According to the latest figures released by the established authority on dogs within Britain, the number of West Highland Terrier pups that were registered in the UK last year fell by over 50 per cent to just 5,890.

The numbers of Yorkshire terriers registered slumped 44 per cent to just 3,767, with the golden retriever not far behind with a drop of 39 per cent to 7,804 pups.

The UK’s biggest breeds also saw a decline in numbers, with the popularity of the Irish Wolfhound floundering. The last year saw numbers of the dogs, once used to hunt wolves, fall from 601 to 323. The Great Dane, one of the world’s tallest breeds, saw their numbers fall by just over 600 to 1,306.

The Alaskan malamute is not the only breed of dog to have experienced a surge in popularity with UK owners. The whippet, which bears a strong physical resemblance to the greyhound, nearly doubled its numbers in the past year, with the Kennel Club showing the number of registered dogs as 3,246. Beagles are also becoming more popular, with a rise from 956 to 2,592, along with the pug, whose number stands at 4,769, an increase from 861.

The bulldog also saw a rise in demand, increasing 114 per cent to 4,217.

Hot on the heels of the malamute is the Coton de Tuléar. Rumoured to have been favoured amongst pirates, the popularity of this small dog has grown just shy of the malamute’s from just two dogs registered in 2000.

How many Sunday morning lie-ins have been scuppered by the realisation that you need to get out of bed to take your dog out to do a boom-boom?

Walking your dog is just one aspect of the time and energy you need to put into looking after your pet. If your dog sheds, a lot of time must be spent grooming him as part of the war to stop your house from becoming a giant hairball. As tired as you may be, you need to spend some quality time with him, which means play time and obedience training. We all know that this effort is vital to ensuring your dog is healthy and happy, and it strengthens the bond between you both, but we’ve all had the odd guilty thought about not having to go to the lengths you do.

If, for whatever reason, you’re unable to devote as much time as you’d like to activities with your pet, you may want to consider a low maintenance dog. Bear in mind that there are many definitions for ‘low maintenance‘. It may be in terms of health issues, obedience, or even how much your dog slobbers, but for our purposes, we’ll just consider exercise and grooming. Here are Dream Dogs’ top five dogs for the dilatory owner:

Pug

With its origins lying in China, the pug is thought to be responsible for the Pekinese and the King Charles spaniel. This breed reached about a foot in height and, as long as you don’t feed them too much, they weigh about 18 pounds. They don’t require much exercise – because of the pug’s compact head, it will have difficulty in breathing if you do, so it’s best to stick to moderate walks. The only real drawback of this breed is that they tend to shed their fur a lot; they’re stubborn too, so may require some training not to climb up on your sofa. Oh, and not all of them talk like Frank the pug in the film Men in Black.

Japanese Chin

Another toy breed that originated in the Far East, the Chin is traditionally the dog of Japanese royalty. It’s slightly smaller than the pug, weighing in at 8 – 11 pounds. It’s was bred as a lapdog, and as such needs little exercise. In fact, it’s considered by many to be the most cat-like of all dogs. Their coat requires brushing every couple of days, and it has no odour, meaning that it does not need frequent bathing. It’s a very sociable animal and gets on well with pets, and it’s known to perform tricks and ‘sing’. It’s probably the closest you could ever get to a Mogwai.

Bulldog

Originally bred to bite bulls – no, that’s not a typo – to enable its owner to tie a rope around the bovine’s neck, the bulldog’s fiery temperament has been bred out of it over the years, making it an affectionate and sociable pet. Although muscular, it’s not an active breed, so casual exercise is recommended to ensure it doesn’t become obese. Having short hair, they don’t require much grooming but you’ll need to clean the folds in his face – those wrinkles are Club Med for mildew.

Greyhound

What? A racing dog on a list for indolent owners? Don’t let this breed’s reputation for being as fast a lightning fool you. They’d rather not exercise too much, and a 20 – 30 minute walk a day will keep them happy. Despite their size – 2 ½ feet high and weighing 60 – 70 pounds – they don’t require much space. These qualities actually make them better ‘apartment dogs’ than smaller, more active breeds. It also has a short coat which is great if you have allergies.

Chihuahua

There’s a reason that the Chihuahua is the favourite of over-privileged socialites and spoilt heiresses everywhere. This dog can weigh between 2 – 6 pounds and is only 9 inches tall, meaning that it can fit in your Chanel purse with ease. The grooming requirements are low, even for longer haired varieties. They need minimal exercise, so the occasional walk will be enough, but they can suffer serious health problems if they become overweight. Chihuahuas are very highly strung, so if you have children or other animals you may have a meltdown on your hands. However, if you like to pose for the paparazzi with your pet, the chances are that you’ll have a dog psychotherapist on 24-hour call out.

A boyish Beckham bore the weight of a nation’s expectation on his shoulders during the build up to the 1998 Word Cup in France. During a much anticipated match with Argentina in the second round of the competition, he was sent off, resulting in his effigy being burned outside pubs in London.

Fast forward to 2001, and Beckham’s goal against Greece, which qualified England for the 2002 World Cup, completed his conversion to a hero once again.

Doubtless a lot of them live in luxury and are fine fodder for paparazzi, but what of their pets? Do their cats have solid gold litter trays? Do their budgerigars dine only on the same Trill as the Queen’s? What about their pet dogs? The first in our series of Top 5 articles this week, let’s have a look at the top 5 Premiership footballer dog owners:

Ashley Cole

Fully paid up love rat Cole, 29, has recently split up from wife Cheryl Cole. The former Girls Aloud singer filed for divorce due to Ashley’s much publicised philandering. Rather than arguing over who owned which DVD or which of them gets to keep the crockery, the ex couple are headed for a bust up over their pet dogs.

X-Factor judge Cheryl has said time and time again that their pair of pet Chihuahuas, Coco and Buster, are the most important thing in the world to her. The problem is that Ashley also claims the two dogs are critical to his happiness as a carefree bachelor. Custody battles over dogs are more common than you would imagine, especially in the US, but a source close to the couple intimated that they have come to an agreement that will see them share the dogs until a decision is made as part of their divorce settlement.

Steven Gerrard

Liverpool’s Captain Fantastic has recently taken in Quinn, a German Shepherd. However, rather than being a family pet, Quinn is a working dog employed to protect his owner’s £3 million property in Formby, Merseyside.

Like many footballers in the North West, Gerrard has fallen victim to burglars whilst playing matches away from home. He previously employed ex-SAS guards, but Quinn, along with his handler, now patrols the grounds of his mansion and keeps his family (and his many medals and extensive collection of widescreen televisions) safe from sticky-fingered burglars.

Wayne Rooney

The Manchester United forward recently made the headlines after splashing out over £1,200 for a French Mastiff pup. Fully grown, the Mastiff can be quite a handful (much like its owner); weighing in at 9 stones, it will be heavier than his wife Coleen. She already owns a Bichon Frise, and they have been snapped wearing matching velour tracksuits whilst out and about. They say you can’t buy class.

With French Mastiffs noted as being somewhat lacking in handsomeness, it’s safe to say that both dog and owner will grow to look alike.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish striker owns two bulldogs, named Pomo and Yanta, and loves to indulge his passion in watching The Dog Whisperer, starring famed trainer Cesar Milan, which he says is his favourite show. His daily routine involves taking the pair for a walk after training.

Liam Lawrence

Special mention must go to Stoke’s winger, who in 2008 was sidelined from a crunch mach after tripping over his dog on the stairs at his home. Lawrence was lucky not to break his ankle in the bizarre accident, and was up and about again after a few weeks’ rest.

He said of his pet “He’s a small dog, but a solid one.”

Perhaps Stoke could have used the dog in their midfield, as they have a few terriers already at the Britannia?

A total of 122 dogs have been reported as having died on American flights since 2005, with 25 of those dogs being classed as English Bulldogs. 11 of the dogs that died were Pugs, with Pomeranians, Pekingese and Boxers also suffering as a result of being placed in aeroplane cargo holds.

The reason that short nosed dogs (Brachycephalic) are more at risk of death on board aircraft is due to their inability to breathe easily and cool themselves down in an otherwise warm environment, as cargo holds are often devoid of air conditioning.

Dan Bandy, the chairman for the health committee of the Bulldog Club of America commented:

“The way all dogs cool themselves is basically through respiration, either just panting or the action of breathing in or out, is a method of heat exchange for them. A dog that has a long snout or a long muzzle has more surface area within its nasal cavity for that heat exchange to take place. So breeds like labradors or collies or those types of dogs with the long muzzles have a more efficient cooling system.”

Anyone flying with a short nosed dog is risking the dog’s health by placing them in the cargo hold of an aircraft. One short nosed dog that flies a lot is ‘Uga’, the mascot for the University of Georgia. Uga is an English Bulldog, and several dogs have played the part of Uga over the years. As a mascot, Uga has to fly to games to support his team, but in order to ensure the dog’s safety on board any aircraft, each Uga undergoes a surgical procedure to assist with breathing.

Sonny Seiler, the owner of the mascot, stated:

“They go into the nasal passage and clip muscles and tissue and in essence, what they do is they make a bigger air passage,” Seiler said. “It’s a quick procedure, and once you have it done it really eliminates a lot of the problems with the breathing.”

“It’s just business as usual with us. He goes with the team.”

If you’re thinking of flying with your dog, it might be an idea to leave them behind.

Samoyed; stud dogs fees cost over £700

Originating from Scandinavia, the Samoyed were used for herding reindeer. Typically they have no hunting instincts and as such are the perfect nature for being around children.

Character: Complex but friendly, intelligent, and obedient.
Typical size: Shoulder height: up to 22.50 inches
Weight: 50-65 pounds

This is a very rare breed and demands special handling requirements critical to their development. Samoyed is one of the 14 ancient dogs, dating back 3,000 years.

English or British Bulldog; stud dogs fees can cost over £500

British Bulldogs originate from the UK and are considered more aesthetically masculine in comparison to similar skinless breeds. A breed of above average intelligence and an important symbol of the UK; the British Bulldog has influenced American societies, and is particularly popular with US Marines.

Character: Affectionate, gentle, sensitive, and fearless, they belong to the non-sporting (Mastiff) group and require minimal exercising.
Coat: Short-haired; beige, piebald, brindle, and white.
Typical size: Shoulder Height: up to 14.00 inches
Weight: 40-55 pounds

This breed’s exaggerated characteristics have made it very hard for dog breeding.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; stud dogs fees cost up to £500

Originating from the UK, this is the smallest version of spaniel toy dogs and they are very popular due to their furry coat and human-attachment factor.

Character: Highly intelligent, lovable, energetic, obedient and great around children.
Typical Size: Shoulder height: up to 12 inches
Weight: 10-18 pound

The breed has four recognised colours, and maintains its luxurious character in any of them.

The couple, Karen and John McGuiness, paid the £200 for the puppy to be shipped up to their home in Edinburgh through a special pet courier company, however the dog never arrived. The so called courier company then attempted to get the couple to pay a further £150 so the dog could stop in a hotel room on its way up to Edinburgh.

Sadly, there was no dog and the advert, and courier company, were simply scamming the couple out of as much money as they could.

Karen has only recently overcome her struggle with breast cancer, and dearly wanted the bulldog puppy. She stated:

They told me the dog had become anxious so they stopped off at a hotel for the night.

They said I would have to pay £150 for the hotel and when I refused the guy pleaded with me saying if I didn’t pay it he would get fired.

Pet owners are advised to steer clear of online adverts such as these and only use bonafide dog breeders when they wish to purchase pedigree dogs. A spokesperson for the police added:

These scams can involve pets to tug at the heart strings.

What has attracted the attention of the media, including the Times of India, Digital Spy and The Daily Mail, is not the possible animal welfare implications of Victoria’s gift, but the affluence allegedly lavished on the pampered young dog.  The mainstream media are keen to focus on examples of celebrity extravagance.

A friend of the couple who reportedly has ‘inside knowledge’ suggested:

“It’s one lucky animal, but David only wants the best.”

The ‘best’ in this case involved using British firm PetAir to fly the young bulldog across the Atlantic. PetAir markets itself as an exclusive service and have devised a premium Gold Standard service. The Gold Standard service aspires to be the height of luxury in pet transportation and includes:

•    A pre-travel health check to ease owner fears
•    A special ticket for the pet
•    A specially crafted wooden travel unit
•    The finest bedding and copious supplies of water
•    A night’s rest in the company of an excellent veterinarian

Whether or not putting dogs on long flights is good for their health and happiness remains an open question, but certainly if a dog is going to fly, this seems one of the best ways for them to do it.

Tyson is arguably one of the most famous bulldogs in the world having appeared in numerous television commercials, a film or two and even on American Idol and MTV in the past.

Strangely, as much as he loves skateboarding, Tyson’s owners believed he actually hated skateboards until he was one year old because he used to bark at skateboarders whenever they passed.

On his first birthday, Tyson started playing with a skateboard and it dawned on his owners that in fact he actually wanted to skate himself and was barking to join in!

Tyson is entirely a self taught skater but you would never know to watch him, and he is now sponsored by Bulldog Skateboards.  If you love this, you’ll love to watch Tyson’s other videos.

Turk’s owner, Jodi Szaefer, went to pick her dog up at the end of January but when they arrived at the dog breeder’s home, instead of receiving their stud dog back, they were threatened and asked to leave. Jodi says that the threats were made in front of her children, all of whom are very young, with the eldest being just six years old.

Jodi Szaefer alleges that her stud dog has been used by the dog breeder for numerous studding activities with different breeders, and now ownership of the dog is being disputed.

Turk is registered with the Canadian Kennel Club, and he is also microchipped, so his ownership can be proven.

Jodi Szaefer has also made a complaint against the police because they didn’t reclaim the dog when they investigated, despite his ownership being easy to prove.

However the story has a happy ending, as thieves have returned the seven puppies and two adult dogs, obviously after hearing that the family weren’t professional dog breeders, having had their first litter of puppies.

Trevor Dean received a phone call on Friday night telling him to visit a pub car park in Caerphilly, where he found the dogs safe and well. Trevor is convinced that the dogs were returned to him, his wife Michelle and their young son, after the publicity the story received last week.

I got a phonecall at about 1330 BST on Friday and someone told me to meet them up at the Traveller’s Rest on the Wenallt and they would give me my dogs back.

So I drove up there straight away and there they were.

I’ve taken them to the vets and they’ve all been given a clean bill of health and they haven’t been harmed.

The thieves must have realised that they weren’t going to be able to sell them on because everyone knew about the theft.

Everyone in Cardiff knew about it and breeders as far away as Carmarthen and right across south Wales knew as well.

I’m very lucky and I can’t really believe I’ve got them back.

The couple’s five year old son Joseph was heartbroken about the theft of the dogs, and had experienced nightmares about them being stolen. He is overjoyed that the dogs have been returned.

My boy woke up screaming this morning because he’d been having nightmares about the dogs being stolen.

But when he came back from school and I told him the dogs were back he was over the moon.