A recent study published in Companion Animal Genetics and Health sheds light on a significant shift in the UK dog market, with an increasing preference for crossbreeds and imported pedigree dogs over traditional domestic breeds. The research, conducted by Joanna Ilska and her team, shows a steady decline in the UK’s pedigree dog population, which decreased by 0.9% annually from 1990 to 2021.
While the overall number of pet dogs in the UK has surged from 7.6 million in 2012 to 12 million in 2021, the study highlights a troubling trend in pedigree dog breeding. Only 13.7% of registered domestic pedigree dogs were used for breeding between 2005 and 2015. This is further compounded by the limited genetic diversity within purebred populations, increasing the likelihood of hereditary health issues linked to specific breeds.
The study, which analyzed data from the Kennel Club’s electronic database covering 222 dog breeds, found that the most popular pedigree breeds—Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, and Cocker Spaniels—accounted for 44% of the total pedigree population. However, the population of these breeds has dwindled since 2010. The Yorkshire Terrier, for example, experienced a sharp 10.6% drop in numbers from 1990 to 2021, while the French Bulldog saw a dramatic rise of 22.1%.
Imported pedigree dogs have gained popularity since 2010, with over 3,000 dogs arriving in the UK annually between 2011 and 2019. Notable exporters included Ireland (11,577 dogs), Russia (4,396 dogs), and Poland (3,905 dogs). The authors of the study suggest this increase may be a response to growing concerns over the ethics of dog breeding and the widespread neutering of dogs, which affects nearly half of all dogs in the UK.
Ilska and her colleagues propose that these shifting trends in dog ownership—favoring crossbreeds and imported dogs—reflect changing attitudes toward dog breeding. They also recommend that management strategies for pedigree dogs should be adjusted to account for declining population sizes and make use of the genetic diversity brought by imported dogs.
With the increasing popularity of crossbreeds like Cockapoos, the study suggests that fostering genetic diversity in the dog population could help mitigate the risk of inherited diseases, benefiting both pedigree and mixed-breed dogs.