The UK’s Most Popular Dog Breeds 2021

What’s your favourite kind of dog? From one-of-a-kind mixed breeds to posh purebreds, we dug into this year’s most popular dog breeds across the UK by looking into Rover’s database of over one million pets. 

With the pandemic shaping so many aspects of our lives this past year, an inspiring trend emerged: A LOT of people have brought new dogs into their homes this past year. Almost half (42%) of UK dog owners said they welcomed a new dog into their family during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent Rover survey. 

To make things even more interesting, we looked at breed popularity nationally as well as what’s trending in our top cities. Take a look at the rankings to see how they change across cities and where your favourites stack up—you may be surprised!

At Rover, we celebrate all dogs—tiny, big, mixed, and purebred—and believe they all deserve the best in loving, local care. So when you need care for your pup, Rover has your back, with loving pet care in your neighbourhood. 

  • #1
    National Rank

Mixed Breed

Often hardy and always unique, mixed breed dogs continually top lists of the most popular dog types in the UK. There’s a mixed pup out there for just about everyone!
  • #2
    National Rank

Labrador Retriever

Labs are one of the UK’s most popular dog breeds. These high-spirited sporting dogs are perfect for people who love spending time outdoors swimming, jogging, or hunting.
  • #3
    National Rank

Cockapoo

These dogs are a combination of the gentle and merry Cocker Spaniel and the intelligent, elegant Poodle. With an affection for their family and innate friendliness, it’s no surprise how popular they are.
  • #4
    National Rank

French Bulldog

Stocky like an English Bulldog but not as large, Frenchies are great for homes of all sizes. They don’t need a ton of exercise—nice walks and trips to the dog park work well.
  • #5
    National Rank

Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are easy-going and affectionate dogs that are a treat to have as part of the family. These pups love to snuggle and are generally quite easy to train. Thanks to their relatively small size, they are also adaptable to any size home.
  • #6
    National Rank

Dachshund

These spunky pups are full of personality. Ever curious and alert, Dachshunds are notoriously stubborn and require patience to train, though the results are totally worth it.
  • #7
    National Rank

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

A big dog in a smaller package, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is muscular, sweet-natured, and perfect for families as they have a reputation for being patient with kids. Exercise is a must with this breed, as well as adequate socialisation.
  • #8
    National Rank

Jack Russell Terrier

These clever little dogs often have their own ideas on how things should be done. They’re playful, affectionate, and have an independent streak that can keep owners on their toes.
  • #9
    National Rank

Border Collie

This energetic workaholic is not for the novice dog owner. At the end of a long day, however, they’ll happily snuggle up with their favourite person to celebrate a job well done.
  • #10
    National Rank

Chihuahua

Looking for a lot of personality in a compact package? Adopt a Chihuahua! They’re ideal dogs for city dwellers, but require training to temper their “big dog” attitudes.
  • #11
    National Rank

German Shepherd

Intelligent and protective, German Shepherds make loyal companions. These dogs bond well with their owners through physical activities like herding, tracking, and agility.
  • #12
    National Rank

Golden Retriever

Intelligence and a friendly disposition make Goldens one of the UK’s most popular dog breeds. These smart pups do well with obedience training and make great hunters.
  • #13
    National Rank

Shih Tzu

Known as the “little lion dog,” the Shih Tzu is an outgoing and affectionate breed. Mischievous and playful, you’ll never have a dull moment with a Shih Tzu around!
  • #14
    National Rank

Pug

Charming, funny, and mischievous, pugs make loving pets. Small yet solid, they’re the ideal house dog and happy in just about any home—city or country, kids or none.
  • #15
    National Rank

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkies are true Terriers: funny, feisty, and braver than their size implies. Known as “the tomboy toy,” Yorkies are also quite affectionate and favourites of city-dwellers worldwide.
  • #16
    National Rank

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

With their sweet, gentle demeanour, the Cavalier’s popularity is really no surprise—especially considering how well they get along with children and other pups, and their tendency to frolic and laze around (perfect combo!).
  • #17
    National Rank

Labradoodle

A cross between a Poodle and a Labrador, the Labradoodle is naturally hypoallergenic. Loyal, hardworking, and affectionate, these pups make great family pets.
  • #18
    National Rank

Beagle

With their pleading expressions and funny personalities, it’s hard to resist a Beagle. They make excellent hunting dogs and tend to be very loyal to their people.
  • #19
    National Rank

English Springer Spaniel

Looking for a great all-around dog? The English Springer Spaniel is it! Bred to work closely with humans, these people-pleasing pooches want nothing more than to accompany you and your family on a walk, hike, or swim.
  • #20
    National Rank

Pomeranian

With their foxy faces and big dog attitudes, Poms command attention wherever they go. They’re also smarter than their cute appearance may imply, mastering tricks with ease.

Resources for New Pet Parents

An overwhelming (and delightful) number of people adopted pets in the last year—whether it was because they had more time on their hands or simply wanted the company. For additional post-adoption support, we rounded up some of our most helpful articles, spanning dog training at home, products to buy and tips for travelling with your dog.

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Tips For Alleviating Separation Anxiety

Many pet parents spent much of the last year at home, with their families and pets. It's only natural that pets—and their parents—might feel some anxiety with more time out of home. We worked with experts to determine the best ways to alleviate separation anxiety in dogs and walk you through the important considerations in our 3-part guide to help give your dog the confidence to cope while you're away.

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Rover data from June 2021 includes the top 20 list of the most popular dog breeds across the UK as well as the top 5 trending dog breeds in 7 of our largest UK cities where the dog breeds outpaced the national rank in popularity within each city. Rover also conducted a survey via Pollfish in June 2021 of 500 UK-based dog parents.

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