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.
The Kennel Club separates breeds into seven different groups, each of which have a particular set of attributes.
If you are looking for a dog that is active, adventurous, easy to train and extremely loving then it’s worth considering a gundog.
These dogs may have originally been bred for hunting but are now amongst the most popular companion and family dogs.
The Kennel Club recently released their breed registration statistics for 2025, revealing how many of each breed of dog were registered with them over the year.
According to those figures, here are the 12 most popular gundogs in the UK.
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5. Hungarian Vizsla
Completing the top five, with 1,636 2025 Royal Kennel Club registrations, is the Hungarian Vizsla. The winner of the Best In Show award at Crufts 2010 was a Vizsla named Hungargunn Bear It'n Mind. | AFP via Getty Images
6. German Shorthaired Pointer
Named after its instinct to 'point' its muzzle towards game, there were 947 new registrations of German Shorthaired Pointers last year. They originated in 19th century Germany and are descended from the now-extinct Old Spanish Pointer. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
7. Flat-Coated Retriever
With a total of 766 registrations in 2025, the Flat-Coated Retriever is the seventh most popular gundog in the UK. They originated in mid-19th century England and were a particular favourite of gamekeepers. | kpa/United Archives via Getty Im
8. Weimaraner
Originating around the German city of Weimar, the Weimaraner was first recognised as a breed in 1891. There were 545 registrations of the breed with the Kennel Club in 2025 - seeing it rise a place since last year. | AFP via Getty Images