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Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the Royal Kennel Club (formerly the UK Kennel Club) recognises 221 different pedigree dogs, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
Then there are all manner of crossbreeds, from so-called ‘designer dogs’ to lovable mongrels.
Each has its own list of positive and negative attributes, and it’s important to take plenty of time to think about what breed will fit into your lifestyle the best - for instance a smaller dog if you live in a flat, or a hypoallergenic dog if the mere mention of dog hair makes you think about sneezing.
There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
Of course some dog breeds are simply more popular than others - and there’s usually good reason for them to be picked by more human families than any other.
So it’s worth considering them seriously if you are looking to add a four-legged friend to your household.
Each year the Royal Kennel Club publishes data showing how many of each breed was registered with them - and they’ve just published the figures for 2025.
Here are their 12 top dogs, starting with the most popular.
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5. French Bulldog
As recently as three years ago the French Bulldog was challenging the Labrador for the title of Britain's favourite dog - often appearing in second place. It lagged well behind in 2025 though, with 7,750 registrations putting the adorable breed in fifth place. | AFP via Getty Images
6. Springer Spaniel
There were 5,845 new English Springer Spaniels registered with the Kennel Club in 2025, making them the sixth most popular dog - and the fourth most popular breed in the gundog group. They get their name from the fact that hunters used them to 'spring' birds out of their hiding places. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
There were 5,375 Kennel Club registrations of affectionate Staffy dogs last year. A breed created by crossing Bulldogs with Terriers, they were were first recognised as a purebred dog breed by The Kennel Club in 1935. | Getty Images
8. German Shepherd
One of the world's most useful dogs, the German Shepherd was originally bred as a herding dog but now is popular for everything from disability assistance and search-and-rescue work, to helping the police hunt criminals and serving in the army. They are also popular companion pets, with 4,278 registrations in 2025. | AFP via Getty Images