There ain’t nothing like a hound dog!

The hairy hound is one of the fastest growing favourites with dog owners.

The 140 per cent increase in ownership of Afghan hounds in the past two years is believed to stem from videos posted on YouTube at the end of 2016, which got more than a million shares.

A Kennel Club spokeswoman said: “The popularity of different breeds fluctuates over time. The Kennel Club has seen increases in the Afghan hound, Airedale, whippet, Maltese and Hungarian vizsla since 2016.

“These popularity peaks can be affected by a number of different reasons. Often media and celebrity ownership can influence the puppy buying public, at other times it’s just that these breeds have become more appealing to certain lifestyles, as people change and adapt to the modern world.”

While Afghans are enjoying a surge in popularity, Dalmatians have suffered an 86 per cent drop in ownership.

The study has been carried out by pet insurance company Bought By Many, looking at increases or decreases in ownership and not at which breed is owned by the most people.

Afghan hounds are an ancient breed famed for their stature and thick, fine, silky coats.

They became popular with artists, actors and singers, with Salvador Dali and Marianne Faithfull among their famous owners.

Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today magazine, said: “Afghan hounds are still a relatively rare breed in this country.

“They are gorgeous looking, but they also come near the top of polls for the least intelligent dogs.”

Kennel Club records show French bulldogs overtook labradors as the UK’s most popular dogs this year for the fi rst time since records began.

BIGGEST INCREASES IN OWNERSHIP: 

AFGHAN HOUND up 140% 

AIREDALE up 140% 

WHIPPET up 140% 

GORDON SETTER up 92% 

HUNGARIAN VIZSLA up 92% 

MALTESE up 92% 

BIGGEST DECREASES IN OWNERSHIP: 

DALMATIAN 86% down 

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK 68% down 

DACHSHUND 56% down 

TIBETAN SPANIEL 52% down 

IRISH SETTER 52% down 

ROTTWEILER 46% down