National Dog Survey 2025

With this year’s survey, we set out to explore what our dogs truly mean to us. Thousands of you responded to tell us all about your furry friends and the role they play in your lives.

We heard your stories – the funny, heartwarming, and every stolen sock in between. You shared your trusty sidekick’s one-of-a-kind quirks, and how they enrich your life in ways big and small. Together, we’ve captured a snapshot of what makes the nation’s dogs so special. 

A huge thank you to everyone who answered our nosy questions. Your responses help us understand the joys and challenges of dog ownership, so we can shape our services to support the real needs of dog owners. 
 
Keep reading to find out what this year’s survey dug up. 

The big picture

This year, we heard from 342,974 people, about a whopping 423,175 dogs. And 22,654 respondents who didn’t currently have a dog shared their views on a range of dog topics.  

The results were loud and clear: those lovable bundles of fur aren’t just pets, they’re family. They bring joy to our best days and comfort to our hardest moments, and we wouldn’t be without them.

95% of dog owners said that having a four-legged friend is good for their mental health. 84% said their dog gives them emotional support. And 80% described their furball as their best friend.  

Best in show

You told us about an array of breeds in this year’s survey, proving we love the diversity among our four-legged friends. And our most-loved mutt… a marvellous mixture. That’s right, crossbreeds make up 42% of all pooches, with 9% of the nation's dogs being mystery mixes.

Labradors held on to their top spot as the UK’s most popular single-breed pooch, having kept their paws on the title since the start of the survey. A whopping 8% of all surveyed dogs were lovely Labs, showing once again that they’re the nation’s favourite dog breed.  

But when it comes to crossbreeds, we’re partial to Poodles. The top three crossbreeds this year were Cockapoos (5.8% of dogs), Cavapoos (1.5%) and Labradoodles (1.3%). That’s oodles of Poodles. Leggy Lurchers (a sighthound crossed with another breed) lolloped gracefully into 4th place.

Miniature Smooth-haired Dachshunds have also had a surge in popularity, poking their little noses into the top 10 most popular puppy breeds for the first time. While French Bulldogs, who are currently tenth, appear to be declining among new puppies born since the pandemic puppy boom. Growing awareness around the health issues linked to flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds could be behind this. 

You can have a closer look at how the results break down with our interactive graphs. 

What’s in a name?

This year’s top 10 dog names are almost identical to last year, with Poppy and Teddy holding on to their no.1 spots. Only two new names have wiggled their way into the top 10: Mabel and Bertie, ousting Millie and Monty from their place on the league table.

A day in a dog’s life

This year we set out to explore what daily life in the UK looks like with a dog by your side. We asked dog owners how long you spend on daily dog activity like walks and playtime.  

On average, you told us you spend 2 hours 12 minutes per day caring for your pooches: almost 10% of the day. Now that’s dedication. 

Most of that time was spent on walkies: on average, 67 minutes a day. Plus 41 minutes spent on feeding, playing and enrichment at home, and 24 minutes on running errands with dogs in tow.  

We asked dog owners all about their expectations of getting a dog, and how their current reality compares. Can they do everything they imagined they would with their dog? Or have their hopes not been met, leaving them frustrated?

When it comes to walkies, 15% of owners wish they could let their dog off the lead, but feel they can’t. 18% say they do but that their dog doesn’t always come back when called.  

8% of owners hoped they could introduce their dog to other pup pals but aren’t yet at that stage. And 24% said they can but find it difficult. That’s nearly a third (32%) of dog owners struggling to some extent with socialising their furry friend.

Another task that owners said they find tricky is grooming their dog all over. 21% (1 in 5) of human companions find it hard to do, or say their pup doesn’t like it. So much for pampered pooches. 

Caring so deeply for a furry companion naturally comes with its worries too. So, we did some digging to find out which concerns weigh the heaviest on owners’ minds.  

Pet theft proved to be an important issue, with 33% of owners saying they worry about their dog being stolen. Read our advice on how to prevent pet theft, and what to do if your dog is stolen. 

Our results also revealed owners’ concerns around caring for their dog. 15% said they’re worried about looking after their furry sidekick as they become an older pooch. And 14% of owners worry about who to ask for help with their dog if they need it. 

If you’re facing behaviour problems with your dog, you’re not the only one. 90% of owners have faced a behaviour challenge in the past year. From their dog pulling on the lead (44%), to not coming back when called (35%).  

If you’re worried about your dog’s behaviour, get in touch with our free behaviour support line for non-judgmental advice.  

For non-dog-owners, worries tend to centre around getting a dog. Of people who said they wouldn’t rehome from a UK rescue, more than a third (35%) were concerned rescue dogs might have behavioural problems.  

It can sometimes be difficult for us to know a dog’s full history before they’re in our care. But once they’re with us, each pooch gets the tailored support they need from our dedicated behavioural experts. Read more about the hard work our experts commit to help dogs in our care. 

We asked dog owners all about picking up their best pal’s poo – and it was a real mixed bag. 92% of owners said they’d never leave their dog’s poo in public. But only 53% agreed that most owners in their community are responsible about picking up after their dog.  

We also found that 8% of owners think it’s okay to leave dog poo in a natural environment – in a bush, for example. But while people might think that poo is natural and breaks down, research shows it can harm the natural environment. 

This walkies hasn’t reached its destination yet. Sit tight while our researchers continue to crunch the numbers and sniff around for more furry facts and figures. Soon to be unleashed…