Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - 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.
Dog breeds regularly fall in and out of fashion for myriad reasons and the Royal Kennel Club (formerly the UK Kennel Club) keeps an eye on the numbers by publishing how many dogs of each breeds are registered with them each year.
Their figures for 2025 were recently released and Briefcase PR have been crunching the numbers to see which breeds are rising in popularity the fastest by comparing the data from 2025 with the numbers from the year before.
Here are the 10 dog breeds that are currently enjoying the biggest surge in popularity.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
1. Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired)
There were 3,694 Miniature Long Haired Dachshunds registered last year. That was 244 more than the year before - making it the dog that's increasing in popularity the most. | Getty Images
.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
2. Jack Russell Terrier
Second place goes to the scrappy Jack Russell Terrier - up from just 318 registrstions in 2024 to 503 in 2025. That's an increase of 185. | Getty Images
3. Italian Greyhound
Dainty Italian Greyhounds are enjoying a surge in popularite with 659 registered last year - 118 more than in 2024. | Getty Images
4. Airedale Terrier
Beautifully-bearded Airedale Terriers are becoming trendier by the month - there were 317 registrations in 2024, rising to 420 last year. That means there are 103 of these loyal pups out there. | AFP via Getty Images