Christmas Dogs 2025: Here are the 10 most popular breeds of dog this festive season - and a reminder a dog is for life, not just for Christmas

New reasearch has revealed the dog breeds most people dream of welcoming into their home over the festive season.

Experts at puppies.co.uk, one of the UK’s largest dog marketplaces have used search data to uncover the true intent and desires of potential dog owners.

But, with over 201.7 million posts on TikTok of people being surprised with puppies as gifts, families are being reminded to think twice and to be wary of buying puppies from sellers, as criminal gangs are using increasingly deceptive tactics to offload sick or traumatised dogs to unsuspecting families.

Before you even visit a seller, take a few minutes to do some basic checks. Search their name and phone number, and look at any other ads they’ve posted. If they’re advertising multiple litters from different breeds, they will usually be licensed with their local council.

It’s also crucial to check the puppy’s age, as puppies should never be sold under eight weeks old. In some cases, we’ve seen puppies being sold as young as six weeks old with pet passports. But this is a serious warning sign that they may have been brought in illegally without proper vaccinations.

When you visit a breeder, you should always see the puppy with its mum in a genuine home environment. Never agree to meet in a car park, service station, or empty shop, and walk away if the seller makes excuses about the mum’s whereabouts, or if the mum clearly isn’t bonded with the litter.

It’s also wise to be cautious of pups marketed as rescues but sold for high prices without any real rescue process or background checks. If something feels off, trust your gut and don’t let anyone rush you into paying. Remember, puppies sold at bargain prices usually come with hidden health issues that can lead to heartbreak and expensive vet bills. Responsible buying protects both your family and your new pet while making it harder for unethical sellers to continue.

And there was also a warning to keep the old slogan ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ in mind.

We understand the excitement of getting a new puppy around Christmas, but that holiday joy can easily overshadow the long-term aspects of puppy care. Proper training, socialisation, and care for a pup’s physical and emotional needs are all crucial to their well-being.

Read more: Dog Breed IQs 2025: These are the 20 most and least intelligent breeds of dog - from Border Collie to Afghan

Buying a puppy should always be a well-thought-out decision, as a dog is a long-term commitment, usually for 10 to 15 years. Puppies shouldn’t be bought as gifts, especially as a surprise. Failing to prepare for the arrival of your new pup usually leads to problems and harms your chances of a successful and lifelong bond.

Not to mention, you should never buy a pet for a child. The responsibility should always be on the adult to care for a dog, and if you aren’t in a position to do that, we’d urge you to reconsider. After all, the last thing we want to see is more puppies abandoned after the festivities.

Based on average searches over the past three months, the top ten dog breeds people are looking for this holiday season are as follows.

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