London, UK, 20th July: Rover.com®, the world’s largest network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers, has today released “UK’s Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2021.” For the fourth year in a row, mixed breeds were named top dog, while the loyal Labrador Retriever proved the most popular purebred. The Cockapoo, French Bulldog and Cocker Spaniel made up the rest of the top five.
The survey also revealed the biggest surges in popularity, with Adele’s pooch pick, the Dachshund topping the list with a 43 per cent increase in adoption since 2020. Snoop Dog’s doggy of choice, the French Bulldog, was the second highest climber with a 29 per cent increase, and Sharon Osbourne’s fur-vourite, the Pomeranian, snuck into the top 20 for the first time with a 22 per cent rise.
The breed which slipped its lead the most, nationally, was the Jack Russell Terrier, seeing a 23 per cent decrease in adoption. However, try telling that to pet-parents in London, Birmingham or Edinburgh – cities in which the Jack Russell Terrier came out top choice. In contrast, a breed only going in one direction is the Cockapoo, favourite of pop-star Harry Styles, which was found to be the biggest favourite in Leeds, Bristol and Liverpool.
The data showed just how many pandemic pups have been taken on in the last year, with 42 per cent of respondents saying they had brought a new dog into the family since March 2020. Brits have also spent the last year finding the perfect pup-partner for pets they already have, with 58 per cent saying they already had a dog before their most recent addition.
With people having spent an increased amount of time inside over the last year, the biggest consideration when choosing a breed was it being family friendly (53 per cent). Other key factors included wanting a snuggle buddy (48 per cent), needing a breed that gets on with other pets (36 per cent), and desiring the perfect work from home colleague in a highly intelligent hound (32 per cent).
Adem Fehmi, Canine Behaviourist for Rover, said: “Labradors have been popular pets for many years. With the right breeding they can be family friendly and their physiology makes them agile and perfect for joining owners on their modern day adventures, from coffee shop outings to dog friendly staycations. Couple this with their often laid back temperament and amenability, you can see why they’ve been a popular pandemic pup purchase.
But when it comes to the top spot, it’s difficult to see the Mixed breed being knocked off the podium anytime soon. Mixed breeds can make wonderful pets and often have fewer health issues overall due to their out breeding and genetic diversity in comparison to some pure breeds. It is important however for people to look for the right individual dog for their home and lifestyle, rather than being set on a breed. I always advise people to consider the temperament of a dog they are thinking of purchasing or adopting, not just the way they look.”
Top trending dogs according to region
| London | Birmingham | Manchester | Leeds | Bristol | Liverpool | Edinburg |
| Jack Russell Terrier | Jack Russell Terrier | Miniature Schnauzer | Cockapoo | Cockapoo | Cockapoo | Jack Russell Terrier |
| Cockapoo | French Bulldog | Cockapoo | Whippet | English Springer Spaniel | French Bulldog | Cockapoo |
| Miniature Schnauzer | Boxer | Jack Russell Terrier | French Bulldog | Whippet | Jack Russell Terrier | Havanese |
| Rottweiler | Cockapoo | French Bulldog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | French Bulldog | Beagle | French Bulldog |
| English Springer Spaniel | Beagle | German Shepherd | Labrador Retriever | Jack Russell Terrier | Pug | Chihuahua |
For anyone looking to find loving care for their dogs or cats, Rover has thousands of trusted pet care providers available across the UK who can offer a helping hand.
For more information and to find your perfect sitter or walker, please visit: https://www.rover.com/uk/
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Notes to editors
For more information, please contact:
rover@brands2life.com / 020 7592 1200
About the research:
Rover data from June 2021 includes the top 20 list of the most popular dog breeds across the U.K. as well as the top 5 trending dog breeds in seven cities where the dog breeds outpaced the national rank in popularity within each city. Rover also conducted research on 3rd June 2021 via Pollfish, totalling 500 UK dog owner respondents.
About Rover:
Founded in 2011 and operating in ten countries, Rover® is the world’s largest network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers. Rover connects dog and cat owners with loving pet care whenever they need it. Millions of services have been booked on Rover, including pet sitting, dog walking, in-home boarding, drop-in visits, and doggy day care.
Rover makes it easier for people to have pet love in their lives through the Rover Guarantee, 24/7 support, and GPS walk mapping. And by sharing expertise on The Dog People blog, a trusted resource for millions of dog and cat parents worldwide, Rover provides tips and articles that delight, inform, and enhance the bond between people and their pets. To learn more about Rover, please visit https://www.rover.com/uk/