The British dog breeds facing an uncertain future (2024)

Despite being one of the most recognisable dog breeds in the UK, the Scottish Terrier seems to be falling out of favour. The Kennel Club has now placed the breed on its "at watch" list after only 406 puppy births were logged by breeders in 2023.

The distinctive breed – seen on Walker's shortbread tins, Radley handbags and the Monopoly board – has registered its lowest numbers since records began. Sky News reports that this is a dramatic drop from its last-century peak when there were more than 5,800 registrations in one year.

It is the second time the Scottie has been placed on the "at watch list" for native breeds (with between 300 and 450 registrations a year), first appearing in 2018.

But, they're not the only ones at risk. There are now more breeds classed as "at watch" and "vulnerable" than ever before. While the Cairn Terrier has also rejoined the "at watch" category, three other breeds have entered it for the first time – the Pointer, Rough Collie and Wire Fox Terrier.

The club's "vulnerable" list, for native breeds with fewer than 300 puppy registrations, (those deemed to be at risk of disappearing) includes Sussex Spaniels, Curly-Coated Retrievers, Otterhounds, Irish Setters and King Charles Spaniels.

Bill Lambert, a spokesman for the Kennel Club (which recognises 222 breeds), said: "The Scottish terrier has been such an iconic and recognisable breed in the UK for decades and means so much to so many different people, so these latest figures are worrying.

"We are lucky to have an amazing 222 breeds of dog in this country, each with unique personalities and characteristics, but the vast majority of dogs that you will meet come from within the top ten breeds alone.

"People often opt for the well-known choices and simply forget to dig a little deeper, with the worrying knock-on effect that not only are some of our most iconic breeds in decline but also that people might not be getting the perfect match for them."

He added: "People simply forget there are so many different dog breeds, with different personalities and characteristics, and it's not just the well-known ones that could be a great match for our lifestyles.

"While we're pleased that some of our native breeds saw their numbers increase last year, such as the English setter, others continue to fall rapidly in popularity and are in danger of disappearing forever.

"We are so lucky to have such diversity among our four-legged friends, and we urge the British public to look beyond the most popular choices, and find out more about the many different breeds there are."

The most popular breeds in the UK now include the Labrador, French Bulldog and Cocker Spaniel, which account for more than 60% of annual puppy registrations for all breeds.

Last year, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the English Setter saw the biggest rise in registrations. Jack Russell Terriers also saw an increase in popularity from 2022 to 2023, as did Yorkshire Terriers and Miniature Long-haired Dachshunds.