The return of Greyfriars Bobby...
Perfect for city life and smaller homes, Skye terriers enjoy boom in popularity
ONLY five years ago it appeared to be destined for the kennels of history.
But one of Scotland’s oldest native dog breeds is making a comeback – and numbers are booming.
The popularity of the Skye terrier – immortalised for its loyalty in the story of Greyfriars Bobby – is growing, with the number of pups registered now at a 12-year high, Kennel Club figures show.
It comes amid a general decline in Scottish dogs in favour of flat-faced breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs.
Among the most endangered pedigrees are the West Highland white terrier, Scottish terrier and the Gordon setter.
Scottish dogs, including bearded collies, make up four out of the ten breeds which have declined the most in popularity this year compared with 2015.
Kennel Club spokesman Bill lambert said: ‘Small dogs from across the continent have certainly seen a significant rise in popularity in Scotland, whereas the likes of the native bearded collie and Gordon setter have declined.
‘This can be down to a variety of reasons, such as celebrity ownership or advertisers using breeds in film and television and raising their profile, while others are forgotten due to their absence in popular culture.
‘Small dogs also seem to be coming out on top as the trend towards smaller homes and city living grows, while many people find that they don’t have the space or time for a dog at all due to hectic modern lifestyles and small flats.
‘This could play a part in the decline of more unusual breeds which are already vulnerable and at risk of disappearing, as it seems those who can commit to a dog tend to choose those breeds that are already popular, often without considering if it’s the most suitable breed for them.’ The Skye terrier’s popularity peaked in Scotland in 2007, with 29 puppies registered. But numbers dropped to ‘endangered’ levels in 2017, with only three pups on official registers. The breed bounced back up this year, to 27. There has also been a rise across the UK, from 17 registrations in 2013 to 67 this year. Yet the Skye terrier remains on the Kennel Club’s ‘most vulnerable list’. Mr lambert said: ‘While we would not want to see a popularity explosion, with people buying dogs that are a bad fit for their lifestyle, this steady rise helps to keep the number of dogs in the breed at a sustainable level.
‘At one time the Skye terrier was the dog of choice for thousands, including Queen Victoria and Mary Queen of Scots.’
According to the Kennel Club, the breed with the biggest decline in numbers was the bichon frise, down 67 per cent; lhasa apsos, down 63 per cent; boxers, by 49 per cent; and dalmatians, down 43 per cent.
But Scottish breeds make up a higher proportion of the tenstrong list of pedigrees that are most in decline than dogs of any other country, with Westies down 51 per cent, cairn terriers 50 per cent, Scotties 49 per cent and Gordon setters 45 per cent.
The labrador retriever, first bred in the Borders, remains the most popular dog in Scotland, holding on to the top position for the past four years.