Pet Parents
Auckland has 128,099 known dogs. More than 14,000 are Labradors. 1,190 are called Bella. And somewhere out there, apparently, there’s even a Dingo.
Auckland Council’s annual dog report is out and it’s quite the read. We’ve sniffed out the best bits.
128,099 dogs and counting
As of 30 June 2026, Auckland was home to 128,099 known dogs and 107,777 dog owners. The boys have a slight edge, with 65,886 males (51.4%) versus 62,213 females (48.6%).
The total dog population is down 2.3% on last year, but don't panic. Auckland isn't suddenly running out of dogs. The Council puts much of the drop down to cleaner records, and we're still well above the 125,016 recorded in 2021/22.
Something to cheer for
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Behind the quirky statistics, there are a few numbers worth celebrating.
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- * More registered dogs. Auckland now has 116,098 registered dogs, or 90.6% of the known population. That's up from 88.4% last year and 83.6% the year before. The best registration rate since 2021/22, in fact.
- * Desexing is edging up. Around 66% of Auckland's known dogs are desexed, a small improvement on last year. There's still work to do, though: of the 9,593 dogs impounded, 84.1% weren't desexed.
- * Fewer roaming dogs and reported attacks. Reports of roaming dogs fell by a whopping 24.8%, down to 12,592. That's 4,147 fewer reports. Dog attack reports also dropped 5% to 2,722 (1,222 involving people and 1,500 involving other animals), while reports of aggressive behaviour fell 10% to 3,468.
The most popular dog breed is…
The Labrador Retriever, with 14,061 Labs on the books. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier takes second place with 8,155, followed by the Border Collie.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Golden Retrievers round out the top five, while our homegrown Huntaway comes in at a respectable number 12, with 2,976 dogs.
And the rarest breed?
On the other end of the popularity contest, eleven breeds appear exactly once on Auckland’s dog register – including one Dingo. If you’ve treated any of these, you’re in a rather exclusive club.
Where do all these dogs live?
South and West Auckland lead the suburbs table. But when you zoom out, the North Shore and wider northern Auckland area takes the crown, with 33% of all dogs living across the Harbour Bridge.
Bella vs Luna: the closest race in town
When it comes to names, Bella (1,190) and Luna (1,185) are just five dogs apart. Both beat the top boy, Charlie (887), by more than 300.
Weird and wonderful
Auckland’s dogs don’t always stick to the breed book. Here are the most unusual cross-breeds in the Dog Register this year.
Talking about weird names, there are a few standouts:
* Pop culture: Albus Dumbledog, Deputy Dawg, Apollo13, Bella Stevie Nicks Cupcakes, (Ver)Sacé
Food: Big Mac, Cabbage, Jalepeno Pepper
* Titles and royalty: Deputy Sheriff Norton, Franza Duke of France 10 (Hamish), Chief Apa Angaaetau Tupou Taliauli
* Spiritual: Buddha (Llanddona Enlightened One)
* Wonderfully specific: 2020 Glitter Sparkles
And finally, spare a thought for the clinic receptionist who has to spell Otis McFluffypants Bannerman-Oxley correctly on an appointment reminder.
Source: Auckland Council, Animal Management Annual Report 2025–2026