In 2023, the Scottish terrier – a small, compact dog with short legs and a big personality – recorded just 406 puppy births, the lowest number since records began.
The Scottie, as the breed is affectionately known, is iconic in Britain, appearing as the face for Walker's Shortbread and one of the tokens from the board game Monopoly. The breed was also thought to be Queen Victoria’s favourite dog.
In its heyday, from the mid-1930s to the early 1940s, the Scottish terrier was the third most popular breed in Britain, with 5,800 puppies registered in 1947 – a figure more than 10 times greater than today.
But after many years in the limelight, the dog is now facing a worrying future, according The Kennel Club, an organisation devoted to dogs.
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Is it game over for the beloved Scottish terrier?
The 406 puppy births in 2023 mean that, for the second time in their history, the terrier breed has been added to The Kennel Club’s ‘At Watch’ list, which monitors breeds with between 300-450 puppy registrations a year.
Breeds with less than 300 puppy births annually are recorded on the The Kennel Club’s 'Vulnerable Native' breed list, a classification devised to highlight native breeds that are at risk of disappearing from Britain's streets and parks.
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“The Scottish terrier has been such an iconic and recognisable breed in the UK for decades, and means so much to so many different people, so these latest figures are really worrying," says Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club.
“We are lucky to have an amazing 222 breeds of dog in this country, each with unique personalities and characteristics, but the vast majority of dogs that you will meet come from within the top ten breeds alone.
The Scottish terrier was once the third most popular breed in Britain, with 5,800 puppies registered in 1947 – a figure more than 10 times greater than today.
"People often opt for the well-known choices and simply forget to dig a little deeper, with the worrying knock-on effect that not only are some of our most iconic breeds in decline but also that people might not be getting the perfect match for them."
Three other British breeds have entered the ‘At Watch’ list for the first time – the pointer, rough collie and wire fox terrier, while the cairn terrier has also rejoined the list, meaning there are now more breeds classed as ‘At Watch’ and ‘Vulnerable’ than ever before.
“We are lucky to have an amazing 222 breeds of dog in this country, each with unique personalities and characteristics, but the vast majority of dogs that you will meet come from within the top ten breeds alone."
Breeds on the up
Thankfully, there was good news for other British breeds, many of which experienced a rise in popularity in 2023. The English setter increased by 18%, while the Yorkshire terrier and Jack russell terrier (King Charles' and Queen Camilla's favoured breed) were both up 14%.
The breed that saw the most notable rise was the Bernese mountain dog, which saw its numbers increase by nearly a quarter.
Crufts: the importance of the 'world's greatest dog show'
Despite their dwindling numbers, the Scottish terrier has won 'Best in Show' at Crufts dog show twice, most recently in 2015. Both the pointer and rough collie – also on the At Watch’ list – have more than 200 dogs set to compete in Crufts 2024.
Bill Lambert believes that shows like Crufts – which runs from 7-10 March at the NEC in Birmingham – are vital for supporting less popular dog breeds. “The difficulty is, of course, that opportunities to meet less popular breeds of dogs are limited, which is why we have a unique Discover Dogs zone at Crufts, in a few weeks’ time – where visitors can talk to experts and meet any of the 222 breeds, from the most popular to vulnerable breeds, and a huge variety in between, including breeds that are new to the UK’s shores and those that yodel instead of bark.
"We want people to enjoy lifelong relationships with their four-legged friends and urge potential dog owners to do their research, to meet the huge variety of breeds, and to use the information and resources we provide at Crufts and online, to really understand which breed and which breeder is right for them."
Crufts 2024 runs from 7-10 March at the NEC in Birmingham. Over 24,000 dogs and more than 220 breeds will be showcased, from the Labrador to the otterhound. More information and tickets for the event are available at crufts.org.uk.
Discover more information about vulnerable breeds and The Kennel Club’s campaign to save them.