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.
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, these are the 15 most popular small dog breeds.
9. Pomeranian
Ninth spot goes to the fluffy Pomeranian, with 1,832 registrations last year. Named after the Pomerania region, covering parts of Poland and Germany where it was first bred, they were a favourite of Queen Victoria. | Canva/Getty Images
10. Pug
The wrinkly Pug comletes the top 10 most popular small breeds of dog, with 1,316 registrations in 2024. It's an ancient breed, with roots that can remarkably be dated back to 400 B.C. | Canva/Getty Images
11. Shih Tzu
Thought to originate from the Pekingese being bred with the Lhasa Apso in their native China, these furry wee heroes were so prized by the Ming Dynasty emperors that they refused to sell or trade a single canine. Last year 1,273 of these precious pups were registered by the Kennel Club. | Canva/Getty Images
12. West Highland White Terrier
The West Highland White Terrier had 1,087 registrations with the Kennel Club last year, putting them in fourth spot. Commonly known as Westies, these most Scottish of dogs need plenty of exercise to thrive. | Canva/Getty Images