The Old English Sheepdog faces extinction, the Kennel Club has today warned.
Bosses at the organisation, set up in 1873 and which operates the national register of pedigree dogs in the UK, said just 98 puppy registrations for the dog – popularly known as the Dulux dog – were made in the first quarter of 2019.
A spokesman for the Kennel Club said that the iconic dog has now been added to it’s ‘At Watch’ list, making it among the breeds of dogs of which there are between just 300-450 annual registrations.
Just 98 registrations for the Old English Sheepdog, popularly known as the Dulux dog, have been made in the first quarter of this year, according to the Kennel Club
The dog breed used to be very popular and featured in films and TV shows. Pictured is Edison the Old English Sheepdog in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Paul McCartney was also a fan of the breed and had his own called Martha
And if numbers don’t spike, the breed could be added to the ‘Vulnerable Native Breeds’ list, classified as ‘less than 300 annual puppy registrations with the Kennel Club.
The spokesman said: ‘One of Britain’s most iconic dog breeds, the Old English Sheepdog, will enter the Kennel Club’s list of breeds that could face extinction, for the first ever time, if the current low rate of puppy registrations continues.
‘New statistics show that there were just 98 puppy registrations of the breed, popularly known as the Dulux dog, in the first quarter of this year.
‘This is a 16 per cent decrease on the same period last year.
‘If the same level of decline continues throughout the year the breed will enter the Kennel Club’s Vulnerable Native Breeds list – a list devised for those native breeds which have fallen below 300 annual puppy registrations and which could risk disappearing from our streets and parks.’
The lovable breed was also chosen for the character of Digby in Digby the Biggest Dog in the World
He added: ‘The Old English Sheepdog is currently on the Kennel Club’s At Watch list, for dogs with between 300-450 puppy registrations a year, which are being closely monitored by the Kennel Club.
‘There has been a steady decline in the popularity of the breed over the years and in 2018 it recorded its lowest number of registrations ever with just 384 puppies registered. Registrations of the breed have decreased by 67 per cent in the last 20 years.
By contrast, more exotic and fashionable breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute – a breed with a wolf-like appearance similar to ‘Ghost’, the dire wolf in the popular TV series Game of Thrones – have seen an increase this quarter.
There have been 90 puppy registrations so far this year, compared to 30 in the same period in 2018 – a 200 per cent increase.
Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said she believes people choose their dog based on TV shows and celebrities and noted a rise in interest of the Alaskan Malamute – the breed used to depict ‘dire wolves’ in Game of Thrones
The Queen’s favourite brand, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, has also seen a rise in popularity with an increase of 20 per cent in registrations
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: ‘The Old English Sheepdog is one of our most iconic dog breeds but you rarely see one now in our streets and parks, so the historic lows we’re currently seeing are particularly worrying.
‘We would expect the numbers to have declined over the years, to a degree, as a result of lifestyle changes – it is a breed with a good temperament that can make a lovely family pet but it also needs a lot of grooming and exercise and so is not suitable for the fast-paced urban lifestyles of many people.
‘But sadly it seems that TV, celebrities and advertising campaigns, rather than responsible research, are normally the guiding force behind our choice of dog breed and which breeds move in and out of fashion.’
She added: ‘For example the Alaskan Malamute, which resembles the dire wolf in Game of Thrones, has increased in popularity this quarter, despite being difficult to train and generally unsuitable for urban environments, and breeds such as the French Bulldog, often seen with celebrities yet which can require a lot commitment due to potential health problems, continue to rise in popularity.
‘There are 221 pedigree dog breeds, each with their own unique characteristics and care needs, so everybody can find a suitable breed for them if they take the time to do their research and match their dog choice to their lifestyle.’
The iconic Scottish Terrier, which first entered the Kennel Club’s At Watch list in 2018, has continued to plummet in the first quarter of this year with registrations dropping by 17 per cent, compared to the same period last year
According to Kennel Club data there are 29 Vulnerable Native Breeds in total and nine on the ‘At Watch’ list.
Some native vulnerable breeds have fared well, with the Sussex Spaniel increasing from 0 to 26 registrations in the first quarter of this year, and the Sealyham Terrier increasing by 280 per cent.
However, other breeds have not been so lucky with the biggest declines being seen in the Field Spaniel, with no puppy registrations so far.
The Manchester Terrier has also declined by 93 per cent with just four registrations, compared to 54 in the same quarter of 2018.
The Pembroke Welsh corgi, beloved of The Queen, soared almost 20 per cent in registrations.
The iconic Scottish Terrier, which first entered the Kennel Club’s At Watch list in 2018, has continued to plummet in the first quarter of this year with registrations dropping by 17 per cent, compared to the same period last year.