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.
The Utility Group contains breeds that were originally bred for a specific working purpose that is no longer applicable today, along with dogs that simply do not qualify for any of the other six groups.
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 utility dog breeds in the UK.
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5. Minature Poodle
Like its smaller and more popular toy cousin the Miniature Poodle is hypoallergenic, intelligent and easy to train. There were 1,233 registered in the UK in 2025, making it the second most popular breed of Poodle and completes the top five most popular breeds of utility dog. | AFP via Getty Images
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6. Shih Tzu
Thought to originate from the Pekingese being bred with the Lhasa Apso in their native China, these furry wee heroes were so prized by the Ming Dynasty emperors that they refused to sell or trade a single canine. Last year 1,124 of these precious pups were registered by the Royal Kennel Club. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Chow Chow
Originally bred in Northern China where they were used for hunting, guarding and herding, the Chow Chow is instantly recognisable thanks to its mane-like fut and unusual blue-black tongue. There were 831 registered with the Royal Kennel Club in 2025. | AFP via Getty Images
8. Boston Terrier
In eighth spot, with 746 registrations in 2025, is the Boston Terrier - that's up a spot on 2024. Nicknamed the 'American Gentlemen', it originated in the USA where it was officially recognised as a distinct breed in 1893. | Getty Images