We’re officially a nations of dog owners, with the UK’s most popular pet living in around one-in-three households (and rising).
That means that there are around three million pooches living here, with more people choosing to join the army of dog lovers every week.
Of course, if you are looking to welcome a dog into your family, there are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
The Kennel Club separates breeds into seven different groups, each of which have a particular set of attributes.
If you are looking for a dog that is active, adventurous, easy to train and extremely loving then it’s worth considering a gundog.
These dogs may have originally been bred for hunting but are now amongst the most popular companion and family dogs.
The Kennel Club recently released their breed registration statistics for 2024, revealing how many of each breed of dog were registered with them over the year.
According to those figures, here are the 10 most popular gundogs in the UK.
5. Hungarian Vizsla
Completing the top five, with 1,903 2024 registrations, is the Hungarian Vizsla. The winner of the Best In Show award at Crufts 2010 was a Vizsla named Hungargunn Bear It'n Mind. | Canva/Getty Images
6. German Shorthaired Pointer
Named after its instinct to 'point' its muzzle towards game, there were 1,313 new registrations of German Shorthaired Pointers last year. They originated in 19th century Germany and are descended from the now-extinct Old Spanish Pointer. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Flat-Coated Retriever
With a total of 869 registrations in 2024, the Flat-Coated Retriever is the seventh most popular gundog in the UK. They originated in mid-19th century England and were a particular favourite of gamekeepers. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Irish Setter
The Kennel Club has 647 new Red Setter registrations last year. Wonderful family pets, they get on particularly well with children. | Canva/Getty Images