We’re officially a nations of dog owners, with the UK’s most popular pet living in around one-in-three households (and rising).
That means that there are around three million pooches living here, with more people choosing to join the army of dog lovers every week.
Of course, if you are looking to welcome a dog into your family, there are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
One thing you might like to consider is that the growing popularity of imported breeds like the French Bull Dog mean that some of the UK’s formerly well-established native breeds are dwindling towards extinction on these shores.
A total of 35 breeds are now ‘considered vulnerable’ by the Kennel Club, having fallen below 300 annual registrations, with a further 14 on the less-critical ‘at watch’ list.
These breeds are at risk of disappearing from our parks and streets, simply because people don’t know they exist or because they aren’t considered fashionable - and they could just be the perfect fit for their family.
So, if you’d like to help one of the UK's struggling breeds, opt for one of these instead of the usual Labrador Retriever or Springer Spaniel.
Here are the 13 most at risk breeds of dog in the UK, according to the lateast registration statistics from the Kennel Club.
9. King Charles Spaniel
One of the more surprising entries on this list is the King Charles Spaniel. As recently as 2012 over 200 hundred of the big-eyed breed were being registered each year, now it's down to just 45 - although at least that's up on 39 on 2023. They can be distinguished from the similar Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from their slightly smaller size, short muzzle and upturned nose. | Canva/Getty Images
10. Irish Red and White Setter
A gun dog originally used to hunt game birds in the UK, the Irish Red and White Setter was almost extinct at the 19th century before a dedicated group of breeders launched plans to save them in the 1920s. More than a century later they remain vulnerable, with 49 registered in 2024. | Canva/Getty Images
11. Curly Coated Retriever
While the Labrador Retriever is the world's most popular dog, its close cousin, the equally friendly Curly Coated Retriever, is struggling - with just 50 registered with the Kennel Club last year. | Canva/Getty Images
12. Irish Water Spaniel
The tallest of all the spaniel breeds, the Kennel Club only received 53 new registrations for Irish Water Spaniels last year. That's fewer than half the 116 registered as recently as 2021. | Canva/Getty Images