Statistics
Rising and Declining Dog Breeds UK 2026: Ten Years of Kennel Club Data
The UK's flat-faced dog boom is over: French Bulldog registrations fell 43.8% in 2025 while Jack Russells and Dachshunds climbed. Ten years of Kennel Club data for 216 breeds, checked against 18 sources.
What this guide covers
The UK's flat-faced dog boom is over. French Bulldog registrations with the Royal Kennel Club fell 43.8% in 2025 alone and are down 85.7% from their 2021 peak, while the Pug has lost 92% of its registrations in ten years. Smaller, leaner breeds are taking their place: the Jack Russell Terrier rose 58.2% in a year and the Miniature Long Haired Dachshund has quadrupled since 2016. We analysed ten years of Kennel Club registrations for 216 breeds and checked them against vet records, owner surveys and the puppy market, using 18 sources in all.
−43.8%
fall in French Bulldog registrations in 2025, from 13,789 to 7,750
[1]
−92%
fall in Pug registrations since 2016
[1]
+58.2%
rise in Jack Russell Terrier registrations in 2025, the biggest of any breed with 300 or more
[1]
+311%
rise in Miniature Long Haired Dachshunds since 2016
[1]
147 of 216
breeds registered fewer puppies in 2025 than in 2024
[1]
39
native breeds now classed as vulnerable by the Kennel Club
[4]
Which dog breeds are rising in popularity in the UK?
Terriers, sighthounds and the smaller Dachshunds are on the rise. Only 61 of 216 breeds registered more puppies in 2025 than in 2024 [1], so any breed growing in a falling market stands out.
| Breed | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Russell Terrier | 318 | 503 | +58.2% |
| Airedale Terrier | 317 | 420 | +32.5% |
| Italian Spinone | 257 | 339 | +31.9% |
| Lagotto Romagnolo | 246 | 304 | +23.6% |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel | 174 | 213 | +22.4% |
| Italian Greyhound | 541 | 659 | +21.8% |
| Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) | 3,450 | 3,694 | +7.1% |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1], the six fastest risers among breeds with 150 or more registrations in 2024, plus the Miniature Long Haired Dachshund; changes are our calculation.
The Jack Russell Terrier is also the joint fastest-selling puppy on Pets4Homes, alongside the Border Terrier, finding a buyer in 11 days on average, according to its 2026 report as covered by Pet Business World [15]. Sighthounds are carrying their momentum into 2026: Whippet registrations were up 18% in the first quarter [3], and 8.2% higher across the first half of the year than the first half of 2025 (our calculation) [2].
Over ten years the climbers are clearer still:
| Breed | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) | 899 | 3,694 | +310.9% |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 150 | 503 | +235.3% |
| Lagotto Romagnolo | 102 | 304 | +198.0% |
| Italian Greyhound | 326 | 659 | +102.1% |
| Australian Shepherd | 181 | 364 | +101.1% |
| Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) | 4,576 | 8,908 | +94.7% |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 393 | 758 | +92.9% |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 180 | 313 | +73.9% |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1], the eight fastest risers among breeds with 100 or more registrations in 2016; changes are our calculation. Only 23 of these 130 breeds were higher in 2025 than in 2016.
Among the big breeds, the Golden Retriever stands out: up 37.9% in ten years, from 7,232 to 9,976 registrations [1].
Which dog breeds are falling in popularity?
Flat-faced breeds are falling fastest, but they're not alone: large working breeds and several gundogs also had a sharp year.
| Breed | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Bulldog | 13,789 | 7,750 | −43.8% |
| Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) | 384 | 226 | −41.1% |
| Shar-Pei | 365 | 220 | −39.7% |
| Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla | 532 | 334 | −37.2% |
| St Bernard | 350 | 220 | −37.1% |
| Pug | 1,316 | 834 | −36.6% |
| Siberian Husky | 310 | 197 | −36.5% |
| Maltese | 724 | 490 | −32.3% |
| Bulldog | 3,865 | 2,711 | −29.9% |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1], the nine fastest fallers among breeds with 300 or more registrations in 2024; changes are our calculation.
Over the decade, the biggest losers are mostly flat-faced or toy breeds:
| Breed | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pug | 10,408 | 834 | −92.0% |
| Shar-Pei | 1,504 | 220 | −85.4% |
| Lhasa Apso | 2,231 | 525 | −76.5% |
| Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) | 3,394 | 807 | −76.2% |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | 1,727 | 421 | −75.6% |
| Bichon Frise | 875 | 217 | −75.2% |
| Siberian Husky | 747 | 197 | −73.6% |
| Shih Tzu | 3,420 | 1,124 | −67.1% |
| Bulldog | 7,785 | 2,711 | −65.2% |
| St Bernard | 615 | 220 | −64.2% |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1], the ten fastest fallers among breeds with 500 or more registrations in 2016; changes are our calculation.
The French Bulldog is just outside that list, down 63.9% on 2016, because its registrations kept climbing until 2021 [1].
Some of the fall is the market cooling after the pandemic. Total registrations peaked at about 349,000 in 2021 (our sum of the seven group tables) and fell to 161,901 in 2025 [1], and the Kennel Club's own analysis shows the registered pedigree population shrinking overall [9]. The first half of 2026 was lower again: 75,546 registrations, down 6.6% on the first half of 2025 (our calculation) [2].
Why have French Bulldogs and Pugs fallen so far?
The flat-faced boom peaked during the pandemic and has collapsed since. French Bulldog registrations rose from 21,470 in 2016 to 54,074 in 2021, then fell to 7,750 in 2025, an 85.7% drop from the peak [1].
| Year | French Bulldog | Bulldog | Pug |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21,470 | 7,785 | 10,408 |
| 2017 | 30,887 | 9,450 | 10,783 |
| 2018 | 36,785 | 10,665 | 9,742 |
| 2019 | 33,661 | 9,922 | 6,751 |
| 2020 | 39,266 | 11,594 | 6,033 |
| 2021 | 54,074 | 15,403 | 6,122 |
| 2022 | 42,538 | 11,667 | 3,451 |
| 2023 | 26,704 | 6,924 | 1,994 |
| 2024 | 13,789 | 3,865 | 1,316 |
| 2025 | 7,750 | 2,711 | 834 |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1]
- French Bulldog
- Bulldog
- Pug
Source: Royal Kennel Club [1]
Registered pedigrees only.
Show the data
| French Bulldog | Bulldog | Pug | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 21,470 | 7,785 | 10,408 |
| 2017 | 30,887 | 9,450 | 10,783 |
| 2018 | 36,785 | 10,665 | 9,742 |
| 2019 | 33,661 | 9,922 | 6,751 |
| 2020 | 39,266 | 11,594 | 6,033 |
| 2021 | 54,074 | 15,403 | 6,122 |
| 2022 | 42,538 | 11,667 | 3,451 |
| 2023 | 26,704 | 6,924 | 1,994 |
| 2024 | 13,789 | 3,865 | 1,316 |
| 2025 | 7,750 | 2,711 | 834 |
| Breed | 2016 | Peak | 2025 | Change from peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Bulldog | 21,470 | 54,074 (2021) | 7,750 | −85.7% |
| Bulldog | 7,785 | 15,403 (2021) | 2,711 | −82.4% |
| Pug | 10,408 | 10,783 (2017) | 834 | −92.3% |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1]; changes are our calculation.
The decline shows up beyond the Kennel Club too:
- Among new puppies, the French Bulldog fell from 6th at its peak to 17th in 2025 [11].
- Owner surveys put the Pug's popularity falling 19% a year over five years, and the French Bulldog 12% [11].
- In the puppy market, the French Bulldog is no longer the most advertised puppy for the first time in a decade [14].
- In early 2026, registrations fell again: French Bulldog down 37%, Bulldog 34% and Pug 43% in the first quarter on a year earlier [3]. Across the first half, French Bulldogs were down 35.6%, Pugs 33.9% and Bulldogs 19.1% (our calculation) [2].
Vets and welfare charities have campaigned for years over the breathing, eye and skin problems that come with very flat faces. The Brachycephalic Working Group links the decline to a decade of that campaigning [16], and PDSA has welcomed it [17]. But the boom has left a legacy: French Bulldog types coming into RSPCA care rose 3,800% between 2016 and 2025 [18].
Is the Dachshund still the UK's fastest-growing breed?
The Dachshund boom has cooled, but not for every variety. Counted together, the six Dachshund varieties rose from 7,165 registrations in 2016 to a peak of 21,002 in 2022, and stood at 14,658 in 2025 (our sum) [1]. Counted as one breed, that would still rank third in the UK, behind only the Labrador and Cocker Spaniel.
| Year | All Dachshund varieties |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,165 |
| 2017 | 8,907 |
| 2018 | 10,377 |
| 2019 | 11,942 |
| 2020 | 14,120 |
| 2021 | 20,379 |
| 2022 | 21,002 |
| 2023 | 20,341 |
| 2024 | 17,401 |
| 2025 | 14,658 |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1]; totals are our sum of the six varieties.
Source: Royal Kennel Club [1]
Our sum of the six Dachshund varieties the Kennel Club registers separately.
Show the data
| All Dachshund varieties | |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,165 |
| 2017 | 8,907 |
| 2018 | 10,377 |
| 2019 | 11,942 |
| 2020 | 14,120 |
| 2021 | 20,379 |
| 2022 | 21,002 |
| 2023 | 20,341 |
| 2024 | 17,401 |
| 2025 | 14,658 |
| Variety | 2016 | 2024 | 2025 | Change 2024 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miniature Smooth Haired | 4,576 | 11,664 | 8,908 | −23.6% |
| Miniature Long Haired | 899 | 3,450 | 3,694 | +7.1% |
| Wire Haired | 544 | 994 | 907 | −8.8% |
| Miniature Wire Haired | 681 | 767 | 696 | −9.3% |
| Smooth Haired | 285 | 374 | 362 | −3.2% |
| Long Haired | 180 | 152 | 91 | −40.1% |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1]; changes are our calculation.
The Miniature Long Haired Dachshund is the standout: its registrations have risen every year since 2016, reaching a ten-year high in 2025 [1], and the first half of 2026 was 8.2% ahead of the same period in 2025 (our calculation) [2]. Outside the Kennel Club, the trend still looks strong. The Miniature Dachshund is now the most advertised puppy on Pets4Homes, up from 16th in 2018 [14], and owner surveys put the miniature varieties among the fastest-growing breeds of the last five years [11].
Are crossbreeds like the Cockapoo still rising?
The Kennel Club doesn't register crossbreeds, so its tables cover only part of the UK's pet dog population, and crossbreed trends have to come from vet records, owner surveys and the puppy market. Together they show designer crossbreeds still growing, but the original favourite, the Cockapoo, has levelled off.
| Signal | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Designer crossbreeds among dogs under vet care | 11.2% of dogs under one year old, against 2.2% of dogs over ten (2019) | VetCompass [10] |
| Designer crossbreeds among puppies sold | 35%, up from 18% in 2014 | Pets4Homes [14] |
| Fastest-growing crossbreeds, annual change over five years | Bernedoodle +25%, Maltipoo +19% | Dogs Trust [11] |
| Cockapoo | Peaked in 2020; still in the top five dogs owned | Dogs Trust [12][13] |
| Cavapoo | Still rising | Dogs Trust [11] |
The owner surveys are self-selected, so they show direction of travel rather than exact shares.
What are the UK's most popular dog breeds now?
The Labrador Retriever is still the UK's most registered breed by a wide margin, but eight of the top ten registered fewer puppies in 2025 than in 2024 [1].
| Rank 2025 | Breed | Registrations 2025 | Change on 2024 | Rank 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labrador Retriever | 29,919 | −12.4% | 1 |
| 2 | Cocker Spaniel | 21,618 | −6.7% | 2 |
| 3 | Golden Retriever | 9,976 | −2.2% | 8 |
| 4 | Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) | 8,908 | −23.6% | 11 |
| 5 | French Bulldog | 7,750 | −43.8% | 3 |
| 6 | English Springer Spaniel | 5,845 | −10.4% | 5 |
| 7 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 5,375 | −1.3% | 12 |
| 8 | German Shepherd Dog | 4,278 | −11.2% | 7 |
| 9 | Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) | 3,694 | +7.1% | 42 |
| 10 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 3,224 | +2.9% | 13 |
Source: Royal Kennel Club registrations [1]; ranks and changes are our calculation.
The biggest climbers into the top ten over the decade are the Miniature Long Haired Dachshund (42nd to 9th) and the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund (11th to 4th), while the Golden Retriever moved up within it, from 8th to 3rd.
Which native breeds are at risk of disappearing?
The Kennel Club classes a native British or Irish breed as vulnerable when it registers 300 or fewer puppies a year [5], and puts it on an "At Watch" list between 300 and 450 [6]. In its latest figures, 39 breeds are vulnerable and 8 are At Watch [4].
| Breed | 2025 registrations | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodhound | 5 | Vulnerable |
| Otterhound | 10 | Vulnerable |
| Skye Terrier | 45 | Vulnerable |
| English Setter | 176 | Vulnerable |
| Old English Sheepdog | 218 | Vulnerable |
| Parson Russell Terrier | 292 | Vulnerable, moved from At Watch |
Source: Royal Kennel Club vulnerable breed statistics [4].
Some household names are sliding too. In 2024 the Yorkshire Terrier recorded its lowest registrations since 1944 and the Scottish Terrier its lowest ever, while the Smooth Fox Terrier, the dog on the old HMV logo, fell to just 45 puppies [6]. Some have since bounced back: Smooth Fox Terrier registrations doubled to 92 in 2025, and the Airedale Terrier rose 32.5% [1].
What makes a breed suddenly popular?
Breed popularity follows what people see. The clearest examples in recent years:
| Influence | Example | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Royal ownership | Jack Russell registrations up 75% in early 2025, linked to Queen Camilla's dogs; Corgi popularity has long tracked the late Queen's | Kennel Club [7] |
| A royal announcement | Searches for the Lagotto Romagnolo on the Kennel Club site rose 723% in three days after the King's new dog was announced | Kennel Club [8] |
| Show success | Whippet registrations rose 18% in early 2026, after a Whippet won Best in Show at Crufts 2025 | Kennel Club [3] |
| Health awareness | Flat-faced breeds have fallen sharply after a decade of vet and charity campaigning | Brachycephalic Working Group [16] |
| Image and status | Dogs Trust suggests rising interest in the Cane Corso and Belgian Malinois may be influenced by social trends, media exposure and perceptions of status | Dogs Trust [11] |
The Kennel Club notes that a Crufts win usually has a limited effect on popularity, except for smaller and less well-known breeds [8].
What this means if you're choosing a breed
A breed's rise or fall tells you about fashion, not about whether it suits you. The figures above point to a few things worth checking before you choose.
- Be wary when a breed is suddenly in demand. Popularity can jump within weeks of a royal or Crufts moment [7][8], so take extra care checking the breeder when demand is high.
- Look past the face. Vets link the fall in flat-faced breeds to a decade of campaigning over the health problems that come with very short muzzles [16], and French Bulldog types coming into RSPCA care rose 3,800% between 2016 and 2025 [18].
- Check health testing for fast-growing breeds. Ask the breeder which health tests are recommended for the breed, and to see the results for both parents.
- Choose a breeder you can check. Every Companimal listing shows what we've checked against official records, such as a council licence or Kennel Club registration, and says so plainly when we can't confirm something.
- Consider a rarer native breed. If you love a type of dog, a vulnerable native breed with a careful breeder is a way to help keep it going [4].
Methodology, sources and credit
How we compiled these figures
We analysed the Royal Kennel Club's published registration tables for 2016 to 2025, covering 216 breeds with complete figures, and calculated each breed's one-year and ten-year change ourselves. Our 2025 total matches the Kennel Club's own to within 243 registrations, the handful of rare breeds with incomplete rows. To keep tiny breeds from topping the tables, the risers and fallers lists only include breeds above a minimum number of registrations, stated under each table. Figures for the first half of 2026 are our calculation from the Kennel Club's quarterly tables. Kennel Club figures cover registered pedigrees only, so for crossbreeds we used vet records, owner surveys and puppy market data, 18 sources in all, each opened at its original publisher on 26 October 2026 and the Kennel Club tables re-checked on 31 October 2026.
Sources (18)
- Royal Kennel Club, Breed registration statistics: 10-yearly tables for all seven breed groups, March 2026
- Royal Kennel Club, Quarterly breed registration statistics for all seven breed groups, July 2026
- Royal Kennel Club, Whippets surge in popularity as UK registrations jump 18% in early 2026, May 2026
- Royal Kennel Club, Vulnerable breed statistics 2016 to 2025, 2026
- Royal Kennel Club, Top vulnerable breeds to compete in final at Crufts 2026, February 2026
- Royal Kennel Club, Chart-dropping: HMV dog hits record low, March 2025
- Royal Kennel Club, Arise, the Jack Russell: royal favourite surges in popularity, May 2025
- Royal Kennel Club, Searches skyrocket for King Charles' new breed, March 2025
- Royal Kennel Club, The Kennel Club publishes analysis of pedigree dog breed populations, April 2025
- O'Neill et al., Dog breeds and conformations in the UK in 2019, PLOS ONE, 2023
- Dogs Trust, National Dog Survey 2025: State of the nation, February 2026
- Dogs Trust, National Dog Survey 2024, February 2025
- Dogs Trust, National Dog Survey 2026 results, 2026
- Pets4Homes, UK Pet Market 2026, March 2026
- Pet Business World, Interest in terriers on the rise, says new report, August 2026
- Brachycephalic Working Group, via VetClick, Decade of campaigning sees significant decline in flat-faced dog registrations, May 2026
- PDSA, PDSA responds to decline in flat-faced dogs, June 2026
- RSPCA, The Shape of Suffering, July 2026
Key facts about this page
| What this page is | A ten-year analysis of which UK dog breeds are rising and falling, from Kennel Club registrations |
| Biggest one-year fall | French Bulldog, −43.8% in 2025 (13,789 to 7,750), among breeds with 300 or more registrations |
| Biggest ten-year fall | Pug, −92.0% since 2016 (10,408 to 834), among breeds with 500 or more registrations |
| Biggest one-year rise | Jack Russell Terrier, +58.2% in 2025 (318 to 503), among breeds with 150 or more registrations |
| Biggest ten-year rise | Miniature Long Haired Dachshund, +310.9% since 2016 (899 to 3,694), among breeds with 100 or more registrations |
| Most registered breed | Labrador Retriever, 29,919 in 2025 |
| Breeds falling | 147 of 216 breeds registered fewer puppies in 2025 than 2024 |
| Vulnerable native breeds | 39, with 8 more At Watch |
| Sources | 18 cited here, drawn from 19 checked |
Using these figures? Please credit Companimal with a link to this page. It keeps research like this free.
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