Two in five (40%) Brits prefer their dog to their children - most of the time!

Does your mother love the dog more than you? You'll find you're not alone in thinking this is true. In fact, some parents even admit to showering their dogs with more love than they show their children. Nine in ten (90%) claim their dog is part of the family, with nearly half (42%) of British parents admitting to showing their dog more love and attention than their children!

Another surprising revelation is that 40% of Brits admit to liking their dog more than their children - most of the time. If you're a dog parent or a child of one, this might not come as a shock! After all, dogs are an ultimutt part of the family!

Brits' favourite breeds

The top 10 dog breeds are as follows:

1.     Labrador – 18.5%

2.     German Shepherd – 9.8%

3.     Golden Retriever – 8%

4.    Cocker Spaniel – 5.2%

5.     Border Collie - 4.8%

6.    English Bulldog – 4.8%

7.     Husky – 4%

8.    Yorkshire Terrier – 3.8%

9.    Beagle – 3.6%

10.   French Bulldog – 3.2%

Stealing the nation's hearts is the loyal Labrador. Nearly one in five (18.5%) voted for this breed as their favourite, perhaps for their calm and nurturing being. This is a breed that can be both lazy and energetic, depending on the day!

Taking second place is the German Shepherd, with nearly one in five (9.8%) Brits choosing this dog as their favourite. Perhaps chosen for its protective but loving nature, the German Shepherd is, like Lab, a large breed. In third comes the Golden Retriever, with nearly one in ten (8%) Brits selecting this breed as their preferred breed.

Other breeds include the Cocker Spaniel (5.2%) in fourth. The English Bulldog and the Border Collie share fifth place, both retaining 4.8% of the Brits' votes. Further down on the list is the Husky, a large and energetic breed with a big need for walkies, as well as the beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Beagle and French Bulldogs.

A spokesperson at thortful.com comments on the study, "As a nation of dog lovers, we wanted to look into just how deep the love for our pooches runs! There is no surprise that British parents secretly award the 'favourite' child title to their paw-fect children. With this in mind, we hope our range of dog-themed cards will put a smile on the face of the dog lover in your life; whether sending birthday wishes or congratulating them on being a clever sausage!"