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 Generation X (that’s people born between the mid 1960s and the late-1970s)
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 Gen Xers, according to latest data from 2025.
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5. Cocker Spaniel
Fifth spot, according to YouGov polls, goes to 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
6. Saint Bernard
Famous for taking part in Alpine mountain rescues (often portrayed with a barrel of brandy around its neck), the Saint Bernard (or St. Bernard, depending on tastes) is the classic gentle giant. It's even known as the nany dog given how gentle it is with children. It has a 69 per cent approval rating with Gen X. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Seventh place, with a 68 per cent approval rating with Gen Xers goes to the big-eyed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. These long-eared characters were bred to resemble King Charles II's spaniel of the English Civil War period. His supporters at that time were called Cavaliers and the two were combined to create the doggy name. | Canva/Getty Images
8. German Shepherd
Next up, with a 67 per cent popularity rating, is the German Shepherd. Some of the 33 per cent of naysayers may well be criminals - this is a breed famously used for police work to track down wrongdoers so they are only popular with those of us who stay on the right side of the law. | Canva/Getty Images