French bulldog on rise thanks to celebrities
IT IS top dog when it comes to pet shows.
And this year’s Crufts began yesterday with more than 200 breeds of pedigree dogs on show – amid claims that there is now a marked shift in the nation’s love affair with man’s best friend.
Organisers claimed more niche breeds such as French bulldogs, pugs and bulldogs may soon overtake traditional favourites such as labradors.
The breeds favoured by celebrities and by advertising campaigns have seen lesserknown types rise up the popularity stakes, as old favourites including the labrador, cocker spaniel and Staffordshire bull terrier are said to be falling out of favour.
The Kennel Club recently announced that the French
The great thing about pedigree dogs is they have predictability. Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary
bulldog, a breed favoured by celebrities such as the Beckhams, Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon and Hugh Jackman, could be set to overtake the Labrador as the UK’s most popular breed of dog.
Nationally, the French bulldog has seen a 3,000 per cent increase in the last 10 years.
The Kennel Club’s secretary, Caroline Kisko, said: “The great thing about pedigree dogs is that they have a certain level of predictability, so people know what they are getting, which helps those who are deciding on which breed would be best suited to them.”
Crufts has been mired in controversy in recent years with an allegation of poisoning in 2015. It was later revealed that a dog died after eating poison after it arrived home from the show.