Sulzbach/Ts. Germans remain loyal to their favorite dog breeds. This is shown by the annual evaluation of new registrations by the animal protection organization TASSO eV, which operates Europe's largest free pet registry. In this year's statistics, the mixed breed also takes the top spot by a clear margin: more than 95,000 mixed breeds were newly registered in 2024.
As in previous years, the Labrador Retriever follows in second place, leaving all other breed dogs behind by a clear margin. More than 15,000 Labradors were newly registered with TASSO in 2024. In the broad middle field, Golden Retriever, Chihuahua, German Shepherd and French Bulldog are close together with registration numbers between 8,800 and 8,000 dogs. The Australian Shepherd stands somewhat alone with just over 6,000 new registrations. At the bottom of the rankings, the Jack Russell terriers (just under 4,000 new registrations), Maltese (just over 3,500) and Havanese (just under 3,500) are again very close together.
But more important than the popularity of individual breeds is the health of the animals. Particularly in trendy dog breeds, health can suffer significantly due to intensive breeding – especially through dubious breeding. Race-related diseases then become more common. “We know that there is great interest in the statistics of the most popular dog breeds. At the same time, we handle it very carefully,” explains TASSO director Philip McCreight. “It is important to us to emphasize that trends should in no way influence the decision for a dog of a particular breed.”
It is more important that the dog in question fits in with its people and comes into the family in a serious way. The first route should ideally lead through animal welfare. Many dogs, including pedigree dogs and young animals, end up in animal shelters through no fault of their own and wait there for a new chance. If you decide to get a purebred puppy from a breeder, you should definitely make sure that the breeding is reputable so that you do not fall victim to the machinations of criminal puppy dealers. These usually sell puppies that are far too young, sick and poorly socialized. McCreight warns: “The illegal puppy trade is still a big problem in Germany, from which many animals and ultimately their new families suffer. The health, emotional and financial risks associated with these animals are often incalculable.”