Top dog: The French bulldog is about to become the UK’s most popular breed

The French bulldog is on the verge of overtaking the labrador to become the UK’s most popular pooch.

Figures from the Kennel Club show there was an increase of 47 per cent last year in ownership of French bulldogs in Britain.

Numbers rose from 14,607 in 2015 to 21,470 in 2016, the organisation said.

If that rate continues, the bat-eared breed, favoured by celebrities including Lady Gaga and the Beckhams, will become the UK’s favourite dog by the beginning of next year.

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If it achieves that feat, it will be the first time in 27 years that the labrador retriever will have been usurped as top dog.

French bulldogs first became fashionable in Paris in the 19th century, but there were only 650 registered in the UK ten years ago.

This year, the Kennel Club is anticipating another 7,000 French bulldog registrations, meaning the total could go past the 28,000 mark.

But there are concerns the dog is popular because it is a fashion accessory, and not necessarily suited to its owners’ lifestyles.

“While the French Bulldog is a lovely breed, it is very unwise for anyone to buy one simply because they think it looks cute or is a fashionable choice,” said Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko.

“Anyone doing so could inadvertently be contributing to an impending welfare crisis.

“The breed is a favourite with celebrities, who often flaunt them on their Instagram and Twitter accounts for people to coo over.

“While it’s normal to want to show off your dog, when celebrities do it, it usually results in a surge in the popularity of certain breeds, which is not a good thing as it opens the doors to unscrupulous breeders who see it as an opportunity to breed lots of them without due care to health and welfare.”

She advised dog lovers to go to an established breeder when buying a French bulldog.

The Kennel Club wants prospective owners to consider similar breeds such as Miniature Schnauzer, Beagle, Border Terrier and Welsh Terrier.