A number of beloved breeds are at risk of vanishing as potential owners are being urged to opt for 'lesser-known' dogs.
New figures from 2022 show there are more breeds at risk than ever before, according to the Kennel Club's list of 34 'vulnerable' native British and Irish breeds.
A dog with less than 300 registrations is classed 'vulnerable' and two more breeds have recently fallen into this category - the Miniature Bull Terriers and Bearded Collies. Some of the beloved breeds that could disappear include Welsh Springer Spaniels, Greyhounds, and King Charles Spaniels.
Miniature Bull Terriers and Bearded Collies have both made it onto the most recent 'vulnerable' list, dropping from 364 to 293 registrations and from 343 to 281 respectively. Meanwhile, a single Foxhound was registered - the first since at least 2017.
There are also several native breeds that are considered to be 'at watch' meaning they are not yet vulnerable, but are not far off.
Among those which the Kennel Club is concerned about is the Rough Collie, one of Britain's most recognisable breeds which is known for appearing as Lassie in the television series.
The Kennel Club's list of vulnerable native breeds
There are now 34 vulnerable native breeds, and a further eight classed as 'at watch' by the Kennel Club.
- Bearded Collie
- Bloodhound
- Bull Terrier (Miniature)
- Collie (Smooth)
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- Deerhound
- English Setter
- English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)
- Foxhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Glen of Imaal Terrier
- Gordon Setter
- Greyhound
- Harrier
- Irish Red & White Setter
- Irish Wolfhound
- King Charles Spaniel
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Lakeland Terrier
- Lancashire Heeler
- Manchester Terrier
- Mastiff
- Norwich Terrier
- Otterhound
- Retriever (Curly Coated)
- Sealyham Terrier
- Skye Terrier
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Spaniel (Clumber)
- Spaniel (Field)
- Spaniel (Irish Water)
- Spaniel (Sussex)
- Spaniel (Welsh Springer)
- Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
The Kennel Club's 'at watch' list
- Bedlington Terrier
- Bullmastiff
- Irish Terrier
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Norfolk Terrier
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Old English Sheepdog
- Welsh Terrier
Despite its popularity, the Jack Russell Terrier is currently at risk of becoming vulnerable with 403 registrations.
Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club said: "We urge the British public to find out more about the lesser-known breeds, especially those who are at risk of disappearing.
"We have such a rich diversity of breeds, but if people don’t look beyond the most popular choices then there is a real danger we could lose them forever, leaving puppy owners with less choice, and therefore are unlikely to find their perfect match in the future."
As for the Rough Collie, which is now close to being classed as 'at risk', there were less than 500 puppy births in 2022. This is a 25 percent decrease since 2021, and a steep 94 percent decline since their heyday.
Carole Smedley, Chairperson of the Rough Collie Breed Council who has owned the breed for over 50 years, said: "We are very concerned to see this wonderful and majestic breed fall in popularity."
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