Labrador retrievers the most popular dog breed

24 July 2013

The Labrador retriever was once again the most popular dog breed in the country with over 41 thousand registered in the 2013/14 registration year.

On the top five list are the Huntaway (31,385); Border collie (23,190); and Jack Russell Terrier (18,658). The New Zealand Heading, also known as the New Zealand eye dog for the way it uses its eyes and quick movements to control sheep, made the fifth spot with just over 17,000 registrations, edging out the Fox Terrier.

The information from the National Dog Database was released this week by the Department of Internal Affairs. The Database collates the dog registration information received from territorial authorities throughout New Zealand. As required under the Dog Control Act 1996, all dogs over 3 months old have to be registered with their local council every year by 1 July.

Internal Affairs Deputy Chief Executive Paul James said that a statistical snapshot of the database is taken as at 31 May and is made publicly available online.

“The information on the localcouncils.govt.nz website is provided in an accessible and user friendly format and is aimed at making it easier for the public to access and reuse the Department’s information on local government”, he said.

Mr James said that new data releases and refreshed content is regularly added to the site to keep the website relevant, functional and attractive to visitors.

The localcouncils.govt.nz website profiles the country’s 78 regional and territorial councils and includes information about population, election statistics, dog control statistics and council finances.

In 2013/2014 there were just over half a million dogs registered with councils. Every council must keep a record of all dogs registered and provide information on the dog and its owner along with its microchip number (if it has one) to the National Dog Database. The statistical data available on local councils does not include any personal identifying information about owners.

This year’s data also shows that 57% (304,309) of registered dogs have been micro-chipped.

http://www.localcouncils.govt.nz/lgip.nsf/wpg_URL/Resources-Download-Data-Index#DogControl

Media Contact:

Chandrika Kumaran

Senior Communications Advisor

The Department of Internal Affairs Te Tari Taiwhenua

Phone 64 4 4957291; mobile 64 27 7027438 email:chandrika.kumaran@dia.govt.nz