Ten dogs on the brink of extinction and what their demise says about us

A dog may be man’s best friend – but it turns out we’re quite picky when it comes to choosing our canine companions. So picky, in fact, that several of Britain’s once best-loved breeds are declining in popularity, leaving them not only out of favour, but on the brink of extinction.

According to figures released this week by The Kennel Club, 34 native dog breeds are classed as “vulnerable” with another eight “at watch”, based on falling numbers of new puppy registrations in the past year. 

The top 10 breeds in the UK, which include the labrador, French bulldog and cocker spaniel, account for almost two-thirds of annual registrations, leaving the remaining 212 types competing for our love and attention. 

Among those that could die out completely are once-popular pets such as the King Charles spaniel, the greyhound and the wire fox terrier. 

Carolyn Menteith, canine behaviourist and trainer, and chair of the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter, says the problem lies in new owners – who have soared to about four million since lockdown – not wanting their pets to do “traditional doggy things”. 

“We don’t want them to chase things or bark or dig; we like to treat them as family and live with them in our homes, which means certain breeds simply aren’t wanted any more,” she says. “We create breeds that fit into our lives. And we want a familiar dog: one our parents had when we were younger or one we see influencers with online.” 

Here are 10 of the once best-loved breeds now at risk...

Wire fox terrier 

Snowy, Tintin’s lovable sidekick is perhaps the most famous example of the breed, which had its heyday 80 years ago. 

In 1947, it was one of the most popular breeds in the UK, with more than 8,000 puppies born, and celebrities including Albert Einstein and Lucille Ball were fans. Both King Edward VII and Queen Victoria reportedly owned one.

Since then, however, registrations have declined by 94 per cent, with only 281 puppies born in 2023. Experts say it will be the next breed to join the “at watch” list. 

Though wire fox terriers continue to do well at Crufts – the breed has won Best in Show three times – their propensity to bark, jump and snap at people’s heels has made them unpopular. “They look gorgeous but they’re shouty dogs, and that’s not what people want if they’re living in close proximity,” says Menteith. 

King Charles spaniel 

Despite its well-known namesake, the King Charles spaniel is firmly on the endangered list, with new puppy births almost halving in five years (down from 112 in 2017 to 68 in 2022). 

Its decline is a result of the emergence of a new, but similar, breed: the Cavalier King Charles spaniel (distinguishable because of its longer, tapered muzzle). Created in 1926, it was recognised by The Kennel Club in 1945 and started to eclipse the popularity of the original King Charles spaniel in the 1960s. 

“Most people don’t really know there’s a difference, but the newer breed is way more popular, so people see it around more – and then they want one,” says Menteith.

Ironically, the King himself is said to prefer Jack Russells. 

Rough collie 

Lassie, the canine TV superstar of the 1950s and 1960s, was to thank for a boom in the popularity of rough collies, which reached a peak in 1979 with more than 8,000 annual puppy registrations – making it one of the top 10 breeds in the UK. This has now slumped by 94 per cent. Last year, fewer than 500 rough collie pups were born. 

Earlier this year, The Kennel Club issued a vulnerable breed warning for the dog, with spokesman Bill Lambert calling the decline “troubling”. He added: “While they do require a lot of grooming and plenty of space, for the right owners they can be lovable family companions.” 

Greyhound

A truly historic dog, greyhounds date back to the Middle Ages when they were bred for their brilliant eyesight – and could only be owned by nobility or royalty. The elegant breed enjoyed a peak of popularity in the 1920s when they were used in racing (a greyhound can reach speeds of 43mph) – and experts have blamed the subsequent decline, with just 22 pups born in 2022, on misconceptions around how much training and exercise they need. 

“Apart from half an hour sprinting a day, a greyhound is a couch potato,” says Menteith. “They don’t bark, they’re short-coated – and they want to sprawl out on the sofa for 18 hours a day. I’m never sure why they’re not more popular.”  

Sussex spaniel 

Much like their royal namesakes, Sussex spaniels aren’t as well-liked as they used to be (even Meghan and Harry don’t own one). 

Bred as gun dogs in the late 1700s and early 1800s by a landowner in East Sussex, they’ve enjoyed several peaks over the years: the first throughout the 18th century and up until the First World War. But breeding was discouraged in wartime and by the end of the Second World War, numbers had dropped to just seven. 

Despite attempts to revive their popularity in 2013 and 2019, Sussex spaniels are still teetering on the brink. They have been on the vulnerable list since 2004, with just 44 births recorded last year. 

The Sussex Spaniel Association blames the decline on “designer crossbreeds” which have “swamped” the pet market.

Irish red and white setter 

Known as the “gentleman’s hunting dog”, the Irish red and white setter, with its glossy dappled coat, became the most endangered breed in the country in 2020, with just 39 new puppies registered. 

Originally used by falconers to spot birds, they were a favoured gundog of Irish aristocrats in the 1600s, but by 1875 were toppled off the top spot by a new obsession with their flame-haired cousin, the Irish red setter. Despite numerous attempts to revive interest, their popularity has continued to plummet.

Experts say owners simply aren’t aware of the difference between the two breeds, and are put off by the high price tag (a new pup costs up to £1,000) and their need for two hours’ exercise a day. 

Welsh corgi (Cardigan) 

We associate corgis with the late Queen – who owned more than 30 in her lifetime – which goes some way to explaining the boom in numbers after her death. But there are two types of Welsh corgi: Pembroke (the royal kind) and Cardigan. But while the former is enjoying a resurgence, the latter saw just 201 puppies born in 2022. 

Their popularity peaked in the early 1900s and declined to an all-time low in 2008, when just 50 were registered. Netflix’s The Crown and the 2019 animated film The Queen’s Corgi sparked a mini resurgence – according to The Kennel Club, numbers soared briefly by 25 per cent – but love for this little dog remains low. 

Longer-backed and longer-tailed than their royal relations, Cardigan corgis have a deep bark and are traditionally guard dogs: a trait that may make them seem unfriendly. 

Curly-coated retriever 

With its beautiful tight curls and shiny appearance, the curly-coated retriever is one of the most distinctive breeds around. It was first exhibited in the show ring in 1860, a cross between an English water spaniel and a labrador, with a dash of poodle DNA for those lustrous locks. Though popular in the early 20th century, the war years coincided with the popularity of the labrador, which edged it out as the family pet of choice. 

Just 73 were born in 2022 – although The Kennel Club reported a slight boom in interest in the first half of this year, with 45 new births suggesting a comeback. 

Menteith says owners often complain to her about the retriever’s natural traits. “I get people saying, ‘It’s so annoying, it keeps carrying my slippers and now they’re ripped to shreds.’ A retriever’s love language is carrying things around; it’s simply showing you affection.”  

Old English sheepdog 

The iconic ‘Dulux dog’ from the paint adverts was once the ninth most popular breed in the UK, with 5,731 pups born at its peak in 1979. Since then, however, the decline has been steep, with 333 puppies in 2022 putting it on the at-watch list. 

“It’s a big dog, with a huge coat, so it’s high maintenance to look after,” says Menteith. “It’s also a traditional working dog, so training and exercise-wise, it’ll be demanding. If people want a big dog these days, they tend to go for a labrador – they’re a similar size but better-known and renowned for being fantastic family dogs.” 

Harrier

Said to resemble “a beagle on steroids”, it’s not hard to see why harriers – a traditional hunting breed that’s been around since the 13th century – have fallen out of favour. There were just nine new puppies born last year, making it the second most-endangered breed in the UK after the foxhound.

The dip in popularity started in the 1920s and continued into the 1950s, when financial support for hunting dogs waned during wartime – and they all but disappeared outside the hunting community. Supporters say they’re affectionate, friendly and good with children, but there are thought to be fewer than 750 left in the country. 

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