A huge number of us decided to add dogs to our families over the last few years – according to Kennel Club figures dog ownership has soared to record levels of late.
There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
One thing to take into consideration is the size of the dog you are looking for – with tiny toy breeds ideal for people who aren’t able to take their pet out for quite as much exercise and live in smaller properties.
Here are the 10 breeds of toy dog that have received the most new registrations in according to the latest Kennel Club figures.
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There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
![The second type of Chihuahua, the Long Coat Chihuahua, is almost as popular as its shorter-haired close cousin, with 1,223 registrations in 2021. If taken together, the two varieties of Chihuahua would be the third most popular toy dog overall.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmRlMjU2NWY1LTFiMzYtNDc4OC1iNWZhLTM5ZmIwYTFkZmMyNTo4ZGEzNTM3MS1iMTlkLTRlYmItOTAzYi04ZGExMjE3Mjc4NTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Long Coat Chihuahua
The second type of Chihuahua, the Long Coat Chihuahua, is almost as popular as its shorter-haired close cousin, with 1,223 registrations in 2021. If taken together, the two varieties of Chihuahua would be the third most popular toy dog overall.Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![Much loved by royalty over the years, both Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I had Maltese dogs. They are also popular with commoners, with 1,050 new puppies registered in 2021.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjI4NDQ2ZWJhLTNmNzgtNDllZi05N2I2LTgxZmYxZDdjYzllZTpjMmNkYTZjYi02NTcxLTQ0OTItYjQ1Yy1jMGE5ZDgyY2E0MGE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Maltese
Much loved by royalty over the years, both Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I had Maltese dogs. They are also popular with commoners, with 1,050 new puppies registered in 2021.Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![The tiny Yorkshire Terrier was first bred in the 19th century and tends to weigh in at just seven pounds. There were 631 newly registered Yorkies in 2021, up from 609 in 2020.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjZmMjIxY2EwLTMwMTQtNDQzNC1iMDg3LWQyY2U2MWFjNmEyMjowMmJlY2M5My1jOTg0LTRjYzgtOTA1MS04MzQ4NTA2MjY5ODY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Yorkshire Terrier
The tiny Yorkshire Terrier was first bred in the 19th century and tends to weigh in at just seven pounds. There were 631 newly registered Yorkies in 2021, up from 609 in 2020.Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![Popular with artists, Italian Greyhounds have appeared in paintings by the likes of Giotto, Sassetta and Tiepolo. First introduced into the UK in the first half of the 19th century, they remain popular, with 571 Kennel Club registrations last year.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjBlODcwMmJmLTY0MzctNGE0Zi04YzZiLWI4ODNkZmZlMzBiMTo2YTUzODc5Ni1iZGU1LTQxNjctYTI1Mi1iNjZmZmFkNDgyNmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Italian Greyhound
Popular with artists, Italian Greyhounds have appeared in paintings by the likes of Giotto, Sassetta and Tiepolo. First introduced into the UK in the first half of the 19th century, they remain popular, with 571 Kennel Club registrations last year.Photo: Canva/Getty Images