Endangered Dog Breeds

Twenty eight of the 63 recognized British and Irish breeds have fewer than 300 annual registrations. In the US, 20% of the breeds recognized by the AKC had less than 200 registrations in 2006 and 14 breeds registered fewer than 100 individuals in that year.

The UK Native Dog Breed trust defines as 'endangered' all dog breeds that produce fewer than 300 puppies per year. Similarly, the Kennel Club's Vulnerable Native Breeds Group is striving gently to remind the novelty-seeking British public that home breeds are just as lovable as an 'exotic' or designer breed.

Most of the vulnerable breeds are working dogs, either vermin-controlling (terriers) or guard dogs, hunting hounds, and gun dogs. They are relics of a not so distant past and as such should be protected, much in the same way as we treasure old monuments and documents, even if they do no longer exercise they primary function they were developed for or can not compete on the same foot as the newer, more fashionable breeds.

Clearly, not only numbers but also health and quality of the breed may be at risk. So, efforts should go not merely in the direction of increasing the number of litters, but also in spending a more time and energy trying to improve the health of these breeds. Unfortunately, this is true not only for the breeds listed here, but for many other dog breeds, as well.

Note that not all endangered breeds associations pursue exactly the same goal. The Endangered Dog Breeds Association of Australia provides information about the ineffectiveness of banning dog breeds in Australia under the motto "punish the deed, not the breed".

British and Irish breeds

Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Glen of Imaal terrier
Irish Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Manchester Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Skye Terrier
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Clumber Spaniel
Curly Coated Retriever
Field Spaniel
Gordon Setter
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)
King Charles Spaniel
Cardigan Corgi
Lancashire Heeler
Smooth Collie
Bloodhound
Deerhound
Greyhound
Otterhound

Other endangered AKC breeds

Harrier
Komondor
Canaan Dog
Pharaoh Hound

Other breeds

Aidi
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
Broholmer
Carolina dog
Dingo
Dinka Greyhound
New Guinea Singing Dog
Tibetan Mastiff

See also:
British dog breeds
Terriers
Primitive breeds
Tibetan Mastiff
Rare breeds
New breeds or Dog breeds under development

External links:
Native Dog Breeds Trust
Disgraced Cloner Reports Success With Tibetan Dog Breed