If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a new dog into your home then you’re in good company – Royal Kennel Club (the new name for the UK Kennel Club) stats show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels.
Dogs come in all shapes, colours and sizes - there are 221 different pedigree dogs recognised by breeders in the UK, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
Then there are all manner of crossbreeds, from so-called ‘designer dogs’ like the popular Labradoodle (half Labrador, half Poodle) to lovable mongrels.
So there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or an easy to train dog.
Read more:
There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
But if you fancy helping a dog breed that’s less popuar than the usual Labrador Retrievers, Poodles and French Bulldog then the Royal Kennel Club have a list of those that are now classified as ‘Vulnerable Native Breeds’.
These are dogs first bred in Britain who have experienced a near-catastrophic drop in popularity, as more people choose the same few breeds or so-called designer dogs.
The experts from VetMedi.co.uk have crunched the numbers and revealed that breeds that have defined British life for centuries - from working terriers to coastal hounds - are rapidly vanishing.
Here are 10 iconic British breeds that face an uncertain future - and could do with your help.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
1. Bloodhound
The droopy bloodhound was originally bred to hunt game with their powerful sense of smell. More recently police forces have used them to find missing people by following their scent - often over miles. There were just five Kennel Club registrations in 2025, down 90.6 per cent over the decade. | Canva/Getty Images
2. Otterhound
Dating back to the North-West of England in the first half of the 19th century, the Otterhound is a very rare breed - with only around 600 in existence worldwide. There were just 10 new registrations in the UK last year. | Canva/Getty Images
3. Sussex Spaniel
First recorded (as the name would suggest) in Sussex in 1795, the Sussex Spaniel is a close relative of the Clumber Spaniel. There were only 15 registered last year. | Canva/Getty Images
4. Curly-Coated Retriever
It may be closely-related to the Labrador and Golden Retrievers, but the Curly-Coated Retriever can't complete with those breeds when it comes to popularity - with just 25 Kennel Club registrations last year. That's a huge drop of 69.9 per cent over the last decade. | Canva/Getty Images