Otterhounded out: Britain’s rare breed near extinction
OTTERHOUNDS are fast heading to the verge of extinction, the Kennel Club has warned, as it urged owners to consider choosing the endangered British breed over dogs such as labradors.
New fears have surfaced over the heritage breed’s future after it emerged just seven puppies were registered last year, a fall from 44 in 2019, and the first time it has recorded a single digit figure.
Otterhounds, which grow to about the same size as a labrador, can trace their demise back to 1978 when hunting otters was banned. There are about 300 in Britain and fewer than 1,000 in total left in the world. This compares with 2,000 giant pandas and 17,000 white rhinos.
Bill Lambert, head of health and welfare at the Kennel Club, said otterhounds should be considered as an alternative to labradors when people are thinking about what dog to get.
“There is concern that the otterhound could become extinct,” he said. “We no longer hunt otters and so they are now being bred as companion dogs. They are a large breed and so they have limited appeal. But in the right environment they make great dogs.
“People may be thinking of choosing a labrador because they are simply more popular, when in actual fact an otterhound may suit their lifestyle better.”
A number of other heritage pure breeds may also be under threat. These include the Skye terrier, of which only 27 puppies were registered in 2020, and the Dandie Dinmont terrier, which saw 87 new arrivals last year.
Experts say these breeds are being forgotten and are rarely seen anymore, whereas popular mixes such as Cavapoos (a poodle and Cavalier King
‘They aren’t glamorous, so people don’t want them. They have a grim future — very grim indeed’
Charles spaniel mix) and Cockapoos (poodle and Cocker spaniel) can demand prices of up to £5,000.
Otterhound breeder and former Crufts winner Maria Lerego, from Ledbury in Herefordshire, said: “The breed is at serious risk and they have a grim future. Very grim indeed.
“They have never really become popular or captured the imagination and because they aren’t glamorous people don’t want them. Yet they make excellent pets. They are very sociable, intelligent and have very easy going characters.”