Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the UK Kennel Club recognises 221 different pedigree dogs, from the Affenpinscher to the Yorkshire Terrier (sadly no dog breed begins 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.
But some breeds of dog are just more popular than others, although tastes change over the years.
Polling company YouGov have been busy asking people whether they have a positive impression of numerous dog breeds and some prove much more popular than others - ranging from a healthy 80 per cent approval for the Golden Retriever to a miserly eight per cent approval rating at the bottom of the table.
They’ve also worked out which dogs are most popular with Baby Boomers (that’s people born between the 1946 and 1964)
And it turns out that this is a generation that has a very particular taste in canines.
Here are the 12 most popular dogs with Baby Boomers, according to latest data from 2025.
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5. English Springer Spaniel
Earning a 69 per cent approval rating from Boomers is the English Springer Spaniel (as opposed to the slightly different Welsh Springer Spaniel). They have a near-identical lineage to the Cocker Spaniel but were bred to be slightly larger so they would be more helpful in 'springing' game birds out of hiding. They are now often used as sniffer dogs, so you don't particularly want to catch one's attention at an airport. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Border Terrier
Just missingout on a top five spot in the Boomers' list of favourite dogs, with a 68 per cent approval rating, is the cheeky Border Terrier. They were first bred in the area around the border of Scotland and England (hence the name) and were used to hunt foxes. These days they more commonly hunt their owner's slippers. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Irish Setter
Known for their friendly and gentle temperament, it's no wonder that the Irish Setter makes the list of Baby Boomers' favourite dog breeds - with a 66 per cent popularity rating according to YouGov polls. The gun dog was first bred in 18th century Ireland. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Cocker Spaniel
According to YouGov polls, 66 per cent of Baby Boomers also love the delightful Cocker Spaniel. There are actually two slightly different types - the merican Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel. Both were named after their invaluable assistance in hunting woodcock (a type of game bird). It earns a popularity rating of 72 per cent with Generation X. | Canva/Getty Images