The most popular dog breed of 2024 is the Labrador retriever. Photo: Jukka Pätynen / Koirakuvat.fi
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The Finnish Kennel Club registered 40,364 dogs in 2024, marking a 7.9% drop compared to 43,813 registrations in 2023. The decline continues a trend seen since the early 2000s. Despite this, Finland still boasts one of the highest dog registration rates globally.
The Labrador retriever remained the most popular breed in Finland, with 2,330 registrations in 2024.
Following closely were the golden retriever with 1,224 registrations and the Finnish Lapphund with 1,063. Labradors are valued for their versatility as family pets, hunting companions, and service or rescue dogs.
Five of Finland’s favourite breeds exceeded 1,000 registrations in 2024. The top ten breeds included popular names such as German shepherds, Shetland sheepdogs, and cockerspaniels. Two Finnish breeds, the Finnish Lapphund and the Finnish hound, ranked among the top ten.
More than 70% of Finland’s estimated 800,000 dogs are registered with the Finnish Kennel Club, reflecting strong trust in domestic breeding. According to a survey commissioned by the Kennel Club, most prospective dog owners prefer purchasing from Finnish breeders due to their reliability, responsibility, and the availability of health records for the dogs.
The Kennel Club’s programs aim to reduce hereditary diseases in registered breeds. As of 2025, 196 breeds are part of a genetic health program requiring health screenings for breeding dogs. For instance, Labrador retrievers must undergo hip, elbow, and eye examinations before being used for breeding. New DNA tests and health evaluations are increasingly used to prevent genetic disorders.
Trends in dog names
Alongside breed preferences, trends in dog names show increasing use of human names. In 2024, the most popular names for puppies were Luna, Kerttu, and Sulo. Other common choices included Hertta, Nala, and Bruno.
While most registered dogs have official names incorporating the breeder’s kennel name, their call names often reflect current naming trends, which resemble those seen in human naming conventions.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
