Brits are absolutely dog-mad, so it was easy to round up popular British dog breeds. Dozens of different dog breeds hail from the UK, many of which are hunting breeds and have roots in sport that date back hundreds of years.
Whether in the countryside or the city, Britain has been producing four-legged pals for everyone – from miners to royals – and the result is a stunning variety of dogs that reflect the diverse character of the nation.
Dogs have always been close to the heart of British culture. The Royal Family is a prime example – think of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved corgis or Charles II’s favored breed, the delightful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The current King and Queen are sticking with the British vibe with cheeky Jack Russell Terriers, while the next in line to the throne, Prince William, has a penchant for English Cocker Spaniels.
Back in Victorian times, dogs were seen as symbols of loyalty and courage. They worked alongside the laborers – lending a helping paw on farms, guarding homes – and as companions in sport and the home for the aristocracy.
Canine breeding has been a British tradition for centuries, creating some of the world’s most iconic and lovable dogs. Here’s an overview of 32 fabulously British breeds.
32 British dog breeds
1. Airedale Terrier
The Airedale, which hails from Yorkshire in the north of England, is the largest of all the terrier breeds and is known as the “King of the Terriers”. Originally bred to control vermin on the river banks – presumably primarily the River Aire – he also had a valuable role as a messenger and tracking dog during World Wars I and II.
2. Basset Hound
The British and French may bicker about which nation really lays claim to the low-slung basset hound. It may have originally been bred by French monks in the 1500s, however, it was the Brits who established this impeccable scenting hound as an official breed in the late 19th century.
These short-legged icons even get a mention in some Shakespearean plays, and you can’t get more British than that!
3. Beagle
The smallest of the British pack hounds, beagles were bred to hunt hare on foot. A thoroughly British breed, which was established in England some 600 years ago and beloved by royalty. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have had a pack of miniature beagles and would carry one around while riding.
Nowadays, there is just one size in Britain, though in the US there is both a standard and “pocket” version of this energetic and fun-loving hound.
4. Bedlington Terrier
History does not relate exactly to which breeds the Bedlington owes its ancestry, but his origins lie in the Northumberland, in the old mining town by the same name.
The cocktail of breeds that made up the now-established Bedlington terrier is likely to include otterhounds, whippets, and the Scottish Dandie Dinmont terrier, as well as other terrier breeds. The result is a small, speedy, and versatile dog closely resembling a lamb!
5. Border Collie
This highly intelligent British herding dog has its roots in the England–Scotland border, hence its name. The word collie is thought to come from an old Scottish word for “useful” – which this breed surely is.
Border Collies are exceptional at herding sheep, or cattle, adept as sniffer dogs, as well as being the prototype when it comes to dog agility competitions. The only caveat with such a naturally talented breed is that they need plenty of engagement, exercise, and stimulation to keep them fulfilled.
6. Bull Terrier
These cute terriers with egg-shaped heads descend from both the bulldog and the now-extinct White English Terrier – though it is believed that collie and Dalmatian may also have been added while the breed was being established.
Originally they were bred for dog fighting in the 1800s but since this was banned, the breed has developed into a friendly and characterful companion dog that is rarely aggressive.
7. English Bulldog
This iconic British breed is a symbol of bravery and tenacity. They featured in World War I propaganda posters and are synonymous with Winston Churchill on account of Britain’s famous prime minister’s courage and defiance during World War II. (Plus there’s an element of physical resemblance, too!)
Once upon a time, the English Bulldog used to bait bulls for entertainment and their strong heads and powerful jaws are a legacy of this past life. However, nowadays, despite an intimidating, sour mug appearance, they are in fact gentle souls, docile – and fairly slow on their thickset legs.
Be aware that this is one of the brachycephalic dog breeds, whose facial structure makes them prone to breathing issues, snoring, and problems with exercise and heat tolerance.
8. Cavalier King Charlies Spaniel
There are two toy spaniels with similar names – the Cavalier King Charles and the King Charles (also known as the English Toy Spaniel). Both are British, as you’d expect from their royal titles.
Although their history is intertwined, they have officially been separate breeds in Britain since 1945. The Cavalier is the larger version. Their noses are longer, the skulls less domed and the overall appearance is of a more sporty dog.
9. Clumber Spaniel
The Clumber Spaniel is the heaviest of all the spaniel breeds. His original role was to flush the game from the thickest of covers. As with many of the English dog breeds, the Clumber found favor with royalty – several kings have owned these dignified, mellow spaniels.
They take their name from Clumber Park, in Nottinghamshire, which was once the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle, who established the breed.
Despite its thoroughly British origins, the Clumber Spaniel was among the first 10 breeds accepted into the American Kennel Club.
10. English Cocker Spaniel
There are two different breeds of cocker spaniel: the English and the American (in the US it is simply called cocker spaniel). Broadly speaking, the English version is taller and has a less luxurious coat, a longer muzzle, and a flatter skull. Its general appearance is more working dog than a show dog.
Both are extremely popular dog breeds, making wonderful, merry companions in the home as well as adept bird-dogs in the hunting field.
11. English Foxhound
The English Foxhound is symbolic of British field sports, having been bred specifically for the purpose of hunting foxes in a pack. Different hunts have selectively bred these scent hounds to suit their particular terrain, according to the necessary attributes, sometimes adding Welsh or Fellhound blood (in keeping with the British theme).
American Foxhounds are descended from the English prototype – with a sprinkling of French blood too. They tend to be taller and lighter than the English version.
12. English Setter
Setters largely hail from the vicinity of Britain, because as well as the British version – the English and Gordon, which is Scottish in origin – there are also the Irish and the Red and White, from just over the Irish Sea.
Like all setter breeds, the English is renowned for its ability to find game and then “freeze”, crouching motionless to alert the human hunter, who can then creep up without disturbing its prey.
The English Setter – which was selectively bred by an 19th-century Englishman called Edward Laverack – is also famous for its stunning coat, which is typically speckled and comes in appealingly named colors such as lemon, orange, liver and belton.
13. English Springer Spaniel
Like all spaniels – whose name derives from the French word for Spanish, “espagnol” – the English cannot fully lay claim to the ancient ancestry of this much-loved and enthusiastic gundog breed.
However, it was the British who established the different spaniels, of which the spaniel is the tallest of all the land types. In fact, the Duke of Norfolk is believed to have developed the breed in the 19th century.
14. Fox Terrier
There are two breeds of fox terrier, the smooth and the wire-haired. Their pedigree is made up of other British breeds, such as the now-extinct Old English White terrier, the bull terrier, and the beagle – to which it owes the patches of black and tan on a white coat, like a hound.
In the early 20th century, the fox terrier was the most popular breed in England.
15. Greyhound
While hound-type dogs feature on tombs in Ancient Egypt – and there are many similar breeds bred for coursing in the desert – the greyhound itself was developed in Britain back in medieval times. Indeed, in those days, there was a law stating that hunting with greyhounds was exclusively the preserve of royalty and nobility.
The fastest of all breeds, they have since been bred for racing – with the first greyhound race taking place in 1926 in Manchester in the north of England.
16. Jack Russell Terrier
Like many breeds, a few nations have played their part in the development of the Jack Russell Terrier. The Australians were influential, in that they took hardworking British terriers Down Under when they emigrated, to keep the vermin population under control.
But Britain lays claim to this doughty terrier’s true roots. Today’s Jack Russell comes from dogs bred for fox-hunting in the south-west of the British Isles by a rural parson, Jack Russell, to whom they own their name.
17. Lakeland Terrier
Lakelands are a tough and sturdy breed, gaining their name from the Lake District in northern England where they originated. The terrain in that part of the country is rough, rocky and hilly, and so foxes were hunted on foot rather than horseback – with the hunters accompanied by this tenacious canine companion so ideally suited to its habitat.
18. Norfolk Terrier
The tiniest of the working terriers, but agile, tough, and an excellent ratter. They were originally established in 19th-century East Anglia, in the east of England, as a cross between local ratting terriers and short-legged Irish terrier breeds.
Since then they have had a rich and varied development, being kept in rooms by local Cambridge University students and popular with horse riders. During these years they went by many names, which eventually became refined to a variety of the Norwich Terrier and is now a breed in its own right, distinguished by its drop ears.
19. Old English Sheephound
This shaggy herding dog is a substantial pastoral breed, instantly recognizable thanks to its profuse, waterproof coat. The “Old English” name may be a misnomer, given that it is far from being the original British sheepdog.
Although its exact origins are hazy, it is likely to owe its ancestry to the bearded collie and sheepdog breeds from continental Europe.
20. Otterhound
This vulnerable native breed comes from the north-west of England, where it was bred as a scent hound to hunt otter. His strong nose, webbed feet and oily coat are ideal for his intended role.
Since otters themselves became a protected species in the 1970s this already sparse breed became even rarer and efforts are underway to prevent it from dying out.
21. Parson Russell
A cousin of the expert ratter the Jack Russell terrier and with similar bloodlines – but longer legs! Until the 1980s, the two feisty Russells shared a common history, dating back to the breed’s founder, the hunting clergyman Rev Jack Russell.
22. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
The adorable little Dandie Dinmont, with its weasel-like body and silky topknot, is named after a farmer character in a Sir Walter Scott novel who had two terriers, Pepper and Mustard.
This tough but friendly breed is from the area around the English and Scottish border, and was originally bred to hunt otter and badger. True to its Scottish roots, this is the only breed permitted to wear a Scottish clan tartan, after the Duke of Buccleuch allowed them to wear his (and Sir Walter Scott’s) family black-and-white tartan.
23. Pointer
There are pointer breeds from many countries, and the English pointer is the British version. This superbly athletic gundog is very similar to the German pointer, but while the latter is always brown or brown and white, the English comes in many different colors, from black to lemon and orange.
24. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffordshire, in the West Midlands of England, is home to this recognizable breed. Essentially, the “Staffy” is a mix of bulldog and terrier, which was developed in the 19th century both to control vermin and for defunct blood sports such as bull-baiting.
Nowadays the Staffy is a much-loved family pet, known for being exceptionally tolerant of children, but they have a mixed reputation.
25. Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel originates from the south of England, where it was bred in the late 18th century as a gundog, particularly suited to the dense undergrowth in Sussex parkland.
More like the Clumber than the Springer, the Sussex is relatively slow-paced, heavy-set, and with a thick, protective coat (always colored golden liver). Unlike other spaniels, this one barks while working, enabling his handler to know where he is despite the dense cover.
26. Whippet
The whippet is sometimes known as the “miniature greyhound” and is sized between a regular greyhound and the Italian version. For its size, the whippet is astonishingly fast, with breathtaking acceleration.
Sighthounds have been recorded for centuries throughout the world, but the idea of the modern whippet probably dates back to the 17th century, when both the word whippet and similar-looking dogs appeared in art and literature of the time.
By the 19th century, whippets were used for hunting small game, exterminating vermin, and – later – racing, where they were known as the “poor man’s racehorse”.
27. Yorkshire Terrier
As its name suggests, this tiny toy terrier is rooted in the county of Yorkshire, in the north of England. This is a super-glam companion dog, with silky flowing hair, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the typical terrier spirit – they’re brilliant ratters!
They were originally developed from other terrier breeds such as the now-extinct black and tan and the Skye terriers, specifically to control vermin in the Yorkshire mines and cotton mills, but the Victorian ladies adored them as lapdogs. Nowadays they can do both “jobs” with equal enthusiasm.
28. Shetland Sheepdog
The northerly Shetland Isles, off the northeast coast of Scotland, is the birthplace of this compact, tough, and beautiful sheepdog. “Shelties” have the look of a mini collie, but are thought to have some influence of the King Charles spaniel, creating their diminutive stature. They have the sweetest of temperaments and natural aptitude for herding and agility.
29. Border Terrier
This plucky little working dog has more scope than you might expect – they were bred (on the Anglo-Scottish borders) to follow a horse out hunting, where they would be used to follow the fox down its hole.
They share many traits with other doughty terriers, such as a game spirit, tenacity, and courage, but are distinguishable in appearance on account of their broad skull.
30. Scottish Terrier
“Scottie dogs”, as these terriers are fondly known, have a great following throughout the world – they’ve three times been the resident pet in the White House despite hailing from Scotland!
Like other Scottish Highland breeds of terrier, they were bred to hunt fox, badger, and other vermin, being small enough to go into their dens.
They are feisty, territorial, and unstintingly loyal.
31. Welsh Corgi
The traditional droving dog of Wales, and one of the world’s most popular cattle-herding breeds. Despite their little legs, corgis are both fast and agile, with the stamina to work all day long.
Beloved by Queen Elizabeth II, as well as her father King George VI, this plucky and enthusiastic breed also makes a wonderful companion dog.
32. Sealyham Terrier
A rare breed that was developed in a village on the River Seal, in Pembrokeshire, Wales as a working dog to hunt otters, badgers, foxes, and polecats.
This typically white, rough-coated terrier owes its ancestry to the Jack Russell, West Highland white, Dandie Dinmont, and bull terriers. While now listed as a vulnerable native breed, at times in its history, it was fashionable with movie stars and royalty.
Want to learn more about British breeds? We’ve rounded up our favorite Scottish dog breeds
