GONE TO THE DOGS?
While our traditional Scottish canine breeds are parading abroad, they are hitting the endangered breeds lists here, and it’s high time we did something about it
Action is needed now to save our much-loved Scottish dog breeds before they disappear forever
My nanny had a cairn terrier when I was growing up. She was a lovely wee beastie. Our town in the Borders was filled with Scottish dogs. West Highland terriers, Border terriers, Scottish terriers and, typical of any farming community, a veritable herd of Border collies.
Take a stroll around your local park this weekend and you’d be hard pushed to get a glimpse of one of these traditional Scottish dog breeds. And that’s because they’ve been usurped by a new breed of pet. The pug. It’s everywhere. Not only is it snuffling around our high streets with its squashed up little nose, but it adorns the t-shirts of young girls and has even wormed its way into my home via the medium of cushions and a duvet cover which grace my seven-yearold daughter’s bed. And if it’s not pugs then it’s French bulldogs.
Enough already. It’s time to look to our Amer-
Above: The Tartan Day Parade, New York Right: The Scottish Terrier, popularly known as the Scottie
ican cousins for some sanity (yes, really). The Tartan Day Parade in New York City sees a pack of gorgeous Scotties and Westies, resplendent in their tartan Barbour jackets, march up Sixth Avenue alongside thousands of pipers, dancers, bands and clan members. These dogs are flying the flag for Scotland, taking pride of place amongst the diaspora, while here in their homeland they are literally a dying breed.
And sadly they’re not alone. There are currently four Scottish breeds on the Kennel Club’s list of native British and Irish breeds that have 300 or fewer registrations with the Kennel Club each year; the Skye Terrier (28 registered in 2016), Smooth Collie (89 registered in 2016), Dandie Dinmont Terrier (91 registered in 2016) and Scottish Deerhound (209 registered in 2016) all make the club’s list of vulnerable breeds.
David Robson from The Kennel Club says: ‘All are wonderful breeds but many people just
do not know about them, which is a shame because they could make the perfect family pet for those looking to get a dog. Whenever there is a big shift in breed popularity and certain breeds become flavour of the month, this is often at the expense of other breeds which tend to get overlooked.’
Who would ever have dreamed that the Skye terrier, the breed made legendary by Scotland’s most famous dog, Greyfriars Bobby, would be this close to dying out in its home country? Has there ever been a greater advert for the loyalty and tenacity of a breed than the story of the brave little dog who refused to leave his master’s grave for 14 years and is now remembered in the form of a bronze statue in the heart of the capital’s Old Town?
According to Kennel Club figures, West Highland White Terrier numbers are down almost a third on ten years ago – 8,309 in 2007, as opposed to 2,414 in 2016. The Westie dropped out of the top ten breeds list in 2012 and is now our 18th most popular breed. On the flipside, the popularity of French bulldogs has shot up in recent years, with a 47 per cent increase from 2015 to 2016 alone, a 368 per cent increase in the past five years and a staggering 3,104 per cent increase over the last ten years. If this trend continues, the Kennel Club forecasts that the French bulldog could be the most popular dog breed in the UK, overtaking the labrador by the end of 2018.
The popularity of pugs and French bulldogs is not just a concern for other breeds, but also for the dogs themselves. ‘The French Bulldog is a favourite with celebrities, who may flaunt them on their Instagram and Twitter accounts for people to coo over,’ explains Dave Robson of The Kennel Club.
‘While it’s normal to want to show off your dog, when celebrities do it, it may result in a surge in the popularity of certain breeds, which is not a good thing as it opens the doors to unscrupulous breeders who see it as an opportunity to breed lots of them without due care to health and welfare. French bulldogs can be bred with exaggerated features, including extremely flat faces, which can cause health issues – many of which, owners are not aware of before they buy, which can sadly result in the emotional stress of having a sickly dog and high veterinary bills. This highlights how crucial is it for anyone intent on owning a French bulldog to go to a responsible breeder, such as a Kennel Club Assured Breeder. So what can we do to prevent a canine catastrophe and ensure that our formerly muchloved Scottish dogs don’t all go the way of the Paisley Terrier, a popular pet and show dog in the 19th century that began to die out in the late 1800s and is now extinct? It seems that the best way to save our Scottish dogs is to bring them back into the public eye. We need to organise a big Scottish Dog Walk. Let’s fill Holyrood Park in Edinburgh with native dog breeds as a celebration of our furry friends, or have a gathering of the Scottish dog clans at some of the country’s shows and game fairs that are held up and down the land. And we need to give these dogs a presence on the high street. We need a fashion and homeware brand to champion the cuteness of our very own dogs. After all, what self-respecting Scottish laddie or lassie could resist the lure of a t-shirt adorned with the glorious image of a Westie’s furry little fizzog? Not only will a resurgence of interest in our native breeds ensure their existence as fantastic family pets for future generations, but it might just help breeds like the pug and French bulldog. By stemming the demand for their puppies we can shut down the backyard breeders who have little concern for the dog’s wellbeing and are just concerned with making a quick buck. An internet search for French bulldog puppies brings up listing after listing of dogs and the prices, ranging from £1,000 to £5,000, certainly reflect current demand. If you really can’t resist the lure of these admittedly cute little dogs, then please ensure you find a reputable breeder through the Kennel Club. But I’m quite sure they would be equally delighted to guide you in the direction of a breeder who can provide you with a loyal, sweet and friendly Scottish dog that will help to preserve our country’s canine heritage and, better still, become a much-loved pet.
‘The Kennel Club forecasts that the French bulldog could be the most popular dog breed in the UK, overtaking the labrador by the end of 2018’