With several canine breeds at risk for extinction, the Old English Sheepdog was recently added to the list. The number of this famous breeds registrations reportedly fell to their lowest in sixty years.
The ‘Dulux’ breed, one of Britain’s most iconic and recognizable breeds, has been classified by The Kennel Club as vulnerable for the first time in history, with only 227 registrations of puppies for the breed in 2020. Although 2020 saw a boom in the numbers of puppies last year, this number is the lowest officially recorded registrations for the Dulux breed since 1961.
Image: pugetsoundenglishsetterclub
A spokesperson for The Kennel Club, Bill Lambert, said:
“The Old English Sheepdog is such a historic and iconic breed, but they are rarely seen out and about over recent years, so the fact that they are now officially a vulnerable breed is very worrying.”
Lambert went on to add:
“It’s likely the numbers have dwindled over the years due to a result of lifestyle changes, as they require a lot of grooming and exercise and aren’t suitable for smaller living spaces. However, it is a breed that is faithful and trustworthy with an even disposition that can make lovable family pets for the right owners.”
Additional research found that many native breeds dipped to record lows in 2020. Included were the breeds of Otterhounds, Skye Terriers, Bloodhounds, and English Setters. Sadly, research also determined that The Kennel Club had officially added both the Norfolk Terrier and the Cairn Terrier breeds to the ‘At Watch’ list for the very first time.
Image: Country Life
There is a silver lining, though, as several other breeds are on the rise, including the Whippet, Cocker Spaniel, Bull Terrier, Weimaraner, German Wirehaired Pointer, and the German Shorthaired Pointer. All of these were officially entered on the overall breeds top 20 list.