National Dog Survey

Dogs are our family, our best friends and vital to our wellbeing. That’s what hundreds of thousands of you told us in this year’s National Dog Survey.

With responses from over 400,000 people, this year’s survey was the biggest yet. 373,216 dog owners told us about 430,406 furry friends. And 33,002 dog lovers shared their views on dog welfare issues.  

Answers to the survey will inform our work over the coming years, to help us be there for owners and their companions when they need us most. Keep reading to find out what we learnt about the nation’s dogs this year.

Bark to school

This year’s survey asked dog owners all about your dog’s behaviour and training. We asked how often your dog does certain things, like coming back when called and sleeping through the night. 

You told us that:

• 95% of dogs regularly sleep through the night.
• 80% of dogs regularly relax when left home alone.
• 74% of dogs regularly walk calmly when out on the lead.
• 71% of dogs regularly come back when called.

On the other end of the scale:

• 52% of dogs rarely stay quiet when they hear door knocking or noises outside the home. 
• 26% of dogs rarely stay calm when fireworks can be heard. 
• 25% of dogs rarely greet people politely with their paws on the floor. 
• 7% of dogs rarely stay calm around other dogs when out walking.

We also asked which of these were a problem for you and your household. You told us that the most problematic behaviours were separation anxiety, lead walking and dog 'reactivity'. 

The survey also showed that 76% of dogs show least one ‘undesirable’ behaviour, yet only 6.5% are attending training classes. We believe a dog is for life, and so is training! Regular reward-based training will keep your pup on point and is a brilliant way for you to bond.  

For practical training to help you and your pooch understand each other better, check out Dog School. We run group classes and 1-2-1 sessions in 105 locations around the UK, plus training specifically for reactive dogs.

Doggy language

80% of dog owners said that they were confident in reading dog body language. But only 24% could consistently identify worried dog behaviours.  

A third of people thought that a wagging tail always means a dog is happy. It might make us happy to see a wagging tail, but in truth, dogs wag their tails for all sorts of reasons. Tail movements are one of many signals a dog can use to communicate all sorts of feelings.

The most misinterpreted dog body language signal was a dog rolling onto their back. Many people think that this means a dog wants a belly rub. But sometimes, by rolling on to their side or back, a dog may be trying to show that they pose no threat. This body language is also known as an ‘appeasement roll’ and can be a way for a dog to say they’re nervous about a situation.

Dogs use their whole bodies to show each other, and us, how they’re feeling. Learning how your dog communicates can help you recognise when they’re worried or frightened, to help keep you and others safe. To brush up on your understanding, check out our guide on dog body language.

The dogs we Labr-adore 

We heard from owners of an incredible range of breeds, proving we love our dogs in all shapes and sizes. The survey revealed that the nation’s favourite ‘breed’ is a marvellous mixture — over 40% of the UK’s dogs are crossbreeds.

When it comes to specific breeds, the nation loves Labradors. Over 30,000 Labrador Retrievers were accounted for the survey, making them the UK’s favourite specific breed of dog. By our estimations, this could mean there are a whopping one million Labradors in the UK.

Cocker Spaniels came in second, and Border Collies in third place.  

Top of the tags

The nation’s favourite names this year were Poppy and Teddy. Poppy has held the most popular dog name in the country since the survey launched in 2021. Luna, Bella and Ruby also kept their places in the top five names for female dogs.

Teddy is a new front runner, appearing in the top three for male dog names for the first time. Alfie and Milo are still firm favourites, but previously popular Oscar didn’t even make the top 10 this year. 

Where does your dog's name rank?

Pet pastimes

The survey shows that every pooch is unique, with their own personality and a wide variety of likes and dislikes. We asked about your dog’s defining characteristics and received a whole range of results. 52% of dogs were said to love treats, 36% have a passion for playing with toys, and 34% absolutely love to snooze.

The classic ball was voted top toy, with 58% of you saying it’s your dog’s favourite. But toys can’t float everyone’s boat. 9% of you reported that your dog isn’t too fussed by them.

34% of dogs were said to love being active and 28% enjoy exploring new places. Our pooches’ passion for activity and adventure proved to have benefits for us too. 89% of you said that owning a dog makes you more active. And 58% of you told us that owning a dog reduces your social isolation. 

Our faithful friends

Of dog owners, more than 98% of you told us you consider your dog part of your family. And nearly 9 in 10 of you described your dog as your best friend.

The results of the survey show that not only do we love our dogs, but they have a positive impact on our lives too. 98% of you told us that your dog makes you feel happy. 96% said that owning a dog is good for your mental health and 89% of you said that your dog provides emotional support. This reminds us just how important it is that dogs and their owners can stay together. 

Worries about welfare

We asked about the dog welfare issues that matter most to you, so that we can make sure we’re there to help dogs where and when they need us most.

67% of you listed neglect or cruelty as your biggest worry for dogs. 51% said you were specifically concerned about puppy farming and the mass-scale breeding of puppies. 41% ranked responsible dog ownership as a significant issue, and raised the need for dog owners to be considerate of others in public spaces.

These insights are so important to inform our work, so that together we can take action to make the world a better place for dogs and those that love them. 

Thanks to dog lovers like you taking the survey in previous years, we’ve been able to see where our help is most needed. This year will be no different. We’ll use the results to shape our services and meet the needs of dogs and their owners across the UK. 

Here’s what we’ve done already:  

• In 2021, our first survey highlighted an increase in dog owners facing behaviour issues with their dog. So, we created a free, nationwide Behaviour Support Line to prevent more people having to relinquish their dog due to their behaviour. Since it launched, we’ve given advice and support to more than 8,000 people.
• In 2023, nearly 20% of respondents said they may consider changing to cheaper pet food in the coming year. Nearly 30% said they were thinking about cutting back on training classes due to costs. Since then, we’ve shared 1 million dog meals through our foodbank partners and offered discounted training classes for over 500 dogs.  

Share the results!

Do the results reveal your pooch is a top dog breed or has the most popular name? Share the results and show you, like 9 out of 10 others, think your dog is your best friend!