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.
One thing you might like to consider is that the growing popularity of imported breeds like the French Bull Dog mean that some of the UK’s formerly well-established native breeds are dwindling towards extinction on these shores.
A total of 35 breeds are now ‘considered vulnerable’ by the Kennel Club, having fallen below 300 annual registrations, with a further 14 on the less-critical ‘at watch’ list.
These breeds are at risk of disappearing from our parks and streets, simply because people don’t know they exist or because they aren’t considered fashionable - and they could just be the perfect fit for their family.
So, if you’d like to help one of the UK's struggling breeds, opt for one of these instead of the usual Labrador Retriever or Springer Spaniel.
Here are the 13 most at risk breeds of dog in the UK, according to the lateast registration statistics from the Kennel Club.
5. Bloodhound
A characterful breed originally bred to track deer, wild bore and, since the middle-ages, people (some wanting to be found, others very much not), only 25 Bloodhounds were registered last year, putting them fifth in this list. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Smooth Collie
Originally bred to herd sheep, Smooth Collie numbers have struggled over the last decade, never reaching triple figures on any given year. In 2024 a total of 29 dogs were registered with the Kennel Club. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Otterhound
The Otterhound is a type of scent hound that, as the name would suggest, used to be used to hunt otters. It had a relatively successful 2024 with 42 new dogs registered - the second largest number in the last decade. As recently as 2020 it was the most vulnerable UK dog breed, with just seven registered. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Smooth Fox Terrier
The Smooth Fox Terrier was the first breed in the fox terrier family to be given official recognition by the Kennel Club back in 1875. While many other popular types of Terrier are descended directly from the breed, they are now rarely seen outside shows and hunts. There were 45 registered in 2024. | Canva/Getty Images