Figures obtained by the Echo reveal 37 dogs, worth tens-of-thousands-of-pounds, have been snatched during the past two years.
The number one target breed for pet thieves operating in the area is Staffordshire Bull Terriers, followed by West Highland Terriers and Bull Mastiffs.
Some worried owners have resorted to turning "pet detective" in a bid to find their missing pooches while others offer rewards in excess of £10,000.
According to the figures, 31 dogs have been reported stolen since February 2004, including a litter of nine puppies.
During the same period, a further six dogs were stolen, but later recovered by police and returned to their owners.
Other dogs taken from homes in Wearside include American Bulldogs, Labradors, greyhounds and even a Japanese Akita.
Dog theft is one of the country's fastest growing crimes. Last year there were 26,000 insurance claims for dogs missing, presumed stolen.
Since just one in eight dogs in Sunderland is insured and only half the owners of lost dogs report them missing, it is likely the figure is higher.
Today, the RSPCA expressed concerns about the growing number of dog thefts and called for a national register of stolen pets to be established.
A spokeswoman said: "Because we don't have an official register, it's difficult to say how many dogs are stolen each year either in Sunderland or across the country.
"But the figures being banded about is between 40,000 to 50,000.
"There is this problem that dogs are being taken and sold for about £50 down the local pub so the only thing we can do is encourage people to buy from a reputable dealer."
The pet organisation claims it has heard of thieves staking out homes and hanging around popular dog walking spots in a bid to spot pedigree dogs.
A spokeswoman added: "Mainly it is just opportunist thieves who might see a dog tied up outside a shop and take them."


Most common dogs stolen in the Wearside area are:

1. Staffordshire Bull Terriers
2. West Highland Terriers
3. Bull Mastiffs
4. Border Terriers
5. Boxers
6. American Bull Dog
7. Labrador
8. Japanese Akita
9. Greyhound
10. Golden Retriever


Gwen turns pet 'tec

DEVOTED dog owner Gwen Oak was so distraught when she had her three beloved pugs snatched, she turned pet detective.
Thieves smashed their way into her East Boldon home and snatched the two pure-breed dogs from her utility room.
Although one was found the next day on a South Shields estate, the other two have vanished.
Gwen believes her pets were deliberately targeted by the thieves who knew exactly what they were doing.
It was the second time the 49-year-old has been a victim of dog-nappers who previously stole her two Cocker spaniels.
After the theft last November, Gwen put the details of stolen pugs Lewis and Alison on a special website which aims to track down stolen dogs.
Gwen said: "The police have been great, but the website alerts other people to the fact the dogs are missing and helps put out pictures of them."
A pure-bred pug would cost someone about £1,000 and Gwen believes her dogs were taken simply because someone was unwilling to pay that kind of money.
She added: "I don't think it was a professional dog ring or anything like that, I just think someone saw my pets and decided they wanted them."
Gwen, of Oak House, Cleadon Lane Industrial Estate, is just one of many pet owners who have turned to doglost.co.uk
The site has helped more than 2,000 owners relocate their missing dogs and is so popular it is expanding at the rate of 10 per cent a month.