The Most Popular Dog Breeds in London

And the winner is…Every year we dig into Rover’s database of over a million pet owners to uncover which dog and cat breeds are trending, including the most popular dog and cat breeds in London and across the UK (Rover conducted a survey via Pollfish in August 2023 of 1,000 UK-based dog parents).

Some breeds are reliably popular year after year, while others started ‘trending’ more recently. We classify trending breeds as those that rose quickly in popularity in 2023. Can you guess which they might be?

As you will see, when it comes to dogs, the most common breed is a mix, with crossbreeds topping the table for the most popular dog breed overall. After that, the top 10 most popular dogs in London tend towards medium to large gun dogs, with some notable exceptions!

And it’s not only about dogs. We’ve also crunched the numbers for cats to see which kinds are the most common, and which breeds are on the up! Find out how your cat compares.

As the world’s largest network of dog walkers and pet sitters, Rover has heard of just about every pet breed out there, but we always learn something new with these results too. Let’s get started!

London’s Most Popular Dog Breeds

How popular is your dog’s breed?

Mixed
Cockapoo
Labrador Retriever
English Springer Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Dachshund
English Cocker Spaniel
French Bulldog
German Shepherd Dog
Golden Retriever

In London, one of the world’s greenest capitals with plenty of gardens and green space, the popular breed types tend to skew larger. While mixed breeds top the table overall, Cockapoos specifically come in second. This fluffy mixed breed, first developed in the 1960s, is cherished for her mix of the jovial nature of the cocker spaniel and the intelligence of the poodle, as well as her instantly endearing, teddy-bear-like appearance. They often make great family pets thanks to their kind, affectionate nature. In fact, our survey results showed that 33 percent of Londoners said their dog being family-friendly was the most important factor when it comes to choosing the breed. As the Cockapoo is a mixed breed, colour and coat texture can vary, but like other poodle crossed (‘Doodles’), Cockapoos are often also chosen for being less likely to provoke allergies than some other breeds might.

English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels also make the top 5 in London, proving the enduring popularity of native gun dogs. Representing the smaller breeds, the low, long and loveable Dachshund proves popular, as well as the super-cute French Bulldog, or ‘Frenchie’.

London’s most popular breeds line up fairly closely with the national results, but we do see that UK-wide the active Border Collie and characterful Jack Russell Terrier also make the top 10.

Cockapoo on a walk – SolStock via iStock

London Dog Breed Trends for 2023

Top 10 Trending Dog Breeds

Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Miniature Schnauzer
Weimaraner
English Springer Spaniel
Beagle
Lurcher
Miniature Poodle
English Cocker Spaniel
Shih Tzu
Afghan Hound

The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is one of the rarer breeds nationally, but has risen the ranks to the top of the table of trending breeds in the capital. Originating from the Caucasus Mountain Range of Eastern Europe, this handsome breed has existed in some form for some 2000 years. The giant breed was originally used for guarding livestock. The beauty and courage of this breed is matched by its power and these dogs dog are not well-suited to first-time owners, but are better for someone with training experience to get the best of these intelligent and loyal protectors.

Caucasian Shepherd dog –

Interestingly, the English Springer and English Cocker Spaniels are already popular and their numbers on our site continue to rise quickly – both these breeds make the top 10 trending list. It’s hard not to fall in love with the enthusiasm of the Springer or the sweet personality and oh-so-distinctive ears of the Cocker, so we can’t blame Londoners for always coming back to these breeds!

We also see some visually unusual and striking breeds on the trending list. The sleek and strong Weimaraner with its instantly recognisable silver-grey coat comes in at third place. This large breed needs plenty of exercise and will enjoy stretching its legs in London’s many dog-friendly parks and gardens, while at home they make wonderful family pets and will enjoy nothing more than spending time with their human family. Over in tenth place, we have the silky-haired scene-stealer the Afghan Hound. This ancient breed’s long, flowing coat may look glamorous, but it developed to protect her in the harsh conditions of the Afghan mountains. Owners appreciate not only their fine looks, but also their athleticism and devoted loyalty.

Afghan hound dog – raywoo via iStock

London’s Rarest Dog Breeds

Do you have one of these?

German Wirehaired Pointer
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
American Cocker Spaniel
Aidi
Goldendoodle
Africanis
Wire Fox Terrier
Puggle
Alaskan Malamute

We work out the rarest breeds by finding those that are on our platform, but in the smallest number. Aidi native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, where it was used as a working dog by Berber tribes, and is most strongly associated with Morocco. Though it resembles a shepherd and was even once classed as one, its main job historically has been to protect, rather than herd, livestock. While the thick-coated breed’s protective instinct is strong, it makes a sweet and gentle addition to the family. Another rare breed featured is the Africanis, also known as Bantu dog or Zulu Dog, a naturally occurring breed native to southern Africa. This type of dog was historically looked down upon, but has been recognised in recent years as a distinct breed. There is quite a bit of variation in their looks, but in general they have a friendly, patient and sometimes cautious temperament.