measure of the UK's most popular pedigree breeds. Here is the top ten for 2025, and what each breed is like to live with.
How the rankings work
The list counts registrations with the Royal Kennel Club. It doesn't include unregistered dogs or crossbreeds, such as Cockapoos, so it isn't a count of every dog in the UK. Total registrations in 2025 were 158,901, down from 187,772 in 2024, continuing a fall since the peak during the pandemic.
The top 10 dog breeds in the UK in 2025
| Rank | Breed | Registrations in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labrador Retriever | 29,919 |
| 2 | Cocker Spaniel | 21,618 |
| 3 | Golden Retriever | 9,976 |
| 4 | Dachshund (Miniature Smooth-haired) | 8,908 |
| 5 | French Bulldog | 7,750 |
| 6 | English Springer Spaniel | 5,845 |
| 7 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 5,375 |
| 8 | German Shepherd Dog | 4,278 |
| 9 | Dachshund (Miniature Long-haired) | 3,694 |
| 10 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 3,224 |
1. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador has been the UK's favourite pedigree breed for many years. Labradors are usually friendly, eager to please and food-motivated. They are energetic gundogs that need plenty of exercise and training, and they can easily put on weight.
2. Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are cheerful, affectionate and busy. Working-type Cockers in particular have a lot of energy and need mental and physical exercise. Their long ears and coat need regular care.
3. Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are gentle, friendly gundogs that are popular as family pets and assistance dogs. They need daily exercise and regular grooming, and they shed a lot.
4 and 9. Miniature Dachshunds
Both the Miniature Smooth-haired and Miniature Long-haired Dachshund are in the top ten. Dachshunds are bold, characterful little hounds. Their long backs make them prone to back problems, so keep them at a healthy weight and avoid lots of jumping.
5. French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are affectionate and playful, but they are a flat-faced breed. The UK Brachycephalic Working Group urges anyone considering one to "stop and think" because of the health problems linked to their shape, including breathing difficulties. Registrations fell from 13,789 in 2024 to 7,750 in 2025.
6. English Springer Spaniel
Springers are lively, friendly gundogs with boundless energy. They need lots of exercise and enjoy activities such as scent work and retrieving.
7. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffies are muscular, affectionate dogs that usually love people. They need early socialisation with other dogs and plenty of exercise.
8. German Shepherd Dog
German Shepherds are intelligent, loyal working dogs widely used by the police. They need an owner who can give them training, exercise and a job to do.
10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavaliers are gentle, adaptable companions. They can inherit health conditions, including Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, so check the parents' health tests carefully.
How the rankings have changed
The biggest change in recent years is the fall of the French Bulldog. It was the third most registered breed in 2024 and fifth in 2025, with its lowest number of registrations since 2013. Golden Retrievers rose from fifth to third, and the Miniature Long-haired Dachshund climbed from 13th to ninth.
Choose the right dog, not the most popular one
Popularity tells you what other people are choosing, not what will suit you. Before deciding, think about how much exercise, grooming and training you can provide, and research the health tests recommended for the breed. Our breed finder can help you compare breeds that fit your lifestyle.
Before you decide
- Do you know the exercise, grooming and training needs of the breed you like?
- Have you checked the health tests recommended for the breed?
- Can you find a responsible breeder, or would you consider a rescue dog?
- Have you met adult dogs of the breed?
Questions readers ask
What is the most popular dog breed in the UK?
The Labrador Retriever. It was the most registered pedigree breed with the Royal Kennel Club in 2025, with 29,919 registrations.
Sources: RKC registrations fall by over 15 per cent to just under 159,000
Is the French Bulldog still popular in the UK?
It is still in the top five, but registrations have fallen sharply, from 13,789 in 2024 to 7,750 in 2025.
Sources: RKC registrations fall by over 15 per cent to just under 159,000
Why isn't the Cockapoo on the list?
The rankings only count pedigree breeds registered with the Royal Kennel Club. Crossbreeds such as the Cockapoo aren't included, even though they are common.
Sources: Breed registration statistics
Where do the UK dog breed rankings come from?
They come from the Royal Kennel Club's annual breed registration statistics, which count the number of puppies of each breed registered each year.
Sources: Breed registration statistics
Sources and further reading
- Breed registration statistics, The Royal Kennel Club. Accessed
- RKC registrations fall by over 15 per cent to just under 159,000, Our Dogs. Accessed
- Retriever (Labrador): breed information, The Kennel Club. Accessed
- Spaniel (Cocker): breed information, The Kennel Club. Accessed
- Retriever (Golden): breed information, The Kennel Club. Accessed
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier: breed information, The Kennel Club. Accessed
- German Shepherd Dog: breed information, The Kennel Club. Accessed
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: breed information, The Kennel Club. Accessed
- Buying a flat-faced puppy, The Kennel Club. Accessed
- Stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog, UK Brachycephalic Working Group (). Accessed
About this article
- Written by Mypetzilla Editorial Team
- Published
- Updated
This article is general pet advice, not veterinary or legal advice. If your pet is unwell, speak to a vet.
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