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.
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.
But if you have the space and don’t mind regular long walks then there’s no reason why you can’t ‘go large’ and get one of the bigger breeds of dog.
Each year the UK Kennel Club releases figures showing how many dogs of each breed have been registered with them, and the stats for 2024 have now been released.
According to those figures, these are the 15 most popular large dog breeds.
5. Rottweiler
Although the Rottweiler sometimes gets un anfair reputation for being aggressive, they can make for a loyal and gentle family pets - as many of the 2,209 owners who registered their dogs with the Kennel Club no doubt know. In their native Germany they were used to herd livestock and pull butchers' carts laden with heavy meat. Now they are happier cuddled up with their human family. It completes the top five most popular dog breeds. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Hungarian Vizsla
Just outside 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
7. 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
8. Dobermann
With 984 Kennel Club registrations in 2024, the Dobermann is the third most popular dog in the working group - and the eighth most popular large dog breed. Known as the Doberman Pinscher in North America, they make great guard dogs. It used to be a common practice to crop their ears - something now considered cruel by most dog lovers. | Canva/Getty Images