It's official! Dogs are the nation's favourite animal, beating cats to the top spot, new research has found.

As study of 2,000 adults, which was commissioned by Channel 5 to mark this week's episode of All Creatures Great and Small, found that 51% of adults said dogs are their favourite animals, while just 38% said cats.

In third place came robins, followed by horses and hedgehogs, respectively. Other animals to make the list include owls, deers, rabbits and puffins, too.

    Elsewhere in the research, more than seven in 10 adults said their animals are part of the family, while 55% said the best thing about having a pet is the affection they give and 61% said it was because they provided company.

    Callum Woodhouse, who plays Tristan Farnon in Channel 5's new adaptation, told the Daily Mail: "I'm a huge dog lover. Any scene in All Creatures Great and Small where you see me with our Golden Retriever, that was me asking to have him in the scene with me as I adore him so much.

    "There were five dogs I wanted to take home with me - Tricki-Woo included. One of my favourite scenes was a close up of my face being licked to pieces by one of our gorgeous dogs. Heaven. I'm with the public on this one."

    happy sleeping ginger catpinterest
    Image by Chris Winsor//Getty Images
    Cats took the second spot

    Take a look at the top 30 favourite animals below:

    1. Dog
    2. Cat
    3. Robin
    4. Horse
    5. Hedgehog
    6. Squirrel
    7. Owl
    8. Deer
    9. Rabbit
    10. Butterfly
    11. Donkey
    12. Golden Eagle
    13. Fox
    14. Puffin
    15. Otter
    16. Duck
    17. Tortoise
    18. Bee
    19. Alpaca
    20. Parrot
    21. Blue tit
    22. Pig
    23. Turtle
    24. Chicken
    25. Cow
    26. Sheep
    27. Goat
    28. Llama
    29. Guinea Pig
    30. Hamster

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    Headshot of Lisa Joyner
    Lisa Joyner
    Deputy Daily Editor, Country Living and House Beautiful

     Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.