New Zealand’s Most Popular Breeds Of Dogs

Media Release
9 January 2007

New Zealand’s Most Popular Breeds Of Dogs

Labrador Retrievers are still New Zealand’s most popular dogs according to 2006 registrations with the NZ Kennel Club. Over 1,320 of these chocolate or yellow or black purebred dogs were registered last year up 9% for the breed on 2005.

NZ Kennel Club President John Perfect said “The Labrador Retriever remains New Zealand’s most popular dog. It is both a great family pet and a working dog which is often used for hunting game for which it was bred. “Overall registrations of purebred dogs are the same as 2005. This is an increase of 4.5% compared to 2004. The dog-owning public and responsible breeders know that a purebred dog registered with NZ Kennel Club is a dog they can have confidence in.”

The quality of New Zealand dogs was proven not only by NZ-bred Afghan and Rottweiler dogs winning big at Crufts, but also by 490 purebred dogs being exported around the world from New Zealand. “Our purebred dogs rank with the best in the world,” said John Perfect.

Over 10,200 dogs (mainly puppies) of 140 breeds were registered in 2006. With an average lifespan of 12 or more years, it is clear that many New Zealand dogs are registered with NZ Kennel Club.

The second most popular dog is the German Shepherd, of which over 820 dogs were registered:
3rd Golden Retrievers
4th Border Collies
(There were no changes in rank in the top four places.)
5th Rottweilers (up from 6th in 2005 and 8th in 2004)
6th Boxers (dropped from 5th)
7th Bulldogs (up from 8th in 2005 and 9th in 2004)
8th Staffordshire Bull Terriers (dropped from 7th)
9th Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (no change from 2005, was 14th in 2004)
10th Chihuahuas (long coat) (no change from 2005, was 15th in 2004)

No breeds dropped out of the top 10 in 2006.

ENDS

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