One of the unexpected effects of the global pandemic – and the resulting series of lockdowns – was an increase in demand for puppies.
And the extent of that soaring in demand has been shown by the latest registrations statistics from the UK Kennel Club.
In 2021 they registered a remarkable 349,013 dogs, compared to 250,659 in 2020 – an increase of 39.2 per cent year-on-year.
Of the 221 different recognised breeds of pedigree dog, many saw huge increases, including the ever-popular Labrador Retriever with 61,559 registrations in 2021 compared with 39,905 the year before.
And many of the rarer dogs also had a good year – for example the Glen of Imaal Terrier enjoyed a 130 per cent increase in popularity from 36 registrations in 2020 to 83 in 2021.
Here are the 24 breeds that have received the most new registrations in according to the latest Kennel Club figures.
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17. Rottweiler
A breed that has at times been unfairly labelled as aggressive, there were 2,874 registrations of gentle and noble Rottweilers in 2021. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
18. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is named after the Pomerania region in Central Europe where it was originally bred - an area that now covers parts of Germany and Poland. There were 2,632 registrations of the fluffy toy dog last year. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
19. German Shorthaired Pointer
A hunting dog equally happy on land and in water, there were 2,596 new German Shorthaired Pointer pups registered in the UK last year. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
20. Bull Terrier
The stocky and muscular Bull Terrier was used to fight everything from bears to other dogs in the early 19th century. Now that such barbaric practices have been outlawed, the breed remains a popular pet, with 2,431 registrations last year. Photo: Canva/Getty Images