The Most Wanted Dog Breed In Swindon Revealed By Those Who Sell Them

(By Ben Gardner, Yahoo News, June 10, 2024)

"The most sought-after dog breed in Swindon has been revealed by a dog-selling website. There are 360 different dog breeds in the world, according to The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the world’s largest dog organisation. Dog breed popularity come and go with fashions, meaning that the demand for breeds changes all the time. According to puppies.co.uk, the most searched-for breed in Swindon is Newfoundlands, or Newfies with approximately 10,000 monthly searches. The website said: 'Newfies are renowned for their intelligence, sweet disposition and gentle nature.” Charity Newfound Friends UK trains the breed in sea rescue, as well as to be therapy dogs. It describes Newfoundlands as “the calmest, most intuitive animals you will ever meet.” The American Kennel Club says: “Newfs are born swimmers, complete with partially webbed feet, and strong enough to save a grown man from drowning. Their prowess as rescuers is the stuff of legend: What the Saint Bernard is to the Alps, the Newfoundland is to the icy waters of the North Atlantic.' However, Newfoundlands are not cheap to keep. In fact, research by Sambla suggests they are the second most expensive dog to keep over their lifetime at £28,332. The Newfoundland, originating in what’s now modern-day Canada, can weigh anywhere between 55-80 kg, which explains the over £1,200 you will have to spend on food each year. A Newfoundland also costs just shy of £500 a year to be professionally groomed. After Newfoundlands were Golden Retrievers, considered by many to be the perfect family dog with 7,200 searches. In the third spot are German Shepherds at 5,500 searches, followed by 5,400 searches for Toy Poodles and 4,600 searches for Cockapoos. Meanwhile the most expensive dog according to Sambla is the Tibetan Mastiff costing a staggering £31,530 on average across their 13-year lifespan. Tibetan Mastiffs are an overall affectionate family dog breed, but one of the most expensive to buy as a puppy, costing an average of £2,333. Their food costs are also particularly pricey, costing on average £1,079 per annum. Meanwhile, the most affordable dog breeds are terriers. The Patterdale Terrier from England came out top as the most affordable dog breed to own costing £5,763 over its 13-year lifespan. This pet has an £893 average buying cost and the average food bill costs £99 per annum which works out to just £8.25 a month."