Following the publication of the KC’s analysis of pedigree dog breeding and registration trends which I summarised here, I have extracted the 1990-2021 registration trend data (from the Daily Mail’s website) and present the graphs below.
Some General Observations
- Miniature vs. Standard: Miniature varieties, especially Smooth-Haired, dominated registrations, probably reflecting a preference for smaller dogs suited to urban lifestyles. Standard varieties remained niche, with Wire-Haired showing a more recent spike.
- Cultural Drivers: The massive rise in Miniature Smooth-Haired registrations highlights the power of social media and the pandemic pet boom, while other varieties’ modest growth suggests more limited public visibility.
- Health Implications: The high IVDD risk in Miniature Smooths didn’t curb their popularity by 2021, but growing awareness could influence future trends. Standard Wires’ lower IVDD risk may have contributed to their recent growth in popularity, along with the Crufts 2020 Best in Show win.
- Grooming Impact: Low-maintenance coats (Smooth) saw the most growth, while higher-maintenance coats (Long, Wire) remained less popular.
Mini Wires show a consistent but relatively low level of registrations, typically between 600 and 800 per year. This probably reflects a niche following, but their popularity is probbaly limited by people’s perceptions of their grooming needs.
Standard Wire registrations were relatively stable until about 2015 when they grew in popularity. They were, historically, a variety with a more narrow niche appeal. The recent growth was, however, before the 2020 Crufts Best in Show win.
Mini Smooth popularity also took off around 2015 and the breed’s high visibility on TV and social media has no doubt been a contributory factor.
Standard Smooth registrations were on a slight downward trend from 1990 to 2015, then increased in popularity. The increase was possibly linked to the Mini Smooth increase, with people assuming they are a “small dog that doesn’t need much grooming”.
Mini Longs had been in long-term decline up to 2015 but, by 2021, registrations were back to 1990 levels. Some of that recent increase is probably also driven by their visibility on social media.
Standard Longs were also in long-term decline from 1990 but slightly increased in popularity from 2015. Their low and declining registrations reflect limited popularity, likely due to the combination of larger size (9–11 kg) and perceptions of high grooming needs for the long-haired coat, which may deter some owners. This variety appears to have a niche appeal, largely among show enthusiasts.
