French Bulldogs and Cockapoos Top UK’s Most Popular Puppy Breeds

A comprehensive new study published this month by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass program has crowned French Bulldogs and Cockapoos as the most popular puppy breeds in the UK.

The research analyzed vet records for over 400,000 dogs under two years old seen between 2016-2020. French Bulldogs made up 6.7% of the puppies examined, followed closely by Cockapoos at 6.4%. Labrador Retrievers, consistently the UK’s favorite dog breed for decades, dropped to third place at just 5.9% of puppies.

“Both French Bulldogs and Cockapoos have grown enormously in popularity in recent years,” said lead researcher Dr. Dan O’Neill. “Celebrity owners and widespread exposure across social media, TV and films has really fueled public demand for these breeds.”

The study also delved deeper to explore why certain breeds have risen and fallen in popularity. For French Bulldogs, their small size, cute squished faces, and perceived suitability for city living in apartments are major factors attracting new owners. Cockapoos – a cross between Cocker Spaniels and Poodles – are prized for their low-shedding coats and family-friendly reputations.

However, experts caution that the allure of Instagram-famous breeds like Frenchies and Cockapoos often overlooks their serious health issues. French Bulldogs frequently suffer breathing difficulties, overheating, and require Caesarean sections to give birth. Meanwhile, Cockapoos are prone to ear infections, luxating patellas, and eye disorders.

“We strongly advise that people only acquire French Bulldogs and Cockapoos from responsible breeders who prioritize health,” said veterinary professor and study co-author Paul McGreevy. He also advised prospective owners to look into adopting dogs from shelters or breed rescues.

The research highlights how media exposure and perceived lifestyle compatibility increasingly shape breed popularity above other factors like trainability or longevity. But while Frenchies and Cockapoos may be topping the charts for now, dog enthusiasts know trends come and go. The loyal Labrador Retriever won’t give up the UK’s favored breed title without a fight.

How Popular is Your Breed?

Source: VetCompass Dog Breed Frequency 2019 – Under 1 year

Additional findings from the study include:

• 4% of dogs were classified as purebred, with 6.7% classified as designer-crossbred and 24.0% as non-designer-crossbred
• There were slightly more male than female dogs in the population (52.2% males, 47.8% females). Female dogs were statistically older and lighter than male dogs
• When looking at hair type, 54.6% of dogs were short haired, 32.6% were medium haired and 12.8% were long haired
• Ear types varied among the population; 24.5% had erect ears, 28.1% had semi-erect ears, 19.7% had v-shaped drop ears and 27.7% had pendulous ears
• 6% of dogs were chondrodystrophic (short-legged)
• 74% of dogs overall were neutered. Females were more likely to be neutered than males. Neutered dogs were older and heavier than entire dogs
• 1% of dogs were classified as mesaticephalic (medium-length skulls e.g. Labrador Retriever, Beagle), 8.3% of dogs were dolichocephalic (long-faced e.g. greyhound, whippet), while 17.6% were brachycephalic (flat-faced dogs e.g. French Bulldog, Pug).  Brachycephalic dogs were statistically significantly younger than mesaticephalic dogs and dolichocephalic dogs

“With 800 dog breeds available in the UK, this VetCompass study shows there are still plenty of healthy breeds to choose from that do not suffer from extreme body shapes such as flat faces, skin folds or absent tails. Despite this, many UK owners are still persuaded by social influences and trends into acquiring dogs with extreme body shapes that are likely to result in serious health issues during much of their dogs’ lives. The advice is to stop and think before buying a dog with an extreme body shape.”

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC, and lead author of the paper

Full details of the research can be found here and the complete research paper is freely available online at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288081