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Labrador retriever named Britain’s ‘top dog’
The Labrador retriever tops the list of the UK's favourite breeds.

Kennel Club figures show rise in popularity of continental breeds

The Labrador retriever has been named Britain’s ‘top dog’ in the Kennel Club’s list of most popular dog breeds.

Figures released by the Kennel Club show that breeds from across the continent are experiencing a dramatic rise in popularity, while populations of native British breeds are falling.

The Labrador tops the list of the UK's favourite breeds, followed by the French bulldog, the cocker spaniel and the bulldog, respectively. The dachshund (up 197 per cent), the Pomeranian (up 63 per cent) and the chow-chow (up 64 per cent) are among the 10 breeds whose numbers have risen dramatically in recent years.

Iconic British breeds that used to feature in the top 10, including the boxer, the Staffie and the West Highland white terrier, have been pushed aside in favour of the more in-vogue French bulldog, dachshund and miniature schnauzer.


Television series The Crown, however, is seemingly having a positive impact on one historic native breed - the Pembroke Welsh Corgi - which has seen a staggering 98 per cent rise in registrations since 2015.

Meanwhile, the pointer, one of Britain’s oldest native dog breeds, has seen its numbers tumble to historic lows. By the end of the year, pointers are estimated to number around 436 registrations, which could see the breed move for the first time onto the Kennel Club’s ‘At watch list.’

In light of these findings, the Kennel Club is calling on prospective dog owners to consider all 221 breeds to find the right puppy for them.


Kennel Club spokesperson Bill Lambert said: “People simply forget there are so many different dog breeds, with different personalities and characteristics, and it’s not just the popular, well-known ones that make a great match for our varying lifestyles. These latest figures show that whilst some historic native breeds like the corgi are having a revival, others continue to fall rapidly in popularity and are genuinely at risk of disappearing.

“While we’re lucky to have such diversity amongst our canine companions, it is worrying that old favourites like the pointer and Parson Russell terrier are dropping in numbers to historical lows. We urge people to make sure they understand the breed and its characteristics before they make a decision to buy or rescue a dog, and to spend time researching the wide variety of breeds we are lucky to have in this country, to make sure they get the right one for them.”

 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.