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.
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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.
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5. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The only breed of Terrier on this list, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has suffered a 71.8 per cent decline over the last decade, falling from 326 registrations down to just 92. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Old English Sheepdog
British dog breeds don't come much more iconic than the Old English Sheepdog - known to millions as the the famous 'Dulux Dog' due to the paint adverts. There were just 218 recorded with the Royal Kennel Club last year. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Rough Collie
First bred in Scotland, the Rough Collie is famous for being the breed of one of the biggest canine stars of the small screen - Lassie. It's surprising then that this herding breed sits on the 'At Watch' list after registrations halved to 345. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Dalmation
Talking of doggy acting stars, there were 101 Dalmatians in the successful Disney film (and 102 in the sequel). Registrations of the spotty dog have fallen 32 per cent over 10 years though to just 743, dropping more than 55 per cent since its pandemic peak of 1,662 in 2021. | Canva/Getty Images