Sheepdog and English Setter dogs removed from Kennel Club 'vulnerable breeds list

Designer dog breeds have seen a huge surge in popularity in the last few years – with cockapoos becoming one of the most coveted canines and nearly trebling in price in 2021.  

But now seems that Britons looking to find a four-legged friend have started considering less ‘trendy’ options, with many turning back to more traditional British and Irish breeds.

Among the breeds rising in popularity is the Old English sheepdog, with the Kennel Club revealing it has been removed from the list of vulnerable native breeds following an increase in puppy registrations. 

A total of 22 vulnerable native breeds saw a boost over the last year, with miniature bull terriers, English setters and Clumber spaniels leading the way for popular British and Irish pooches. 

However, some varieties have seen their numbers plunge even further, such as the Sussex spaniel, with registrations falling by almost a third, while the same goes for the field spaniel. 

The Kennel Club revealed the Old English sheepdog has been removed from their list of vulnerable dogs, with 150 puppy registrations in 2021 (stock image)

The English setter, which reached a record low in 2020, saw its popularity more than double in 2021 with 153 puppy registrations (stock image)

One of Britain’s most recognisable breeds, the Old English Sheepdog has been on the organisation’s ‘watch list’ since 2009, and in 2020 fell into the vulnerable category for the first time.  

But following an increase of 66 per cent in puppy registrations – with 150 puppy in 2021 – the breed known to many as the ‘Dulux dog’ seems to be on the up again. 

Native breeds saw an overall increase of 44 per cent in 2021, which is higher than the national average and suggests puppy buyers are starting to look beyond the popular and well-known choices when choosing a breed.

Eleven breeds that were classed as ‘vulnerable’ in 2020 saw a surge in registrations which exceeded the national average – including the Skye Terrier, which nearly tripled its numbers. 

Among the breeds which saw a rise in popularity was the miniature bull terrier, which saw 179 new puppy registrations in 2021 (stock image)

The Irish water spaniel saw an increase in popularity, with 116 new puppy registrations in 2021 following 57 in 2020 (stock image)

The English setter, which reached a record low in 2020, saw its popularity more than double with 153 puppy registrations while the miniature bull terrier saw 179 new puppy registrations.    

Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club said: ‘We are delighted to see that so many of our vulnerable native breeds saw a boost in popularity over the past year, indicating that many puppy buyers were resisting the urge to go for the most obvious and fashionable choices and instead using lockdown to properly research the full range of breeds and select the best fit for their lifestyle. 

‘We have such a wide variety of pedigree breeds in this country, each with completely different characteristics, so it is encouraging to see so much diversity amongst those that are increasing in popularity, from the large English Setter to the small Skye Terrier, and of course the iconic Old English Sheepdog.

‘However, despite the positive signs, we know that too many people still buy a puppy on impulse or with minimal research, with too many dogs sadly abandoned because their owner didn’t understand what ownership of that breed would entail and many breeds still sadly at risk of being forgotten.