The demand for large dog breeds has emerged as families swapped city life for country living in the pandemic, new figures released by the Kennel Club have found.
While these giant pups might take up more space on the sofa, Pyrenees Mountain Dogs, English Setters and Old English Sheepdogs are among the breeds Brits are falling back in love with. In fact, of the 10 breeds increasing in popularity, six of them were classified as “large” breeds.
The English Setter, on the larger end of medium-sized dogs, benefitted from a 109% increase in registrations, while Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, weighing between 121 and 165lb (55 and 75kg), are also becoming more popular with Brits. Meanwhile, Old English Sheepdogs, Giant Schnauzers, chow chow and Akitas have all seen a significant surge in registrations.
“We are delighted to see that some of our more vulnerable native breeds, like the much-loved Old English Sheepdog and historic English Setter, saw some of the biggest boosts in popularity over the past year,” Bill Lambert, a spokesperson for the Kennel club The Telegraph.
Moving to the countryside suddenly became a lot more appealing during nationwide lockdowns, with Bill explaining this is one of the reasons households considered larger pups. He continues: “Perhaps puppy buyers resisted the urge to go for the most obvious choices, and instead using lockdown and time at home to properly research their new four-legged family member and find the best fit for their lifestyle.”
English Setters also made the list
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Ali Taylor, head of canine behavior and training at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, told the Daily Mail: “It’s no wonder that big dogs have risen in popularity; not only are they striking to look at, but they can make incredibly loving and rewarding pets too. Large breeds might take up a bit more space on your sofa, but that’s only because there’s more of them to love!”
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12 dog winter coats to keep your pups cozy
Quilted Jacket — Best Dog Winter Coats
quilted dog jacket
Keep your pup snug and secure with this thick quilted dog jacket from H&M. Perfect for a winter’s walk, it has quilted seams, a stand-up collar with an open front, and a belt with a hook and loop fastening at the back.
Great For Older Dogs — Best Dog Winter Coats
Waterproof Brooklyn Dog Coat – Graphite – Medium
Designed to resist whatever the weather throws at you, this waterproof dog coat is ideal for older pups with joint problems or less fur and has a particularly warm inner lining.
Printed Coat — Best Dog Winter Coats
Olive Green Waxed Dog Coat
Keeping warm and snug just got a whole lot easier thanks to this gorgeous waxed coat from Joules. In olive green, it has a tweed lining and beautiful bee prints.
Shearling Dog Jacket — Best Dog Winter Coats
Pocket-detail faux shearling dog jacket
In a gorgeous white, this pocket-detail faux shearling dog jacket has been designed to add an extra layer of warmth during those cold winter days. It has two small holes for their legs, as well as a zipped pocket on the back.
Thermal Self-Heating Coat — Best Dog Winter Coats
Thermal Self-Heating Dog Coat – Black
This thermal dog coat is excellent for winter walks, thanks to its self-heating technology.
“Our reflective technology lining, combined with a hollow fiber core maximizes the dog coats thermal properties,” say petslovescruffs.com. “The thermal dog coat has a fleece collar and chest pad to provide greater comfort, improved fitment and allow unrestricted movement.”
Great For Short-Haired Dogs — Best Dog Winter Coats
Hurtta® Expedition Dog Parka
A warm pet coat is great to ward off the chill during winter. Not sure which one to pick up? We love this technical dog parka, which has been specially developed for short-haired dogs and dogs without an undercoat.
Barbour Dog Coat — Best Dog Winter Coats
Baffle Dog Coat- Olive Medium
In olive green, this luxurious Barbour coat is ideal for dogs who like the finer things in life.
Cozy Jumper — Best Dog Winter Coats
Barbour Fairisle Dog Jumper, Grey, Small
Fluffy Coat — Best Dog Winter Coats
Teddy Bear Dog Hoodie – Large
Made from super-soft fleece fabric, this blue fluffy coat has teddy bear ears attached to keep your dog warm and cosy. It also has a stretch jersey fabric, making it easy to pull on and off.
Best Dog Rain Coat — Best Dog Winter Coats
William Morris at Home Blackthorn Reversible Dog Coat, Small
William Morris fans will love this adorable reversible dog coat in the brand’s classic print. With a water-resistant, waxed cotton outer fabric, it also helps to keep rain off.
Sleeveless Jacket — Best Dog Winter Coats
Medium faux leather sleeveless dog jacket
This sleeveless dog jacket looks so cosy! It has small holes for their legs and black poppers to keep them cosy.
Microfibre Dog Coat — Best Dog Winter Coats
Microfibre Dog Coat
In vibrant blue, this microfibre dog coat is light and absorbent to offer protection from getting cold. It has a click fastener on the back and openings for legs and tail.
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