Dansk Kennel Klub (DKK) is the Danish kennel club and keeps a register of pedigree dogs. In 2025 it registered 16,729 dogs, counting both puppies born in Denmark and imported dogs. The Labrador Retriever led by a wide margin with 2,128 registrations, over 900 more than the Havanese in second place with 1,194.
The DKK register covers only part of the dogs born in Denmark. According to the DKK, it registers roughly 42 percent of Danish puppies, so most puppies never enter it, and mixed breeds are not included. The list shows the breeds chosen by people who got DKK-registered dogs in 2025, not the number of each breed living in Denmark. The national register of all Danish dogs is a different count and is not used here.
Top 10 breeds in 2025
No. 1: Labrador Retriever
A friendly, food-loving retriever that needs daily exercise and is widely used as an assistance dog.
No. 2: Havanese
Second in Denmark with 1,194 registrations, a much higher place than in Norway or Sweden.
No. 3: Golden Retriever
A gentle, eager-to-please family dog with a long coat that sheds a lot and needs regular brushing.
No. 4: German Shepherd Dog
A loyal, intelligent working dog that needs training, a job to do and plenty of activity.
No. 5: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
A muscular, people-loving terrier of medium size, known for its affection toward its family.
No. 6: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
A gentle, affectionate small spaniel that adapts to most homes and enjoys both walks and sofas.
No. 7: English Cocker Spaniel
A merry, busy gundog of medium size that is equally at home in the field and the family.
No. 8: Coton de Tuléar
A small white companion from Madagascar at No. 8 with 357 registrations, the only top 10 place for the breed in this section.
No. 9: English Springer Spaniel
An enthusiastic, friendly gundog with lots of stamina that loves water and retrieving.
No. 10: Jack Russell Terrier
A small, fearless and tireless terrier that needs plenty of exercise and something to do.
Reading this year’s list
The Havanese at No. 2 is the standout. It is sixth in Norway and eighth in Sweden, but in Denmark only the Labrador has more registrations. Below it come the Golden Retriever (1,102), the German Shepherd Dog (858) and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (614).
The list is split fairly evenly between gundogs and small companions. The Labrador, the Golden, the English Cocker Spaniel (393) and the English Springer Spaniel (308) are all gundogs. The Havanese, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (400), the Coton de Tuléar (357) and the Jack Russell Terrier (293) are small dogs that live comfortably in town. The Coton de Tuléar, a small white companion breed from Madagascar, does not appear in the top 10 of any other country in this section.
The margins below fifth place are small. Only seven registrations separate the Cavalier from the Cocker, and just outside the top 10 are the Border Collie with 276 and the Danish-Swedish Farmdog with 258. The Farmdog, a breed Denmark shares with Sweden, is in the top 10 in both Sweden and Norway but narrowly misses it at home.
About the No. 1 breed: Labrador Retriever
- Size
- Large
- FCI group
- 8 · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
- Origin
- United Kingdom
Temperament
A Labrador is cheerful, social and easy to live with once it has grown up. It usually wants to be near its people and joins in with everything, from garden work to beach trips. It learns quickly and responds well to rewards, especially food. It is rarely a guard dog. Young Labradors are strong and excitable, so lead manners are worth teaching early.
Size and build
A solid, deep-chested dog with a short coat in black, yellow or liver and a thick, tapering tail. The FCI standard gives an ideal height of 56 to 57 cm for males and 54 to 56 cm for females. Weight is not fixed in the standard, but most adults weigh roughly 25 to 36 kg.
Daily care
A Labrador needs an hour or more of exercise a day, and many love swimming. After a swim in the sea, rinse off salt water and sand, dry the ears and check for sore spots between the toes. In rainy, windy weather, a towel by the door is part of daily life. Brush weekly, and daily when the coat sheds in spring and autumn. Keep meals measured, as the breed puts on weight easily.
Who it suits
Active families who enjoy daily walks in all weather and have time to train a young dog, ideally near beaches, fields or forest. It is a poor match for people who are out all day, want a small, tidy dog or cannot handle a strong, excitable young dog on the lead.
Health in general terms
Hip and elbow dysplasia are the best-known concerns in the breed. Inherited conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy (an eye disease) and exercise-induced collapse can be screened for with DNA tests. Being overweight is common and adds strain on joints. Ear infections can follow swimming. Ask breeders for the parents' hip and elbow results and DNA test results, and ask your vet to help you read them.
This is general breed information, not medical advice. Ask a veterinarian about your own dog, and ask any breeder about the health tests used for the parents.
Why the Labrador Retriever is popular in Denmark
The DKK publishes the figures without explaining them, so there is no official reason for the Labrador's lead. It was also the most registered breed in Sweden, and it tops several other lists in this section.
The breed's traits suit Danish life. Denmark is a low-lying country with a long coastline, many beaches and a mild but wet and windy climate. A Labrador loves water, has a dense coat that shrugs off rain and sea wind, and is happy on long walks along the shore or through farmland. It is usually friendly with children and visitors, which suits family homes in suburbs and small towns. Many people also know the breed from its work as a guide and assistance dog.
What these rankings measure
National kennel club breed rankings are registration rankings, not a census of the dogs living in each country. Only purebred puppies registered with the national kennel club are counted. Mixed-breed dogs, dogs from shelters and most dogs bred outside the club system never appear. Rules and fees differ between clubs, so the numbers are best compared within one country, not across countries.
Useful tools
See also: Mute swan: National Bird of Denmark