Yorkshire Terriers top the ranking
They rank first with a Fussy Score of 86/100, ahead of Dachshunds on 83 and Poodles on 81.
Britain's
Fussiest Dogs
Which dogs are pickiest eaters?
Explore Britain's Top 50 Fussiest Dog Breeds to see which breeds are most likely to turn up their noses at dinner. Browse the ranking, search for your dog's breed, and discover the mealtime habits that set Britain's fussiest eaters apart.
Sniff.
Judge.
Walk away.
Bowl inspection in progress
Judge.
Walk away.
Key findings
Food toppers are rated the most effective tactic
58% of owners who tried them said they were effective, the highest result among the approaches tested.
Warming food is effective but rarely tried first
34% of owners who tried warming food rated it effective, while only 10% selected it as their first tactic.
Britain's Top 50 Fussiest Dog Breeds
Showing all 50 breeds
Fussy Score iCombines meal refusal, food selectivity, owner negotiation, and changing preferences.
Rank
Breed
Fussy Score iCombines meal refusal, food selectivity, owner negotiation, and changing preferences.
Most-reported mealtime behaviour
How Owners Handle Fussy Eaters
Rated EffectiveTried First
How to read the chart: “Tried First” uses all 3,078 illustrative respondents and totals 100%. “Rated Effective” uses only owners who had tried each tactic, so the denominator varies by tactic and these figures should not be added together.
How Fussy Is Your Dog?
Answer this interactive quiz to reveal your dog’smealtime personality and personalised Fussy Score.
Answer based on your dog’s usual behaviour over the past four weeks.
Question 1 of 7
Methodology
Score dimensions +
The breed ranking and personalised quiz use the same 0 to 100 Fussy Score formula: meal refusal at 35%, food selectivity at 25%, owner negotiation at 25%, and preference switching at 15%.
Sample and ranking approach +
The ranking is based on 3,078 UK dog-owner responses, balanced broadly by region. Breeds with fewer than 40 responses were excluded, leaving 50 eligible breeds in the full ranking. Breed groups follow Royal Kennel Club classifications for recognised breeds; Cockapoos and Labradoodles are labelled as crossbreeds.
Limitations and responsible reading +
Owner-reported behaviour is subjective. Appetite can be affected by age, health, routine, and environment. A playful score cannot diagnose feeding or health concerns. Persistent appetite changes should be discussed with a veterinary professional.
Every dog has a dinner story
Some inhale. Some inspect. Some wait to see whether something better appears. Because what happens at the bowl can say a lot about their individual tastes and habits.