Every country around the world has its favorite dog breeds and the UK is no different. From indigenous British breeds to European imports, these are the top ten dog breeds in the UK, according to microchipping data, arranged from the most to the least number of microchip tags:
- Labrador Retriever
- Jack Russell Terrier
- The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Border Collie
- English Cocker Spaniel
- English Springer Spaniel
- The German Shepherd
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Shih Tzu
- The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Labrador ranks as a favorite dog breed in the US, as well, and it is not hard to understand why this friendly breed is loved around the world. Bred as a highly skilled gun and retrieving dog, the Labrador has been a loyal, athletic and loving companion for decades. Great with children and other pets, this breed is the number one favorite in the UK.
This long-standing British breed was developed 200 years ago to help hunters catch foxes. They usually have a white coat with brown, black or tan spots. These short and smallish dogs are intelligent and love to live independently, but as such might be tricky to train.
Known for their short, muscular appearance and friendly, expressive faces, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a loyal companion that interacts well with children and other pets.
Border Collie is often recognized as the most intelligent of dogs and was developed in England to herd cattle. They are wonderful companions for people who love to live active lives and usually have thick coats that shed quite a bit. They come in a variety of colors and live, on average, for twelve years.
Although the English Cocker Spaniel originated in Spain, they have long since been a favorite among people in the UK. Bred to hunt Eurasian Woodcocks, a small grouse-like breed of bird, these friendly little dogs feature a silky coat and a highly expressive face. Although they remain skilled gun dogs, the English Cocker Spaniel is most commonly kept as a companion animal in the UK.
A close cousin of the Cocker Spaniel, the English Springer Spaniel is an affectionate family dog with a beautiful coat. Originally bred to hunt birds in England, this breed is used for everything from companionship to ranch work in the modern day.
Bred in Germany in the late 19th century, the German Shepherd was originally bred to protect flocks and people, and has enjoyed years of employment as a guard, police and search-and-rescue dog across the globe. Intelligent, loyal and loving, the German Shepherd is commonly kept as a family pet in the UK.
This small dog was bred in England to catch rats on the factory floor. They are usually very active, easy to train and curious about their surroundings. They are yappers by nature though, so if you live in a quiet block or have neighbors who complain a lot, perhaps this is not the dog for you.
Small dogs seem to be the order of the day in the UK, with this relatively tiny descendant of companions to Chinese royalty coming in at number nine. Even though this breed’s name means "little lion," there is nothing ferocious about them at all in terms of appearance or temperament. They are not hunters or workout buddies, but just love to be by their parent’s side as a true companion.
The UK loves its spaniels and the Cavalier King Charles is no different. Bred as a hunting dog that could keep up with the quick pace of horses covering ground, the King Charles Spaniel is an athletic, intelligent, friendly and loyal companion that was bred to work closely with people. Thanks to their beautiful coat, gentle face and friendly demeanor, this breed maintains its popularity in the UK to this day.
These breeds were the most frequently tagged dogs across the entire UK in the last ten years. Take a look at our infographic to see how this list compares to the most popular dog breeds in the U.S.
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