Showing posts with label UK Kennel Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UK Kennel Club. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Dog Breeds in Danger of Extinction - Seems Man's Best Friend Needs More Friends

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UK and USA List Endangered Dog Breeds


Hounded out! They're classic British dog breeds facing extinction - thanks to the mania for trendy pooches. So can YOU help save them?  

  • Native-bred dogs have fallen out of fashion in favour of imports like Chihuahuas 
  • British dogs like the Skye terrier and Bloodhound  have become unfashionable
  • Last year the Kennel Club only registered 28 Skye terriers and 40 otterhounds
  • But breeders are fighting back with schemes like sperm imports and DNA banks 

Spare a thought for man’s spurned best friends. Proud British pedigrees such as the Skye terrier, bloodhound and Dandie Dinmont are facing extinction — rejected in favour of ‘It’ breeds beloved of celebrities.

A mere 28 Skye terriers were registered with the Kennel Club last year, along with 40 otterhounds, 53 bloodhounds, 49 Sussex spaniels and 84 King Charles spaniels.

Such numbers are insufficient to protect their minuscule gene pools from inbred doom. Breeders believe a birth rate of 300 puppies a year is needed to guarantee a large enough pool for a healthy population.

Ahead of the Crufts dog show, which starts on Thursday, supporters are fighting back with rescue schemes that include financial breeding incentives, frozen-sperm imports, DNA banks and even a visitor centre.

Blame fickle humans for the plight. Doughty natives have fallen from fashion in favour of imports such as Chihuahuas (more than 5,200 registered last year). With tiny bodies and pop-eyes, they are must-have ‘handbag dogs’ for the likes of hotel heiress Paris Hilton and singer Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

Snub-nosed French bulldogs and pugs are also popular, thanks to celebrity owners sharing cutesy snaps on social media. More than 10,000 pugs were registered last year.

Most vulnerable British dog breeds 

Number of puppies registered with the Kennel Club in 2016:
1. Skye terrier: 28 puppies
2. Otterhound: 40 puppies
3. Sussex spaniel: 49 puppies
4. Bloodhound: 53 puppies
5. Irish red and white setter: 63 puppies
6. Glen of Imaal terrier: 76 puppies
7. Field spaniel: 80 puppies
8. Curly coated retriever: 83 puppies
9. King Charles spaniel: 84 puppies
10. Smooth collie: 89 puppies
11. Lancashire heeler: 90 puppies
12. Dandie Dinmont terrier: 91 puppies

And there is the cockapoo, a cocker spaniel/poodle cross. I confess: we own one. When we unleash ours in the park, it merges into a scampering blur of identikit pooches.

Gail Marshall, of the Skye Terrier Club, sighs when I admit cockapoo ownership. It must be galling. No breed has fallen farther from fashion than the Skye terrier.

‘Queen Victoria had a kennelful,’ says Marshall. ‘Mary, Queen of Scots had one inside her petticoats at her execution.’

The breed’s star rose higher thanks to the legend of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier who stood guard over his owner’s grave in an Edinburgh churchyard for 14 years.

But Bill Lambert, of the Kennel Club, says British terriers are now perilously unfashionable. ‘They often get bored and cause mischief if left alone,’ he explains. ‘That’s a problem in families where both parents work.’
The Skye Terrier Club has launched a breeder assistance scheme offering £800 for members to import a puppy suitable for breeding, or frozen sperm from a genetically approved overseas donor. But the initiative has not caused a stampede.

‘The cost of bringing in a puppy can mount into thousands,’ Marshall says.

The Skye’s gene pool also comes with problems such as hereditary kidney and liver ailments. To rid the breed of these, the club works to ensure that the records of potential pairs are screened, and their organs are scanned.

Perhaps the Skye should take tips from another fallen dog star, the Dandie Dinmont terrier. They look like a hairy dachshund, but in the 17th century they were highly prized for hunting rabbits, rats and badgers. Only 91 were registered last year. But now Dandies are to have a £65,000 visitor centre on the Haining Estate in Selkirk, Scotland — the home of the breed.

Protection of native breeds is not only for the dogs’ sakes. Lambert warns that fashion often means buying the wrong animal for your lifestyle.

‘Trendy breeds are being brought in illegally and sold without proper paperwork,’ he adds. ‘They may have developmental problems caused by unscrupulous puppy farmers.’

We love our cockapoo. But as a child of the South Downs, I’m determined to have a Sussex spaniel after 
Roxy has lived her natural span. I’ll be buying a British barker… if there are any left.


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Now here is a test for you.  My dog is named Mr. Henry and is he a

Bloodhound


or a

Fila Brasileiro

Here is Mr. Henry





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20 of the World's Rarest Dog Breeds
American Kennel Club Report

1. Telomian
The Telomian is the only known Malaysian breed to live elsewhere, but originally it was bred by the Orang Asli indigenous people to catch vermin. Because the Orang Asli built homes on stilts to stay safe from dangerous animals, Telomians developed an unusual climbing ability.

2. Fila Brasileiro

The Fila Brasileiro is believed to have origins in a number of breeds like the Mastiff and Bloodhound, which could explain its large bones, loose skin and smooth coat. The working breed is known for its tracking ability, but also for its sometimes aggressive temper.


3. Catalburun

Possibly because of severe inbreeding due to their rarity, the Catalburun is one of the only dogs in the world featuring a split nose and suspended ears. They were originally bred for hunting in Turkey.


4. New Guinea Singing Dog

The New Guinea Singing Dog gets its name from its unique vocalization, but the once-wild breed gets its reputation as an excellent companion from its intelligence and physical ability.


5. Carolina Dog
Also known as the American Dingo, the Carolina Dog actually started out as a wild and free roaming dog. It was discovered in the cypress swamps of the Southeastern United States around the 1970s, and is now bred in captivity.


6. Karelian Bear Dog
The Finnish Karelian Bear Dog is one of the top 10 most common breeds in its home country. Originally used for hunting and as a watchdog, it has quick reflexes and a fearless nature, and is still popular with big-game hunters.


7. Stabyhoun
The Stabyhoun comes from Friesland, a province in the Netherlands, and today there may be fewer than 4,000 in existence. Stabyhouns make excellent hunting and guard dogs, and they’re also great at catching vermin like moles and rats.


8. Mudi

This Hungarian herding dog is as active as it is versatile. It makes a talented hunter, rodent exterminator, herding dog and flock guardian, but as a pet the Mudi is happiest when given long walks or jogs and a large area in which to run free.


9. Lagotto Romagnolo

Hailing from the Romagna sub-region of Italy, the Lagotto Romagnolo was named as a lake dog and traditionally used as a gun dog. Its most interesting occupation, though, is truffle hunting.


10. Azawakh

This West African sighthound makes a fiercely protective companion and guardian, and an extremely intelligent lure courser. The breed is elegantly built and features a short coat in a wide variety of colors and markings.


11. Thai Ridgeback
The Thai Ridgeback was previously unknown outside of its country of origin, but it is now gaining popularity elsewhere. What makes it most unique? A ridge of hair, growing in the opposite direction of its coat, running along its back. Only two other breeds have the same feature.


12. Peruvian Inca Orchid

The Peruvian Inca Orchid has been around since before AD 750, and today it remains an uncommon but treasured pet. The “agile, smart and swift” breed is good at hunting and lure coursing as well. But its most notable quality is that it is sometimes hairless, with skin that appears in a variety of colors.


13. Catahoula Leopard Dog

The often multi-colored or spotted Catahoula Leopard Dog is believed to be the first dog bred in the United States. It was named after Catahoula Parish in Louisiana and was traditionally used to hunt wild boar.


14. Chinook

The name Chinook means “warm winter winds” in Inuit, and its double coat keeps it comfortable in the cold. The Chinook originated in New Hampshire as a drafting and sled-dog racing breed, combining the power of a freighting dog and the speed of lighter racing sled dogs.


15. Norwegian Lundehund

With six toes on each foot, prick ears that it can control at will, and the ability to tip its head backward to touch the backbone, the Norwegian Lundehund is unlike any other breed. Its unique build helped it excel at Puffin hunting, but it also makes an “easy-to-live-with” pet.


16. Otterhound

As its name implies, the massive Otterhound is very capable in the water. The scent hound has webbed feet and a rough, double coat, which also makes it a great hunter on land. Otterhounds excel as pets too, being inquisitive, boisterous, and amiable.


17. Finnish Spitz

This agile and hardworking breed resembles a fox in many ways. The Finnish Spitz features erect ears, a dense coat, and a bushy tail, appearing in a range of colors from pale honey to deep auburn. The breed is known for its intelligent expression and brisk movement.


18. Bedlington Terrier

Known for its curly and pale-colored wool coat, the Bedlington Terrier bears some similarity to a lamb. But this breed is much more athletic than it appears, traditionally used for racing and to catch vermin. Its graceful build aids in speed and endurance.


19. Swedish Vallhund

Swedish Vallhunds are athletic dogs, excelling in obedience, agility, tracking, herding, and flyball, in addition to traditionally being a farm dog used for herding. The “small, powerful, fearless” breed comes in a variety of colors and with a variety of tail lengths, from bobtail (no tail) to a full curl tail.


20. Tibetan Mastiff


The Tibetan Mastiff is huge in size and noble in bearing, known for a “solemn but kind expression” and an impressive double coat. Its aloof, watchful, and independent nature makes the Tibetan Mastiff an excellent guardian breed but a reluctant participant in organized activities like obedience.

American Dog Breeds Nearing Extinction

Spinoni Italiani
Bluetick Coonhound
Kerry Blue Terrier
Manchester Terrier
Redbone Coonhound
Australian Terrier
Tibetan Mastiff
Briard
English Toy Spaniel
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Irish Terrier
Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeen
Miniature Bull Terrier
Clumber Spaniel
Most Endangered American Breeds 
No. 1: English Foxhound

Like the American Foxhound, the English Foxhound — which finishes off the list as the rarest dog breed in the country — is frequently found on the Atlantic seaboard or in the southern United States, usually as a member of a pack owned by a foxhunting club. She, too, is an older, established breed and has been part of the American landscape since the 18th century or earlier. She's a spirited hound who can be an excellent companion to an active person, and although her stately bearing makes her look almost regal, know that this dog is generally always ready for fun — and barking. Her loud bay can carry surprisingly long distances, so she's typically best in a rural home.
No. 2: American Foxhound

He's not always thought of as a companion animal, but the typically friendly and energetic American Foxhound certainly has the capacity to be a great workout buddy. This is one of the older American breeds, but more often than not, he's a member of a pack owned by a foxhunting club.
No. 3: Norwegian Lundehund

A fairly recent addition to the AKC's list of recognized breeds, the Norwegian Lundehund is quite the contortionist. This spitz breed was bred to climb cliffs on Norwegian islands and retrieve live puffins, which explains a few of her unusual characteristics: six-toed feet and a surprising flexibility that allows her front legs to extend flat to the sides and her head to bend backward almost to her back.
No. 4: Cesky Terrier

With his long body and bearded face, the small Cesky Terrier has a distinct look. He's all terrier, too, with a tendency toward barking and digging, and he generally has loads of energy. He requires a securely fenced yard to keep him safe, and it's best to keep him away from small animals and birds, which he's likely to chase and try to kill. Still, this intelligent breed is known to love his family, even if he is somewhat aloof with strangers.
No. 5: Harrier

The Harrier may look like an oversized Beagle or small English Foxhound, but she is her own breed. She's typically sweet, affectionate and highly energetic. This scenthound was originally used to hunt hare and fox, and she tends to be a good competitor in agility and a natural tracker.
No. 6: Otterhound

The laid-back Otterhound is the sixth rarest dog breed, and given the fact that this breed nearly disappeared when hunting otters became illegal in Britain in the late 1970s, that's hardly a surprise. This big dog (up to 125 pounds!) tends to be hairy and messy, so he's not for the house proud, but he loves to "communicate" with his people with various muttering, grumbling and groaning sounds.
No. 7: Finnish Lapphund

Another medium-size spitz breed whose double coat sheds heavily, the Lappie is known to be noisy, agile and alert. These characteristics came in handy in her early days as a reindeer herder, but now she tends to be calm, friendly and submissive with people.
No. 8: Finnish Spitz

A medium-size spitz breed, the Finnish Spitz is quite the talker. He barks, first and foremost, but also uses many different sounds to get his point across. In fact, this is one breed that can actually claim the official title of "King of the Barkers" each year in Finland, where he is the national dog.
No. 9: Pyrenean Shepherd

The Pyr Shep is the smallest of the French herding breeds, but she generally has a big personality and energy to spare. She tends to be highly alert, extremely devoted to her family and quite intelligent, all of which means she requires a home with a family who's fully committed to giving her the training and exercise she needs.
No. 10: Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Named after a character in Sir Walter Scott's book Guy Mannering, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a true darling, with big, dark eyes; a poufy topknot; and plenty of self-confidence. He's typically playful and affectionate with his family but can be reserved around strangers.
No. 11: Glen of Imaal Terrier

Like many other terriers, the Glen of Imaal Terrier tends to think she's larger than her 32 to 40 pounds. She's often called "scrappy," doesn't generally care much for other dogs, and don't even get her started on cats. She is usually a bit quieter than other terriers, though, making her a breed to consider for apartment dwellers who love the terrier group.
No. 12: Norwegian Buhund

This Norwegian farm dog is generally cheerful, hard working and talkative. The Norwegian Buhund has made a name for himself as a hearing assistance dog and agility and obedience athlete, as well as a companion. He tends to be very active and barks and sheds, but his fans adore his foxlike face, confidence and lively disposition.
No. 13: Scottish Deerhound

Although Hickory, a Scottish Deerhound, won Westminster in 2011, this tall and noble breed is rare. Despite her regal air, she's a bit of a prankster, particularly during her highly active puppy years. She's typically equally at home in a condo or castle, and the two things she may love most in life are running and cuddling up with her people on the sofa.
No. 14: Canaan Dog

The independent Canaan Dog is a natural watchdog with historic roots. In fact, he may have originated in the biblical land of Canaan, where he guarded camps and flocks. The breed became feral after the Romans dispersed the population, and it wasn't until World War II that these dogs were redomesticated after displaying their intelligence and trainability. However, the Canaan is still a bit primitive, with a few quirks in general, so finding just the right home is of the utmost importance for this breed.
No. 15: Curly-Coated Retriever

The Curly-Coated Retriever, a charming and protective dog with an unusual, tightly curled coat. She originated in the 18th century, most likely by crossing the now extinct Old English Water Dog, Irish Water Spaniel and small Newfoundland, with some Poodle added later. She is a constant thinker and generally loves channeling her energy and brainpower into new sports like agility and flyball, or games like pulling a child on a skateboard. With proper motivation (like play, praise and treats), this talented and entertaining breed tends to learn quickly.

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