Tag: animals

Labradors take the lead as UK’s most popular dog breed

Protectivity research has revealed which dog breeds have seen the biggest rise and fall in registration numbers over the last two decades.

  • The Labrador takes the crown of the most popular dog breed with 35,347 registrations in newly released Kennel Club Club data, overtaking the French Bulldog.

  • When looking at breed types, utility breeds have seen the biggest increase in registrations, with a 163% rise since 1990. 

  • The Dogue de Bordeaux is revealed to have had the largest increase in registrations, with a 22,217% rise, from just 6 registrations in 1990 to 1,339 in 2019.

  • Surprisingly, the Yorkshire Terrier has experienced the greatest fall in registration numbers with just 644 registrations in 2019 compared to a huge 24,015 in 1990, as owners are favouring continental breeds over the classic British breeds.

Pet business insurance provider Protectivity has analysed data from The Kennel Club to reveal which dog breeds are the most popular and which have seen the biggest rise and fall in registration numbers in the UK between 1990 and 2019. You can view the piece here.

As a nation of animal lovers, dogs are one of our most popular pets, and with over a quarter of adults owning one, we all have our own favourite breeds. Traditionally, we’ve seen Spaniels, Labradors and Terriers among the more commonly owned breeds, but in recent years we’ve also seen ‘designer’ dog breeds become much more popular, with these posh pups costing over £1000 to buy in some cases.

French Bulldogs lose their spot as the top dog

Looking at the number of registrations in the UK in 2019, the Labrador Retriever comes in as the top breed with 35,347 registrations, overtaking last year’s top breed the French Bulldog, which has had 33,661 registrations. The “Frenchie”, as it’s more affectionately known, has risen to popularity after becoming the breed of choice for celebrities such as the Beckhams, Lady Gaga and Holly Willoughby, amongst others. However, the spike in French Bulldog purchases has also caused the RSPCA to see a 236% increase in the number of this breed entering their care over the last seven years.

The top ten sees our old favourite breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever and Dachshund, but also includes a more surprising entry in the form of the Miniature Schnauzer. Ranked as one of the most ‘average’ dogs by the Royal Veterinary College, the lack of breed-related problems and tolerant nature make the Miniature Schnauzer a good option for any aspiring dog owners, with their smart mustachioed appearance also winning the hearts of many.

The top five most popular dog breeds are:

Rank

Breed

Registrations in 2019

1

Retriever (Labrador)

35,347

2

French Bulldog

33,661

3

Spaniel (Cocker)

21,663

4

Bulldog

9,922

5

Spaniel (English Springer)

8,638

Which breeds have seen the biggest rise and fall in registrations?

The nation’s trendiest dog since 1990 goes to the Dogue de Bordeaux. With a huge 22,217% increase in registrations, the breed has seen a massive surge in popularity, even placing above the French Bulldog which comes in second with a 13,639% increase.

Despite having a long history of working roles including as a guard dog, these gentle giants make a brilliant dog to have around children, with their calm and affectionate nature making them a loyal family member.

However, it’s the biggest fallers that might be more surprising, with the Yorkshire Terrier having seen a 97% decrease in registrations. The number of registrations of the breed have been steadily declining year on year, highlighting how fewer litters are being produced.

This decline may also in part be as a result of the overall increase in registrations for popular European breeds such as the French Bulldog, causing a saturation of more small breeds in the market.

The five breeds with the greatest increase in registrations are:

Rank

Breed

Difference in registrations from 1990 to 2019 (%)

1

Dogue de Bordeaux

22,217%

2

French Bulldog

13,639%

3

Bracco Italiano

5,850%

4

Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)

2,183%

5

Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

2,125%

The five breeds with the greatest decrease in registrations are:

Rank

Breed

Difference in registrations from 1990 to 2019 (%)

1

Yorkshire Terrier

-97%

2

West Highland White Terrier

-92%

3

Pekingese

-91%

4

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

-88%

5

Cairn Terrier

-88%

Utility breeds see a surge in popularity

When looking at the wider breed types, the change in popularity of breeds can be seen further. With a 163% surge in popularity, Utility breeds have risen by quite some margin, while Pastoral, Toy and Terrier breeds have all experienced declines of over 50%.

Within the Pastoral breed group, over 80% of the breeds analysed have experienced a decline, including larger breeds such as the Old English Sheepdog, Bearded Collie and Shetland Sheepdog. T

his downward trend in larger breeds may also be reflective of the increase in people living in city centre locations, where the urban lifestyle is much more suited to smaller dogs.

Sean Walsh, Marketing Manager from Protectivity Insurance said: “Dogs are some of our most loved pets, as they become deeply embedded and irreplaceable members of the family. Each family or owner will have their own criteria when choosing a dog, in order to ensure that the needs of the breed are met with their lifestyle.

“As a result, it’s interesting to see how our modern lifestyles have created a shift in popularity towards smaller dog breeds, rather than the larger Retrievers and German Shepherds which were once much more popular”

Free pet boarding at LOVE Gorgie Farm during coronavirus crisis

LOVE Gorgie Farm is offering free small pet boarding services to aid all those pet owners who are unwell or need to be admitted into the hospital.

By taking care of the animals free of charge, the beloved urban farm intends to help to those who are unwell or have to be temporarily admitted into the hospital to focus on their health and eliminate any extra stress that having to look after pets may cause.

Although donations are welcomed, LOVE Gorgie Farm will not be charging for pet boarding services during the coronavirus crisis and owners will only have to cover food costs.

Animals eligible for these services will be rabbits and guinea pigs, rodents, reptiles caged birds and poultry.

The farm currently operates as a foodbank for the most vulnerable and delivers free breakfast every morning to the children of the community now that schools are closed.

However, its team is still working behind closed doors in maintaining the site and taking care of the animals.

Following the Government’s advice, LOVE Gorgie Farm decided to temporarily close its doors amid the coronavirus outbreak only after reopening to the public at the end of February.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, the education and social care charity operating LOVE Gorgie Farm, said: “We understand how stressful it can be to feel like you are neglecting your pets when you can not give them the love and attention that they deserve. However, those feeling unwell during this pandemic must focus their energy on their health and on getting better.

“That’s why if you are sick during these critical times, we want to help take some of this stress away by providing an environment full of love and care to your pet whilst you focus on your own recovery.”

Those wanting to get in touch with the farm should contact gorgie@l-o-v-e.org.uk

Stand-by vets needed at LOVE Gorgie Farm

LOVE Gorgie Farm is looking for volunteers with vet and animal caring experience who wish to assist the farm team in taking care of the animals to get in touch.

Although the farm is currently operating as a foodbank and it is closed to visitors amid coronavirus outbreak, their team made of three is still working behind closed doors to maintain the site and take care of the animals until the situation goes back to normality.

LOVE Gorgie Farm is now looking to build a contingency plan to secure the welfare of the animals by building a database of volunteers who would be able to step in if a scenario was given where any members of the team fell sick or needed to self-isolate.

LOVE Gorgie Farm, which opened its doors to the public last month, decided to temporarily close earlier this week in order to ensure the safety of its visitors, staff and animals.

It is currently operating as a foodbank for the most vulnerable and delivers free breakfast every morning to the children of the community now that schools are closed.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning, education and social care charity operating LOVE Gorgie Farm said: “The fact that we are closed to the public does not mean that the farm is not operational. We still have our dedicated team working very hard to ensure the welfare of farm.

“To do this, it is vital that we have a contingency plan in case anyone in the team falls sick or needs to self-isolate, so that our animals are well looked after.

“We understand that in this particular moment in time there is an enormous pressure on front line workers, and these of course includes veterinarians.

“Taking this into consideration, we are only asking those that would like to volunteer to register with us and if at any point we need their help we will get in touch with them.

“We are overwhelmed by all the support and generosity we have received from the community during these critical times. It has certainly surpassed all our expectations and we are sure that their invaluable help will continue to amaze us as we work through this crisis.”

Those wanting to get in touch with the farm should contact gorgie@l-o-v-e.org.uk

MSPs Welcome Further Protections for Animals and Wildlife

Greater protections to strengthen the health and welfare of animals and wildlife in Scotland have been supported in a report issued yesterday by Holyrood’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.

Key provisions within the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill are:

• The increase of maximum penalties for animal welfare and wildlife crime offences to five years in prison
• The creation of fixed penalty notices for minor offences
• Removal of the requirement for court orders for rehoming animals.
• Increased protection for service animals (Finn’s Law) through the removal of the defence of self-defence.

Whilst considering the Bill, the Committee raised concerns about the lack of a central registration system to facilitate information sharing between authorities and agencies in relation, for example, to previous convictions.

Committee Convener, Gillian Martin MSP, (above) said: “We have explored the proposed penalties along with the powers given to those authorised to take animals into possession on welfare grounds. The Bill was widely welcomed but we believed more could be done.

“We recognise the tight focus of the Bill but we’re also in no doubt that it goes a long way to improving animal and wildlife protections in Scotland. When implemented, there should be greater co-operation, greater resourcing and greater awareness of the issues involved. The health and welfare of our animals and wildlife will be significantly improved.”

Additional recommendations made within the report include:

• That the options for enhanced detection and prosecution by expanding the powers of the SSPCA be explored
• That impact statements should be used as a matter of standard practise
• That the Scottish Government works with the Crown Office to provide more clarity and guidance about vicarious liability

See below for copy of the Committee report:

ECCLRS0520R1 (003)

Pudgy Pug Peaches enters PDSA Pet Fit CLub

Peaches the Pug, whose love of cheese and crisps has left her struggling on walks, is hoping to shed the pounds by signing up for the UK’s largest pet slimming competition – PDSA Pet Fit Club.

The four-year-old roly-poly pooch weighs in at a whopping 10.6kg (1st 6lbs), having eaten her way to becoming 51% overweight. She needs to lose a colossal 3.6kg to reach her ideal weight of 7kg (approx.).

Percy’s owner, student nurse Danielle Porter from Livingston, says Peaches will eat anything she can get her paws on, including her favourites: cheese, ham and crisps.

“When we’re eating we dare not leave our plates unsupervised as Peaches will go for it!” says Danielle. “I find it really hard to say no to Peaches, especially when she looks at me with her puppy-dog eyes.

“My mum looks after her when I’m at uni and tends to feed Peaches big portions, which is definitely adding to her weight-gain.”

Despite daily walks, Peaches struggles to run and play like other dogs due to her weight, which is one of the main reasons her owner wants to help slim her down. Another vital reason is that, as a Pug, Peaches is at higher risk of breathing issues due to her flat face shape – issues which will be worsened by carrying extra weight.

Danielle added: “Peaches enjoys her walks, but she has slowed down quite a bit due to her size. She also has regular sessions at a local hydrotherapy pool to help her lose weight, but she finds it hard work and can only last a few minutes.”

“Peaches is a lovable dog but I want her to be happier, healthier and more energetic.”

Now in its 15th year, the competition aims to help tackle the UK’s pet obesity crisis – as the charity’s stats reveal up to half of UK pets (46% of dogs, 34% of cats and 30% of rabbits*) are believed to be overweight or obese.

The most common reasons given by UK vets and vet nurses for excess weight in pets are: owner’s lack of recognition that their pet is overweight, feeding ‘treats’ or human food, and inappropriate portion sizes* .  All of which could be leaving our four-legged friend’s health, happiness and life-expectancy at serious risk.

Since 2005 Pet Fit Club has helped 143 pets (89 dogs, 44 cats, eight rabbits and two rats) lose 513kg (80st 12lb) – equivalent to a polar bear! The 2015 Pet Fit Club Champ, Kayla the Mastiff from Glasgow, lost an impressive 17kg (2st 9lb) – 29% of her bodyweight!

The charity, which provides free and reduced cost veterinary care to pets in need, is urging owners to enter their pets for the slimming competition to help them battle the bulge at: pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub.

PDSA Vet Nurse, Nina Downing, said: “Pet obesity has been a huge problem in the UK for many years and sadly there is no sign of improvement, with nearly one in every two pets seen by vets and vet nurses overweight or obese. This is a serious health issue, one of the biggest currently threatening pet wellbeing across the UK.

“Pets who are overweight or obese are much more likely to develop health problems such as arthritis and diabetes. Being overweight can also seriously aggravate other health problems, such as heart disease. For example, Pugs and French Bulldogs already struggle to breathe because of their flat faces, but carrying excess inches can make this much worse.

“Research has also shown that carrying too much weight can reduce a dog’s life expectancy by up to 2 years and 6 months**.”

About PDSA Pet Fit Club

Since its launch, the 15 pets crowned ‘Pet Fit Club Champ’ have lost a total of 130.35kg (20st 8lb).

Up to 20 overweight pets (dogs, cats, rabbits and rats) from across the UK will be chosen to participate in PDSA Pet Fit Club.

Selected pets are placed on a six-month diet and exercise programme, individually tailored to their needs and overseen by vets and vet nurses at their local PDSA Pet Hospital.

Participants receive free diet pet food for the duration of the competition, and the overall Pet Fit Club Champ, crowned at the end of 2020, will win a year’s free pet food and a pet friendly holiday.

Owners can find out more and apply online at pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub or by calling the Pet Fit Club team on 01952 797246. The closing date is Sunday 8 March 2020.

  • Pet Fit Club has helped 143 pets lose 513kg (80st 12lb) – equivalent to a polar bear
  • 89 dogs, 44 cats, 8 rabbits and 2 rats have taken part in the diet
  • The 15 Pet Fit Club Champs have lost over 130.35kg (20st 8lb).
  • The biggest ever ‘loser’ Oscar lost 39% of his bodyweight. 

“We know that we are a nation of animal lovers,” continues Nina, “But unfortunately a lot of pet owners show their love and affection using food.  And as the waistlines of the pet population have expanded, our understanding of a ‘healthy shape’ has become distorted – seeing overweight pets becomes normal. Recognising a healthy body shape – and if there is a problem – is the first step to making a positive change for your pet’s health.

“Most pets would be just as happy with extra attention – an extra walk or playtime – than food. And ‘treats’ of human food or too-large portions can be very bad for them.

“They should be fed a complete pet food suitable for their age and weight, with only occasional healthy treats, such as a few slices of carrot for dogs and a small piece of white fish or meat for cats. Our pets also need regular, varied exercise, suitable for their age and health, to keep their bodies and minds stimulated.

Nina concludes: “Pet Fit Club helps transform the UK’s fattest pets into fit and healthy animals. Pets that could barely walk, climb stairs or fit through cat flaps will be given a new lease of life.

“Prevention is always better than cure, but it is never too late to make a change. With the right advice, a good diet, suitable exercise and a bit of willpower, owners have the ability to make a real difference to their pet’s lives.  So we’re urging owners who have overweight pets to enter today.”

Enter Pet Fit Club at: pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub

Success for Scottish pug in national pet slimming competition

Percy the pug completes six month Pet Fit Club diet

A former roly-poly pooch from Glasgow, who had an unhealthy love affair with leftovers, has been named runner-up the UK’s largest pet slimming competition – PDSA Pet Fit Club – after shedding 18% of his bodyweight and 7 inches off his waist in just six months. Continue reading Success for Scottish pug in national pet slimming competition

Cats Protection welcomes Mairi Gougeon

The Scottish Government Minister responsible for animal welfare has paid a visit to Cats Protection’s Glasgow Adoption Centre to see first-hand how the charity helps cats in Scotland.

Mairi Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment, met staff and volunteers at the centre in Auchinlech on Thursday. Continue reading Cats Protection welcomes Mairi Gougeon