Cavoodles have been crowned the number one dog breed in Australia after thousands turned to furry companions to get them through Covid-19.
Pet Insurance Australia has revealed the country’s top 10 dog breeds Aussies were buying since the beginning of the pandemic.
The fan favourite cavoodle – a mix of the cavalier King Charles spaniel and a toy poodle – came out in front of the pack.
A cavoodle can start from $2,500, but dog lovers have seen prices rise steeply due to increased demand during covid, with some costing as much as $6,000.
French bulldog landed on second place, with Golden Retriever, family-favourite Labrador, border collie and miniature dachshund following closely behind.
While German shepherd, Maltese cross, Staffordshire bull terrier and golden doodle rounded out the top 10 popular dog breeds.
Cavoodles have been crowned the number one dog breed in Australia after many turned to furry companions to get them through covid. Cavoodles can cost between $2,500 to $6,000
Dachshunds, otherwise known as sausage dogs, also made the top 10 popular dog breeds
‘It’s no surprise Cavoodle has come out on top. This wonderful breed is well-known for their lovely nature, intelligence, and ability to love everyone in the household – including other pets,’ Pet Insurance Australia spokeswoman Nadia Crighton said.
‘French Bulldogs are also a popular choice for many families. They are bright and affectionate and certainly have all the charm, plus they also make good watchdogs. They simply adore those who love them and make wonderful family companions.’
The pet insurance reported seeing a huge demand for puppies and dogs in the midst of the global pandemic in 2020.
‘When the first lockdown was enforced across Australia there was certainly a boom in demand for puppies,’ Ms Crighton said.
‘It’s interesting a year on, what breeds Australia’s were seeking out during this uneasy time.’
Australians couldn’t get enough of French bulldogs as they land on second place on the list
Pet Insurance Australia has rounded up the country’s top 10 breeds Aussies were buying since the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic
Other breeds in the poodle-mix classification included the popular golden doodle (Groodle)
Family favourite Labrador came fourth in Australia’s top 10 favourite dog breeds
This is an international trend with the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association in the UK stating around 3.2 million households in the UK acquired a pet since March 2020.
In Australia, puppy prices boomed out of control while the RSPCA noted 26,000 online applications for adoption since the beginning of the COVID-10 pandemic.
‘With many Australians looking for comfort and a good distraction with a new canine companion, we were interested to see what breeds people were purchasing or adopting,’ Crighton said.
The results for the top 10 dog breeds are based on pet owners who took out insurance for their new canine with Pet Insurance Australia over the last 12 months.
Interestingly the percentage of policies between the tenth place and the second place is very minimal. With the cavoodle being a standout with a 50 per cent higher policy take-up than the French bulldog.
‘This just goes to show that Australians love a variety of purebred and mixed breed dogs. It’s lovely to see so many family favourites standing the test of time, like the Golden Retriever and the loveable Labrador,’ she added.
