French Bulldogs overtake Labradors as the nation's most popular dog

The Beckhams have one. Lady Gaga has one. As does Madonna. And Hugh Jackman. So it's little surprise, then, that French bulldogs have just become the UK's most popular dog breed, having just knocked Labradors off the top spot for the first time in almost thirty years.

The Kennel Club has reported that in the first quarter of 2018, there were 8,403 registered 'Frenchies' in comparison to 7,409 Labradors.

In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the ownership of brachycephalic dog breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs, with registrations of the former increasing 30-fold in the past decade alone, an increase of 2,964 per cent.

Astonishingly, between 2016-2017, there was a 44 per cent increase in Frenchie registration, as Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, commented: “We have never seen such a dramatic increase in breed popularity as we have with the French Bulldog.”

Whilst Labradors stood as the top registered breed in 2017 (with numbers of 35,068), the Frenchie was not far behind at 30,887, and with the recent figures revealing they are dominating registrations, by the end of 2018, they are expected to come out on top as the UK's most registered breed of the year.

This would be the first time the Frenchie has taken on this mantle; indeed, it's been hard for any breed to compete with the popularity of the Labrador, which has enjoyed 28 years heading up the list, serving as the nation's favourite dog since 1990 when it overtook the Yorkshire Terrier.

But whilst the Kennel Club's announcement might be good news for Frenchie lovers, who fall in love with the breed's cute size and appearance, the Club are concerned that 'rogue breeders' will take advantage of their popularity and not account for the health problems often experienced by this breed. French Bulldogs are prone to eye, ear, skin and breathing difficulties.

"The problem is that rogue breeders are cashing in on this surging demand," says Kisko, "which is why it has never been more important that people consider buying from a responsible breeder, such as a Kennel Club Assured Breeder – particularly with this breed, which can suffer from serious health concerns."

Sue Worrall, a Trustee of the French Bulldog Welfare Trust, added: “People need to be aware that French Bulldogs require lots of companionship and training and can suffer from serious health problems.

"If a puppy buyer is sure it is the best breed for them, then it is crucial to find a responsible breeder, such as a Kennel Club Assured Breeder. A good breeder will supply any health test results for the parents and introduce the puppy buyer to the mum, and sometimes the dad, so that they can see if they have exaggerated features, such as overly short muzzles, which should be avoided."

So if you are considering buying a Frenchie, do your research. Yes, they are sweet and friendly and make great companions, but they can experience serious health problems too. Put plainly, there is a lot more to this pooch than simply being top dog.