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A new list released by the Kennel Club has revealed that Scottish Terriers are in danger, with owners opting for alternative breeds.
The list saw only 438 Scottish Terriers registered with the club, a 38% decline over the last five years. The black wire-haired dog is being overtaken by breeds such as French Bulldogs which have seen a spike in popularity.
Til Tovey, secretary of the Scottish Terrier Club of England, said: “It is so sad to see this wonderful and well-recognised breed, which is affectionate, loyal and intelligent, steadily decline in popularity as more fashionable choices take over.
“The Scottish Terrier is a great breed for those who want a small companion dog with plenty of character and an independent streak, and have time to train them consistently.
“Scotties are brimming with personality so sometimes can be a little stubborn. “It would be very sad to no longer see this historic and much-loved breed in our streets and parks in a few generations’ time.”
Other dogs on the Kennel Club’s ‘At Risk’ list include the Old English Sheepdog which has just 318 registrations, falling by 17% over the last five years. There are now 29 breeds which are deemed ‘At Risk’ by the club, which make up half of the UK’s 57 native breeds.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary, said: “There were just 24 vulnerable breeds and seven at watch a decade ago.
“There are now another six breeds either vulnerable or at watch and we could lose even more of our most iconic and historic native dog breeds if people don’t look beyond the most obvious choices – such as the increasingly popular French Bulldog – and start to explore the huge diversity of breeds we’re lucky enough to have in this country.”
