The Kennel Club Breed Records Supplement shows that in the first quarter of this year there has been a continuation of the upward trend in registrations experienced in the last two years.

This year there has been a 5% increase over the registration figures for the first quarter of 2005.

Looking at the figures group by group all except have shown an increase. Hounds are up by 4.9%, gundog 1.7%, terrier 0.5%, utility 12.5%, working 7.7%, pastoral 0.009% and toys by 14% - the largest rise across the groups.

There will always be seasonal trends and variations to take into account by some the swings are notably.

The Terrier and Pastoral groups are virually the same but increases in registrations in the utility group show some upward trends, notably Bulldogs + 19%, Chow Chows +21%, French Bulldogs +56%, Shar pei +37%, Shih Tzu +19% and Tibetan Terriers +19%.

In the Toy group registrations in which rose by 14% major increases over 2005 figures were recorded in Bichons +14%, CKCS +10%, Chihuahuas +34%, Maltese +19%, Pomeranians +34%, Pugs +31% and Yorkshire Terriers +14%