Fashions change when it comes to the popularity of different types of dogs, and price comparison site www.money.co.uk recently looked at which breeds have seen an increase in popularity since 1997.
Research shows how much taste has changed, with large dog breeds favored in 1997 being overtaken by small dogs in 2012, which have remained the most popular ever since.
Many of us have decided to welcome new puppies into our homes over the past two years – according to figures from the Kennel Club, dog ownership has soared nearly eight percent during the global pandemic .
There are 221 different purebred dog breeds to choose from, as well as plenty of crossbreeds, so there’s a lot of thought to go into before selecting the latest addition to your family.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with psychologist Stanley Coren’s book “The Intelligence of Dogs” ranking breeds by instinct, obedience and adaptability.
And while hunting dogs like retrievers and spaniels remain the most popular group of dogs to own, utility dogs like bulldogs and poodles are catching up fast – with demand increasing 267% since 1997.
Here are the 10 breeds that have gained the most popularity.
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There is no doubt that the top dog when it comes to growing popularity. There were only 185 French Bulldogs registered in Britain in 1997 and there are now over 40,000 – an incredible increase of 21,125%.
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The Hungarian Vizsla comes second in the rising popularity stakes, with an increase of 1,807 registrations since 1997. The Vizsla was originally bred to be used as a retrieval dog for falconers.
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The adorable Pug has seen its registrations increase by 1,007% over the past 25 years. A group of pugs is called a growl.
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The Boston Terrier has seen its popularity increase by 889% since 1997. Originally bred to be fighting dogs, they now make wonderful family pets.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
