A staggering 35,996 labradors were registered by the Kennel Club in 2002 - the greatest number ever

The Kennel Club registration figures issued last week confirmed that Labradors are still the most popular breed with 35,996 registrations in 2002. German Shepherds are still second with 14,177.

The remaining top ten for 2002 reads:- 3. Cockers 13,417; 4. English Springers 12,431; 5. Staffords 10,711; 6. Golden Retrievers 10,526; 7. WHWT 10,015; 8. CKCS 9,984; 9. Boxers 8,916; 10. Rottweilers 5,802.

The group total for last year are:- Hounds 11,036; Gundogs 83,944; Terriers 36,911; Utility 21,151; Working 27,205; Pastoral 23,294 and Toy 22,777 giving a total of 226,318 against 220,821 in 2001.

The greatest decline in 2002 of 7.1% was in the hound (10,303) Group with a 3.7% decrease in the Terrier Group. The Working Group total increased by 0.14%. There was a drop in the Utility Group with 0.35% fewer registrations; the toys showed 4.5% more, the Pastoral 2.2% more and the gundogs a huge 6.2% more.

In February last year the Kennel Club published its breed and group registration totals for 2001. A late and expected full recovery in the figures failed to materialise and at 220,799 they were down by 26,515 or 10.72%, on the previous year’s total. This, at the then current 2002 fee levels, represented a loss of income of £318,189.

Compared with the 1989 peak figure of 283,915 the decline in 2001 was even more pronounced amounting to 63,116, 22.23% or, in terms of income, a loss of £757,392. The Kennel Club registration fees went up in January 2002 to £12 from £10 and at the same time the cost of transfers rose from £9 to £10.

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