The Cane Corso has been crowned the UK’s most searched-for dog breed of 2025 so far, as searches have skyrocketed to 192,000 per month – more than double the popular Cavapoo and Cocker Spaniel. But with its large, muscular build, wilful nature and guard dog heritage, this powerful breed is not suited to everybody.
Analysis by PetProov.com, the UK’s first pet ID-verification platform, reveals the imposing Italian mastiff now attracts more than 192,000 Google searches every month, more than Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels and Labradors.
Site founder Kate Margolis said: “History is repeating itself. We’ve already seen what happens when a large, powerful dog surges in popularity without the right checks and balances.
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“The XL Bully became a status symbol, bred indiscriminately, sold through online ads, and pushed into homes that couldn’t cope. Now the Cane Corso is on the same trajectory – and unless we act responsibly, this could well be the next dog to be banned.”
Unlike Labradors, Spaniels or Retrievers, the Cane Corso is not recognised by the Kennel Club, meaning there are no official breeding standards, health checks, or registration data. That leaves a vacuum easily filled by unscrupulous sellers and backyard breeders, Petproov warns.
The breed originated in Italy as a guard dog, and can grow to a impressive size of 50kg. With its broad head, muscular frame and protective instincts, it can be affectionate with family, but also strong-willed, energetic and challenging without experienced handling and early training.
Kate said: “Dogs aren’t fashion statements. The Cane Corso may be trending, but it’s not a breed for the average household. Without the right training, welfare and environment, powerful dogs like this can quickly become unmanageable – and that’s when governments step in with bans. We need to learn from the XL Bully crisis, not repeat it.
“The Cane Corso may be 2025’s hottest breed online, but without responsible ownership and breeding, it risks becoming Britain’s next canine crisis – and potentially, the next dog to be banned.”
Garry Clarke, chief product officer at PetProov, said: “Choice isn’t the enemy,” added Garry Clarke, chief product officer at PetProov. “But if three of the UK’s five most searched breeds don’t have Kennel Club oversight, that leaves buyers exposed to fraud and poor breeding. We’ve seen families lose thousands of pounds, and worse, end up with dogs that simply aren’t safe or suitable.”
Top 10 most popular dog breeds in 2025, according to monthly Google searches
Cane Corso – 192,000
Cockapoo – 110,000
Golden Retriever – 101,000
Cavapoo – 95,000
Cocker Spaniel – 83,000
Belgian Malinois – 78,000
Chow Chow – 76,000
Rottweiler – 74,000
Shiba Inu – 66,000
Pomeranian – 66,000
