Revealed: The 34 dog breeds at risk of extinction in the UK – is your pooch on the list?

Whether it’s a fluffy cockatoo or a lovable Labrador, an estimated 10 million British households share their home with a dog.

But despite being Britain’s number one pet, several dog breeds are at risk of total extinction.

The Kennel Club has drawn up a list of 34 endangered native British and Irish breeds that have fewer than 300 registrations per year.

The list includes adorable breeds like the Bearded Collie, King Charles Spaniel, Skye Terrier and Curly Coated Retriever (scroll down for the full list).

“Many native British and Irish breeds are at risk of disappearing from our parks and streets simply because people don’t know they exist or because they are not considered fashionable,” the Kennel Club said.

The Kennel Club has drawn up a list of 34 endangered native British and Irish breeds that have fewer than 300 registrations per year. 1. Bearded Collie 2. Bloodhound 3. Bull Terrier (Miniature) 4. Collie (Smooth) 5. Dandie Dinmont Terrier 6. Deerhound 7. English Setter 8. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) 9. Foxhound 10. Fox Terrier (Smooth) 11. Glen of Imaal Terrier 12. Gordon Setter 13. Greyhound 14. Harrier 15. Irish Red & White Setter 16. Irish Wolfhound 17. King Charles Spaniel 18. Kerry Blue Terrier 19. Lakeland Terrier 20. Lancashire Heeler 21. Manchester Terrier 22 .Mastiff 23. Norwich Terrier 24. Otterhound 25. Retriever (Curly Coated) 26. Sealyham Terrier 27. Skye Terrier 28. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 29. Spaniel (Clumber) 30. Spaniel (Field) 31. Spaniel (Irish Water). ) 32. Spaniel (Sussex) 33. Spaniel (Welsh Springer) 34. Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)

The list includes adorable breeds such as the Bearded Collie, King Charles Spaniel, Skye Terrier and Curly Coated Retriever. Figures show only one foxhound was registered in 2022 (archive image)

According to The Kennel Club, the top ten breeds in the UK – including Labradors, French Bulldogs and Cocker Spaniels – account for more than 60 per cent of annual puppy registrations for all breeds.

At the other end of the scale, the numbers of some breeds are so small that they are completely unrecognizable to many Brits.

‘[This] “It is concerning because it means that breeds that may fit people’s lifestyles perfectly are being overlooked in favor of other breeds that may not fit in, simply because they are not as well known,” the Kennel Club said.

In the hope of protecting these dwindling breeds, the Kennel Club has created a list of endangered native British and Irish breeds, which includes breeds with fewer than 300 registrations per year.

Some breeds on the list are close to this threshold, including the Miniature Bull Terrier (293 registrations in 2022), the Bearded Collie (281 registrations) and the Gordon Setter (251 registrations).

But others have had dangerously low registrations in recent years.

Kennel Club figures show just one Foxhound was registered in 2022, while Harriers (nine registrations), Greyhounds (22 registrations) and Otterhounds (30 registrations) performed only marginally better.

The top ten breeds in the UK – including Labradors, French Bulldogs and Cocker Spaniels – account for more than 60 per cent of annual puppy registrations across all breeds. At the other end of the scale, the numbers of some breeds are so small that they are completely unrecognizable to many Brits. Pictured: a miniature bull terrier

The Kennel Club is now urging potential dog buyers to consider these vulnerable breeds. Pictured: a Smooth Collie (left) and a Welsh Corgi (right)

However, it’s not all doom and gloom.

Last month, the Kennel Club announced that the Curly Coated Retriever (which is on the endangered breed list) is making a comeback and experiencing a boom in popularity in the first half of 2023.

The breed has welcomed 45 puppies so far in 2023 – a five-fold increase from 2022, when only nine puppies were born.

Speaking to MailOnline, Bill Lambert, a spokesman for the Kennel Club, said: “We are pleased that one of our endangered native breeds has seen a surge in popularity this year, suggesting that many puppy buyers have resisted the urge to splurge on the maximum Make obvious and fashionable choices and instead take the time to research the full range of breeds and choose the best fit for their lifestyle.

“We have such a wide variety of different dogs in this country, each with different characteristics, so it is encouraging to see such a historic, yet endangered breed among the breeds enjoying increasing popularity.”

The Kennel Club is now urging potential dog buyers to consider these vulnerable breeds.

“To give these dogs the chance they deserve, it is important that when you are thinking about getting a dog, you consider the lesser-known breeds,” it said.

“There are over 200 recognized dog breeds in the UK, so there is a breed to suit everyone.”

“We find that people tend to select a breed from the pool of breeds they have heard of before, meaning the perfect breed for them and their lifestyle may be overlooked.”