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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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9. Long Haired Miniature Dachshund
Although the Miniature Long Haired Dachshund isn't as popular as its less hirsute cousin, it still makes the top 10 (up from 13th the year before) with 3,649 registrations in 2025. Interestingly, if you combine all five types of Dachshund they would be the third most popular breed - with over 14,000 registrations. | Getty Images
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10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The gorgeous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel takes the top spot when it comes to the most popular toy dog breed - with 3,224 Kennel Club registrations in 2025 putting it in overall 10th spot - up from 14th in 2024. Its name comes from it being bred to recreate Charles II's spaniel of the English Civil War period, when supporters of the king were known as Cavaliers. | AFP via Getty Images
11. Whippet
Closely resembling the Greyhound, the Whippet is slightly smaller - although not as small as the Italian Greyhound. They were first bred in Britain and are thought to have the highest acceleration of any dog breed. There were 3,218 Whippets registered by the Royal Kennel Club in 2025. | Getty Images
12. Border Terrier
Named after the Scotland-England border where it originated, the plucky Border Terrier had 3,181 Kennel Club registrations in 2025, making it the second most popular Terrier in the UK. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken