UK dogs facing survival crisis

LONDON: It seems that British dogs will have to wait for their day. The canines are gradually becoming an endangered species in the United Kingdom -- thanks to the demand for pampered foreign pooches owned by celebrities.

According to top breeders, the once-popular breeds like spaniels, setters and corgis are nearing extinction as many owners now prefer the handbag-sized 'toy dogs' carried by stars such as Paris Hilton or Britney Spears.

"Celebrities seem to have a huge impact on which breeds are deemed popular each year," reports a spokesman for The Kennel Club.

The Club, which has complied a list of the breeds, notes with less than 300 puppies a year being registered -- numbers so low -- that there is a real danger of their extinction in the United Kingdom.

In 2007, it included varieties such as the bloodhound, of which only 100 puppies were registered. In addition, there were only 48 show greyhounds registered and just 68 Cardigan corgis, the breed closely related to the Pembrokeshire corgis owned by the Queen.

Racing greyhounds are registered separately with the National Greyhound Racing Club. Not all British breeds are doing so badly -- the bulldog now has 4,000 registrations a year because it is considered a trendy animal to own.

But other breeds with a long British history are so obscure that few people have heard of them, such as the glen of imaal terrier, of which only 36 puppies were registered last year.

Others already on the list include the skye terrier and otterhound, while the fox terrier is slipping dangerously close to the "vulnerable" category, according to the Club.