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 Royal Kennel Club (formerly the UK 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 intelligent, strong, watchful and alert, it’s worth looking at breeds in the Working Group - those that were originally bred to carry out specific tasks, from collecting fishing nets that have drifted out to sea to aiding mountain rescues.
Be warned though, many of them are pretty large so you’ll need a home with a bit of space.
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 working dog breeds in the UK.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
9. Siberian Husky
The powerful Siberian Husky originated in Northeast Asia where they were used to pull sleds over miles of Arctic tundra - something the 197 registered in the UK in 2025 are unlikely to be asked to do. | AFP via Getty Images
10. Portuguese Water Dog
A dog that has increased in popularity in recent years, the Portuguese Water Dog rounds out the top 10 most popular working dogs with 181 registrations in 2025. They were first bred along the coast of Portugal to herd fish into fishermen's nets and retrieve lost tackle or broken nets. Clever dogs! | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
11. Giant Schnauzer
Just missing out on a place in the top 10, with 155 Royal Kennel Club registrations, is the Giant Schnauzer. These incredibly useful German dogs have been used for everything from driving livestock and guarding breweries to being mobilised as military dogs in both World Wars. | Getty Images
12. Bullmastiff
Completing our list, with 143 registrations in 2025, is the Bullmastiff. It's an English breed of dog that was bred as a guard dog in the nineteenth century. I was particularly popular with gamekeepers. It has dropped two spots since 2024. | AFP via Getty Images