Melbourne’s most popular dog breeds revealed

Make no bones about it, we love our dogs. But when we surveyed Melbourne councils one particularly loveable type of pooch was ahead of the pack, with four other breeds in a close race. Does your hound make the list? SEE THE TOP FIVE

Bec Lee with daughter Paige, 5, love their 11-month-old labrador Maggie. Picture: Nicki Connolly

It’s clear who Melbourne’s top dog is.

We surveyed councils for the most common pet pooches around town and the loveable labrador took the lead as our favourite breed.

Jack Russell terriers, cavoodles, maltese crosses and border collies rounded out the top five most-registered breeds in Melbourne.

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Barbara Baugh with her beloved malteses Baxter and Bella.

Laid-back labs also topped the list of most-registered dogs in Knox and the Yarra Ranges.

Cavoodles were ahead of the pack in inner and some eastern areas as the most-registered dogs in Bayside, Glen Eira, Stonnington, Yarra, Manningham and Whitehorse.

Staffordshire bull terriers were the most common canines in Casey, Frankston and Wyndham.

Frankston staffy Lexi with Deidre Pearce and John Eagle

Boroondara stood alone in listing spoodles as its most popular pups.

But it was labradors that took the lead for sheer numbers of dogs across greater Melbourne, with more than 20,800 registered, and more than 24,000 if you included labrador-cross breeds.

Labrador Retriever Club of Victoria secretary Evy Tano said their happy, outgoing temperaments and adaptability made labradors ideal pets for the right owners, who could give them regular exercise and ongoing training.

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“The most important thing they need is human companionship. They can’t be happy if they are just left in the backyard on their own,” she said.

“Even the most docile dogs can become destructive if they are unfulfilled.”

Ms Tano advised potential pet owners to do their research and ensure they found a dog suited to their lifestyle, living space and family type.

It was also vital to teach children how to interact with dogs, no matter what the breed chosen, she said.

MELBOURNE’S TOP DOG BREEDS

1. Labrador

2. Jack Russell terrier

3. Cavoodle

4. Border collie

5. Maltese cross

6. Staffordshire bull terrier

7. Maltese

8. Golden retriever

9. German shepherd

10. Kelpie