Barking up the wrong tree: UK pet-owners debunk dog breed myths

• Nestlé Purina reveal results of first ever pet census in time for National Pet Day
• Golden Retrievers come out top for playing with bubbles, rolling in grass and playing with water
• Results also debunk well-known stereotypes of certain dog breeds

Pet owners across the UK have come forward to share their dogs’ daily personality traits, resulting in some surprising results that might have the nation questioning what it thought about certain dog breeds, just in time for National Pet Day in April.

Nestlé Purina asked pet-lovers throughout the country to answer questions about their pets and uncovered some surprising data in its first ever pet census. The results of the Paws Up survey uncovered some quirky traits about the nations beloved pets.

The poll unearthed some common ground for the whole paw-pulation – all dogs like to comfort people (89 per cent and above across all breeds), and all dogs tend to know when their owners are home (99 per cent or above), highlighting the real strength of the bond between pet owners and our furry friends.

Talking about the wider results, Carolyn Menteith, pet behaviourist and trainer, said: "In the UK alone, we have an amazing 223 breeds of dogs – and the majority of those were originally created to do a certain job. What that job was, and how much of the day they would spend doing it, gives us some great clues as to why our beloved pets behave the way they do, and what we can provide to help them stay healthy and happy.

“While breed is important however, the results of this poll remind us that every single dog is an individual, and breed is just a part of their personality and unique quirks - and they never lose the capacity to surprise us!”

Carolyn Menteith, pet behaviourist and trainer.

The poll also debunked some common myths about different breeds - Staffordshire Bull Terriers are known to be more grumblers than barkers, but the research showed that Staffies are the most likely to bark in their sleep, with a whopping 73 per cent of owners telling Purina that they like to sleep bark.

And while some people think Jack Russel Terriers like to be destructive, this certainly doesn't apply when it comes to footwear, with Jack Russels being the least likely to chew your shoes. 91 per cent of Jack Russel Terrier owners said that their dogs don’t chew them.

It will come as no surprise that Golden Retrievers live up to their bubbly stereotype, this breed won the award for playing with bubbles (91 per cent), rolling in grass (68 per cent) and splashing in water (90 per cent).

The survey also found that 86 per cent of Cocker Spaniels like to give their owners the run around, with respondents telling Nestlé Purina that the majority of Cocker Spaniels get zoomies.

Aileen Raynos, Consumer Relations Management lead for Purina, said: “We know cats and dogs are an integral part of the family and their habits and quirks are an important, and amusing, part of their personalities.

“We’ve loved getting to know more about our paw-some friends across the UK through the Paws Up pet census. From learning that Staffordshire Bull Terriers are the biggest sleep barkers, to confirming something we already knew; that our best fur-ends are of great comfort to us, it’s been a joy to go through the data and find out even more about pets across the nation.”

Looking to start your own pet journey, or looking for tips to strengthen your bond even further? Head to purina.co.uk to find our Breed Selector tool, Naming tool and expert advice and tips to help you from the first day of your pet owning journey.

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About Nestlé  

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About Nestlé Purina PetCare:

Nestlé Purina PetCare believes that when people and pets bond, life becomes richer. This is why, for more than 130 years, it has been committed to creating richer lives for pets and the people who love them through high-quality nutrition and care.

With the ambition of becoming the most trusted pet care company, Purina aims to have a positive impact on pets, people, and the planet. In 2022, the company launched six new Purina Commitments (2023-2030) to help reach this goal, to support adoption and responsible pet ownership, help the wellbeing of people in vulnerable situations and support the regeneration of soil and ocean ecosystems.

The Purina portfolio includes many of the best-known and best-loved pet foods including Felix®, Purina ONE®, Gourmet® and Pro Plan®.  

For more information about the company, visit the Purina website: Purina UK: Your Pet, Our Passion.

More information about the Purina Commitments can be found here: Our Commitments: Revive Ecosystems in Ocean & Land | Purina