Vulnerable Dog Breeds UK - do you have one?

[SweetDogEyes]

Hi all,

I was having a read about vulnerable dog breeds in the UK and learned about the Otterhound, which I'd never come across before, but have now practically fallen in love with.

My two don't feature but I wondered if anyone has one of these dogs or another breed and wanted to share pics or experiences?

I'm not sure what makes a breed vulnerable in the first place eg traits, temperaments, fads etc so would be interesting to hear views!

I don’t have one but my friend’s family had an Otterhound when we were in secondary school and he was one of the most lovely dogs I’ve ever met. Such a gentle giant.

Otterhounds are lovely dogs, they were on my short list of potential breeds but I decided I wanted something smaller. I now have a Norwich terrier which is on the vulnerable native breeds list. Apart from at shows I’ve never seen another one. Everyone thinks he’s a cairn or sometimes even a westie!

I do think it’s fads which makes dogs popular. Look how popular daschunds are currently, they didn’t used to be. And there’s no particular reason for them to be popular, they have health problems and seem quite barky. But I agree they’re very cute and am sure have super personalities.

i also think the popularity of doodle or poo type mixes are killing off pedigree breed dogs. Most dogs I see out on walks are cockerpoos, cavapoos, etc.

@NorwichMom whenever I see your boy, I do smile! Such a handsome chap.

OP - as NM says, it’s fads. Some of the most unhealthiest dogs, (Cavs excluded) are some of the most popular I.e Daschunds, Pugs, Frenchies. Lots of the breeds on the list are also perceived to be high maintenance in terms of grooming, so people swerve (then get a dog even higher maintenance).

And people can’t be bothered to wait. I’ve had people come to me asking to go on my wait list and one person even admitted that a Golden was their second choice - they actually wanted a field spaniel but didn’t want to wait years for a litter! For some of the lines more ready to ‘work’ and some of the ‘terrier’ breeds, the sad fact is that actually their purpose is no longer needed in today’s society. So they’re not being bought by the types of people they usually would and then people who wouldn’t have bought them anyway but might have been persuaded because they saw one out and about don’t see them so get something common.

A few years ago English Setters were really rare, but then a few went viral on TikTok (according to DDs) and suddenly they’ve increased in popularity. They’re still vulnerable but that’s more because supply can’t keep up with demand - at least around me. It’s one of my friends who breeds setters pet peeves - they don’t want the breed because of what it can do or it’s personality, or its history, they want it as a status symbol.

I have Goldens and although they’ve never been ‘vulnerable’ there has been an increase the last few years because of their popularity on TikTok. No recognition of the challenges of the breed or the health conditions. Just ‘oh but tucker and Todd are really cute. I’d love a Golden.’

It’s actually really sad. Some of the VNBs are some of the most well rounded, robust, personality stable dog breeds I know. But they’re not ‘sexy’ and don’t have a ‘teddy bear face’ so people don’t want them.

Edits for my abysmal spelling!

I have a Schipperke. Not sure if they're considered vulnerable, but no one's ever heard of them when I mention the breed!

I've got a Bedlington. I don't think that they are vulnerable, but I took 18 months to get mine.
Best decision ever

We looked into a Lancaster healer prioer to ending up with our Basset Hound. LH are such gorgous dogs.

I am sad to see bloodhounds on there and surprised to see cardigan Corgis (another breed I love) will be asking our local park Cardigan Corgi owner if he knew when I next see them on our walk.

My DM has a menagerie of Gordon Setters which are on the list. All mad though

@NorwichMom - What an angel face he has! 😍

@Mydogisagentleman what a precious baby!

It's a real shame about designer mixed breeds. Then, without these fads, you see purebreds becoming popular but the features that made them popular, ie eyes, snouts etc are grossly bred to become extreme features e.g. pugs and their short snouts, which are getting shorter and Frenchies etc.

Similar, I guess, to Persian cats who have beautiful faces but, in some cases, no longer have any semblance of a face!

I hate also that small dogs like Yorkshire terriers and chihuahuas can never be small enough for some people so the 'micro' and 'teacup' phrases are disgustingly used and employed by unethical people.

It's a minefield out there!

So many beautiful British dogs to consider!

That being sad, I don't really think I could ever have enough dogs if I had the space, time and money. I love dogs so much 😍

Those are very cute dogs! A good friend of mine shows affenpinschers. They are also very cute, IMO, but not all agree - ha!

I have an English bull terrier - I don't think they are on the vulnerable list but I never see them!! He's an absolute delight but stubborn as hell 😂

I have an Irish Terrier, he is 9 and when we got him, we very rarely met any other ones but now I do think they are perhaps becoming a bit more common. I think they have a bad rep for not liking other dogs and being hard to train but couldn't be further from the truth in my opinion on my own one and all the ones we have met over the years. They really are such lovely dogs and feels like a 'proper' dog 😍

We have a Lancashire Heeler. She's fantastic. Great with people and other dogs. Good company without being clingy. And gorgeous!

Sadly the KC definition is vulnerable native breeds, so they don't benefit from being highlighted there, but their annual puppy numbers are way lower than nearly anything on the VNB list. They deserve to be a lot more popular but it's really hard to get hold of one.

It's a vulnerable native breeds list.

We had a Finnish Spitz (wonderful dog!)which isn't on the list not being British but very rare and we only had it as it was a next door breeder. Only around 20 to 30 puppies are born in the UK each year. I suppose it's the same situation with dogs on the British list. Very hard to get by.

I have a Kerry Blue Terrier. Often mistaken for a schnauzer or a doodle mix. Just in the last 24 hours we met two other VNB dogs, a Soft Coated Wheaten terrier on our early walk this morning and a Lakeland Terrier last night.
A lot of terriers on the list and they can be hard work. Lots of energy, strong prey drive and quite noisy. I adore my dog but he is not an easy dog even amongst terriers. KBTs are very stubborn and very clever but also incredibly loyal to their people and very affectionate
Here is my gorgeous boy.

I have a show type English springer spaniel. There were only 12 litters registered in the UK last year but I don’t believe they are on the vulnerable list yet. Advocates of the breed are currently pushing for it.

Dogs are classified as vulnerable if there’s less than 300 puppies registered a year.
My cousin has Gordon Setters. They usually have two at a time two years apart and I think they are on their sixth dog now (they are very large and life span is 10/11 years). They require loads of exercise so only suitable for country living. Very expensive in terms of insurance (and food)! I think they pay over £6000 a year on insurance. Not great watch dogs! More like big gallumping boisterous teenagers. And the tails are lethal - nothing precious below table height! She trains them on the moors up north.

I can’t understand why Norwich and Norfolk terriers aren’t more popular. They’re a nice small size, friendly, no health issues, quick to learn, I find them to be quite calm dogs to be honest.

I’ve been poorly the last few days and even though pup is only 8months old he’s been quiet all day after only a ten min morning walk while I’ve been poorly upstairs.

He’s good to be left if I have to go to work, great with other dogs. He’s like a perfect little dog.

I have an otterhound, and can confirm they are the sweetest, most soulful, gentle creatures. I can’t imagine having any other breed now. The main problem is numbers, and being really careful with breeding, as obviously lack of genetic diversity can lead to issues. Which is ironic considering they were originally a mash-up of various hound breeds, with new lines brought in to add different abilities in the field.

My ddog is a Class 1 Knob..are they rare ?
Suspect not !
Our neighbour had a Pharaoh hound. He was stunning..
*the ddog definitely not the neighbour.

Cairn Terriers are becoming an endangered breed

That surprises me too, they’re a happy little terrier - should be more popular. We will lose our native breeds if we’re not careful and be overrun with cockerpoos. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

I hope my little boy can do his bit to help buoy up the numbers when he’s older. I have offered his services. I’m sure he won’t mind 😆. I’m not even doing it to make money for stud fees, just keen to help the breed.

We've had two Norfolk terriers and agree they are almost perfect companions. Love a romp and a long walk but just as happy to lie at your side. But they are quite independent in my view and neither dog of ours was up for a cuddle which might be a factor, although ours were tolerant of being dressed up by the Dgc. We did look for another Norfolk but there were long lists and few breeders, so have been lucky to find a perfect scruffy mixture of border terrier/patterdale terrier - who's off snoozing in the shade somewhere