Reports indicate that there has been a significant surge in pet adoption, ever since lockdowns began last year. As lockdowns are not yet a thing of the past in 2021, the surge has not really subsided.
Instead of giving in to the urge blindly, it is recommended by most breeders, trainers, rescuers, and dog owners that people should consider the characteristics of a breed first before adopting.
After going through multiple dog show results, surveys, and popular opinions, it was determined that the following few are among the most popular, pure British dog breeds in the UK today.
British Bulldog
Also known most commonly as the English bulldog, they are the original bulldogs, from which every other subspecies of bulldogs were bred. One knows that a dog doesn’t get more British than this, given that this breed is officially the national dog as well. However, the flat-faced dog with questionable looks is an absolute sweetheart that loves children and food, while being perfectly capable of differentiating between the two!
Unfortunately, they do tend to suffer from digestive issues and joint pain a lot more than other similar sized breeds. Regular veterinary check-ups, the right types of dog supplement, and lots of love should keep them in good health for the most part though. If anyone already has an old bulldog at home, then they likely know what we are discussing a bit too well.
You can find dog supplements here that might help your loving old pet live a healthier and happier life by alleviating some of the joint pain. As for digestion issues shared by many breeds, both young and old pets can benefit from YuMOVE’s probiotics and digestive support dog supplement range.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
If there’s “King Charles” in a dog’s official name, you know you are dealing with a purebred British dog of regal origins. With the name of King Charles II to carry, these small spaniels are exceptionally affectionate and quite a looker. However, they are certainly not the easiest of British breeds to train, which may or may not be because of the fact that they consider themselves to be royalty! Nevertheless, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a highly intelligent small dog that doesn’t bark much and loves pretty much everyone in the family, irrespective of whether they actually belong to the family or not (aka, bad watchdogs)!
Labrador Retriever
Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers are somewhat similar in their nature and being originally bred as retriever dogs, they do require a lot of playtime and exercise to stay healthy. Although puppies tend to bark a lot, labs are very easy to train and teach. They grow sad very quickly, so don’t leave them alone for long periods of time. Also, avoid overfeeding since Labradors tend to suffer from joint issues far too much in their later years. Timely introduction of adequate dog supplements for joint health might help though. In general, they are one of the best lookers on this list, and one of the all-time favourites, loving family dogs in not just the UK, but pretty much everywhere.
Gordon Setter
The Gordon Setter is an extremely intelligent, purebred English dog of bird-hunting origins. The breed is just as good as a family dog, as it is as a guard dog and a hunting dog even today. However, exercise sessions on a regular basis are a must, so they may not be ideal for older couples. They can live in apartments, as long as there is a park nearby, where someone can play with your pooch for some time on a daily basis. However, beware of the fact that they do not like or work well with dogs of other breeds.
Collie
The purebred Scottish dog is one of the most intelligent species of dogs in the world, and you will know it as soon as you look into the smart eyes of your first collie. They were and still are used as herding dogs in some parts due to their high intelligence, but just like other herding dogs, they also make great house pets. Extremely loyal, easy to train, and instinctively supportive, purebred collies have nothing going against them, except the fact that they suffer when left alone. If you are okay with a lot of exercise and your dog at least has another buddy to keep it company, they are one of the best dog breeds to own anywhere.
To call one breed better than the other may not seem fair, but it does make a lot of sense in hindsight. Depending on which breed you choose to adopt, your experience of owning and loving a dog will differ to a great degree. While all canine breeds tend to be loyal, some of them may not be suited for your living conditions, although others will be. Some breeds have a low tolerance and high irritability, while other dogs hardly ever respond in an aggressive manner towards people in general. However, once you have owned a dog for some time, none of that will really matter, and it will become a loving part of your family.