Top dog! Labrador retriever is Shropshire's best friend

For dog-lovers in Shropshire and Telford it's the labrador retriever that has the most tails wagging, according to new figures that show more than 7,000 owned across the two areas.

Data from Petlog and Animalcare show the popular pooch is also the favourite around the country, with more than 509,000 labrador retrievers tagged by the pet registration companies in the last 10 years.

1. 5,000 Labradors

2. 3,300 Border collies

3. 2,900 Jack Russell terriers

4. 2,400 English Springer spaniels

The breed came out on top in Shropshire's top five, followed by border collies and Jack Russell terriers.

For Telford it's a similar picture, with labrador retrievers on top again, followed by Staffordshire bull terriers and Jack Russell terriers, pushing border collies down to fourth place.The data shows there are 15,500 dogs chipped in Shropshire and 8,800 in Telford. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association, which carries out an annual pet population survey, about one quarter of all households own a dog – more than 8.5million people across Britain.

Following the clear favourite of Labrador retriever, the national favourites were Jack Russell terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, border collies and cocker spaniels.

And for people all over the country, the favourite breeds differ with the postcode.

In areas around London, dog owners are choosing Staffordshire bull terriers while in Llandrindod Wells the most favoured dog is a border collie.

Experts are putting the difference down to a range of reasons. More space available gives room for bigger dogs, while areas in London are filled with smaller ones. Caroline Kisko, secretary of The Kennel Club, said labradors are particularly popular because of their suitability for any owner.

She said: "Labradors are very popular working dogs and are equally as happy spending a day out in the field or in the woods as they are curled up on the sofa with their family."

One of the most unique figures in the data shows Halifax is the only area in the country to favour greyhounds above all others, with a total of 1,300 tagged.

But Ms Kisko said: "It's no surprise at all. Halifax has the biggest rescue centre in the north of England for lost greyhounds."

From next year, it is hoped that chipping will become more accurate as it will soon become a legal requirement to have all dogs in England micro-chipped.

Why not take a picture of your faithful friend and send it to our Star Witness at www.shropshirestar.co.uk/starwitness where you could be in with a chance of winning £100.