New data has revealed the 10 fastest declining dog breeds in the United Kingdom, with the French Bulldog experiencing the most significant drop in registrations between 2024 and 2025. According to an analysis by the Royal Kennel Club and Briefcase, French Bulldog registrations fell by 6,000 in 2025, down from 13,789 the previous year.
Top Declining Breeds
The Labrador Retriever was identified as the second fastest declining breed, with 4,222 fewer registrations. The Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) followed closely with a drop of 2,756, while the Cocker Spaniel saw 1,559 fewer registrations. The English Bulldog rounded out the top five with a decline of 1,154 registrations.
Other breeds in the top 10 include the Miniature Schnauzer, English Springer Spaniel, German Shepherd, Border Terrier, and Pug.
Rising Breeds
In contrast, some smaller breeds are gaining popularity. The Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) led the rise in registrations with an increase of 244, followed by the Jack Russell Terrier with 185 and the Italian Greyhound with 118.
A spokesman for Briefcase commented: "Looking at year-over-year movement reveals a very different story from a straight popularity ranking, with several of the UK’s most established favourites seeing steep declines while some smaller breeds continue to gain momentum. The figures suggest dog-breed preferences are shifting meaningfully, even if the biggest breeds still dominate overall registration totals."
Call for Regulation
The news comes as the RSPCA calls for all dog rescue organisations to be licensed, citing growing concerns about behavioural issues and disease risks in imported pets. David Bowles, an RSPCA spokesman, described the current process as akin to a "Deliveroo for dogs" and urged the government to strengthen regulation in the sector.
