Staffies Pip Other Pooch Breeds to the Post for Top Dog
On the 30th January 2019, ITV polled 10,000 people in a bid to discover Britain’s favourite dog breed. To the surprise, amusement and in some cases, the anger of some viewers, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was the breed which came out on top!Often given a bad rap in the media, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is actually considered a ‘nanny breed’ and many rescue and rehoming centres recommend them as perfect family dogs, as long as they have been well socialised from a young age. In fact, the Staffie is one of only two breeds that The Kennel Club consider a suitable dog to have with young children, the other being the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
What Makes Staffordshire Bull Terriers So Lovable?
Anyone who has ever owned or known a well socialised and well-trained Staffie (remember, a well-trained and socialised dog is a happy dog!) will know that these adorable bundles of fur just want love. They will climb up onto your lap and offer plenty of kisses, especially if they can sense you are sad or unhappy.
Contrary to popular belief, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier rarely attacks - unless provoked - and in fact, these dogs were specifically bred to avoid hurting humans. As hard as it may be to believe, many Staffies that end up in animal shelters and rescue centres are given up for their notable lack of aggression and lovable nature!
The Top 10 of Britain’s Favourite Dogs
With the Staffordshire Bull Terrier at the top of Britain’s favourite dog list, these pups all featured in the top 10:
Cockapoo
A Kennel Club recognised crossbreed, the Cockapoo is a cross between the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. The Cockapoo is a fluffy, friendly breed and has been previously rated as Britain’s favourite crossbreed.
Labrador
The 2018 winner, the Labrador, has long been up there among Britain's favourite dogs. This large, clever dog is typically found in yellow, black, or chocolate, and is the most popular breed in guide dog training programmes.
Springer Spaniel
Another Spaniel breed, the Springer has had its place as a working dog for generations. Commonly seen working for the military and police, the Springer Spaniel has a very keen sense of smell.
Cocker Spaniel
The third Spaniel breed on the list, the Cocker Spaniel is another common working breed with a ‘soft mouth’ and is often used to find and retrieve the downed animal when shooting birds.
Boxer
Appearing in sixth place, the Boxer dog was originally bred from two different breeds, the English Bull Dog and the Bullenbeisser, now extinct. It is a keen jumper and often uses its front paws to ‘box’ when playing.
Border Collie
Keen herding dogs, the Border Collie is distinctly recognised for its black and white fluffy coat. It is considered to be one of the smartest dog breeds, able to recognise over 1,000 words, and is commonly used on farms for herding livestock.
German Shepherd
The top choice for police and military speciality dogs, the German Shepherd is a big dog and has firmly held its place in the top 10 of Britain’s favourite dogs for the last few years. This dog has a high training ability and is also a reliable guard dog.
Golden Retriever
The last gundog breed in the top 10, the retriever was bred for its exceptionally soft mouth when retrieving downed hunts and is another dog trusted for its skills as a guide dog.
Mixed Breed
While not a breed of their own, mixed breed dogs found their way to number 10 on the list. Mixed breeds often take the best qualities from their parent breeds and have considerably fewer health problems and longer life spans than their purebred brethren.
Does your pooch appear in the top 100 dogs list as voted on ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Dogs? Check out the full list below!
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Cockapoo (Crossbreed: Cocker Spaniel/Poodle)
- Labrador
- Springer Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel
- Boxer
- Border collie
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Mixed Breed
- Flat-Coated Retriever
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Labradoodle (Crossbreed: Labrador/Poodle)
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- Cavachon (Crossbreed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Bichon Frise)
- Welsh Terrier
- Weimaraner
- Daschund
- Doberman Pinscher
- Jack Russell
- Cavapoo (Crossbreed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Poodle)
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Sprollie (Crossbreed: English Springer Spaniel/Collie)
- Lakeland Terrier
- Dalmatian
- Springador (Crossbreed: Springer Spaniel/Labrador)
- Border Terrier
- Welsh Pembroke Corgi
- Great Dane
- English Setter
- Beagle
- English Bull Terrier
- Tibetan Terrier
- Irish Water Spaniel
- West Highland White Terrier
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Lurcher
- Rottweiler
- Whippet
- Greyhound
- Shih Tzu
- French Bulldog
- German Short-haired Pointer
- Schnauzer
- Poodle
- Manchester Terrier
- Pug
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Old English Sheepdog
- Hungarian Vizsla
- Chihuahua
- Bedlington Terrier
- Welsh Corgi
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Newfoundland
- Olde English Bulldog
- Siberian Husky
- Irish Terrier
- British Bulldog
- Basset Hound
- Bloodhound
- Nova Scotia Retriever
- Lhasa Apso
- Bichon Frise
- Rough Collie
- English Pointer
- Bearded Collie
- Irish Setters
- Puggle
- Irish Setter
- Alaskan Malamute
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Saluki
- Saint Bernards
- Norfolk Terrier
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Scottish Terrier
- Japanese Akita
- Maltese Terrier
- Pomeranian
- Airedale Terrier
- Gordon Setter
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Samoyed
- Wire Fox Terrier
- Bull Mastiff
- Cairn Terrier
- Chow Chow
- Schipperke
- Boston Terrier
- Hungarian Vizsla
- Borzoi
- Sussex Spaniel
- Irish Wolfhound
- Chinese Crested
- Sproodle (Crossbreed: English Springer Spaniel/Poodle)
- Leonberger
- Australian Shepherd
- The Afghan Hound
- The Otterhound
Are you considering adopting one of the breeds that feature in this year's top 100 dogs list? Don't forget to pick up a lovely collar and pet ID tag for your new furever friend from our dog tag selection. Or, if you're already a proud pet parent, why not treat them to a new tag in celebration of their top-dog achievement!