For generations the bloodhound has been a faithful friend. Now, however, it is being pushed to the brink of extinction, by a celebrity-led trend for new crossbreeds.
It is one of a number of traditional breeds fighting for survival as owners opt for toy dogs such as labradoodles and puggles.
New figures for the number of pedigree pups born have alarmed breeders as they show 24 breeds below the benchmark deemed viable for a healthy long-term population.
The Skye and Glen of Imaal terriers, the field spaniel and the smooth collie are among them.
"It all seems to be about fashion," said Julien Barney, of the British and Irish Dog Breeds Preservation Trust. "But the breeds that need help are the rare ones that are just as unusual."
Breeders reckon that a birthrate of 300 puppies a year is needed to guarantee a large gene pool and a long term, healthy population, but 10 breeds had less than 100 puppies in the last year.
The lowest birth rate was among Glen of Imaal terriers, which had 41 puppies, while 51 otterhounds were born.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Archives
-
▼
2008
(70)
-
▼
September
(52)
- Art by Stella Snead
- Honeybees Vanish, Leaving Keepers in Peril
- Five-Legged Lamb Born In Kansas
- Man says dog saved him from black bear
- Not everyone's pets are warm and fuzzy
- A real life Dr Doolittle
- Tourists buy live animals.. to throw to tigers
- Australia rocked by 'lesbian' koala revelation
- Rhapsody in Blue
- Introduction to Bats
- USA Rawhide Retriever Rolls
- comfy cozy puppy
- Kangaroo Desk Organizer
- Kid's Pug Bank
- White Bengal tiger cub
- Raccoon dogs used for fur
- Smooshi and Phil
- Long-captive manatees returned to wild
- Wolf dogs find haven in New Hampshire sanctuary
- Rare Colossal Squid Could Be World's Biggest
- Something to smile about
- Spear-wielding chimps snack on skewered bushbabies
- Extra-special cat has 26 toes
- Letting the Cat out of the Bag
- Pets in America: The Story of Our Lives with Anima...
- Dancing doggies
- Flying Dogs
- Ancient Tree Frog Found Encased in Amber
- Bloodhounds on the trail to extinction
- Wild pigs in Hong Kong pose pesky problem to villa...
- Tasmanian devils face extinction from mutant cancer
- Stumpy
- Video: "Otter Chaos" Reigns in Biologist's Home
- Bug-eyed
- Owner says dog saved her with 'Heimlich'
- "Strange Owl" Seen in Wild for First Time
- Culture vs. Cruelty
- Deadly jellyfish halt Hollywood production
- Cruel beyond belief - China's live animal markets
- Tiger Temple - Thailand
- Woman stopped wearing girdle of live crocodiles
- White lioness
- "Monster" Toad Caught Down Under
- What Happens When You Tickle a Lab Rat?
- Pavlov's Dog
- Animal Amour
- Barking Not Part Of Free Speech, Court Rules
- Mouse Taunts Man, Steals Dentures
- Truffle Retriever dog
- Fairy Princess Costume
- Video: Bugzibitz II
- Visitor waddles in and makes itself at home
-
▼
September
(52)
No comments:
Post a Comment