French bulldogs and cockapoos have overtaken Labrador retrievers and Jack Russell terriers as the UK’s most popular puppies to acquire, according to a new study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
The study, led by the RVC’s VetCompass programme, investigated which dog breeds, body shapes, body weights and sexes were most popular in the UK. The study included the biggest epidemiological research sample of UK dogs ever assembled, according to RVC, consisting of more than 2.2 million dogs under first-opinion veterinary care in 2019.
The study identified that there are now 800 distinct breeds of dogs in the UK. Of these, general crossbreeds were the most common type of dog living in the UK (24% of all dogs) with the most popular pure breeds being Labrador retriever (6.9%), Jack Russell terrier (4.5%), English cocker spaniel (4.3%), Staffordshire bull terrier (4.2%) and Chihuahua (3.6%). Overall, 69.4% of dogs were classified as purebred, with 6.7% classified as designer-crossbred and 24.0% as non-designer-crossbred.
However, among puppies under one year of age, after general crossbreeds (20%), the most common breeds were the French bulldog (7.0%), cockapoo (6.2%), and this poses serious questions about longer-term impacts on the health of the overall UK dog population, argues RVC.
According to vets, many French bulldogs carry high risk of lifelong and serious health issues such as breathing difficulties, eye, skin and spinal problems linked to their extreme body shape with a flat face, and short spine with a deficient or absent tail. The emergence of the cockapoo (cocker spaniel x poodle) as the UK’s second most popular breed also causes concern as it reflects a growing trend away from traditional breeds and towards designer crosses.
Dr Dan O’Neill, associate professor in companion animal epidemiology at the RVC and lead author of the paper said: “With 800 dog breeds available in the UK, this VetCompass study shows there are still plenty of healthy breeds to choose from that do not suffer from extreme body shapes such as flat faces, skin folds or absent tails.
“Despite this, many UK owners are still persuaded by social influences and trends into acquiring dogs with extreme body shapes that are likely to result in serious health issues during much of their dogs’ lives. The advice is to stop and think before buying a dog with an extreme body shape.”
Co-author Dr Kirsten McMillan, dataSEA manager at Dogs Trust, added: “This paper highlights that the popularity of dog breeds is not immune to fads or trends. Of particular concern, is the shift in consumer preference towards specific aesthetics and characteristics that have been linked to serious health issues.
“This emerging trend, along with the emotional strain and financial cost of owning a pet with serious health problems, may be why Dogs Trust has recorded a three-fold increase in French bulldog handovers over the past five years. We hope this paper encourages prospective dog owners to be thorough in their research and to prioritise the welfare of their new pet – above all else. Helping to ensure a long and happy life for their new family member.”
The research was funded in part by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
