Broadcast on the BBC 1 Country File show on Sunday 24th February at 11am was this piece on “rare” British and Irish breeds of dog, all of which are officially listed by the UK Kennel Club as “Vulnerable” because of their very low numbers. For example did you know that in 2007 there were just 36 Glen of Imaal Terriers born in the UK? Or just 37 Skye Terriers, a breed made famous by Greyfriars Bobby? Or just 41 Otterhounds, a breed which came over with William the Conquer and is one of our most ancient breeds? In all 15 of our rarest breeds were assembled for the BBC to film and these breeds were: (2007 Puppy totals in Brackets) Glen of Imaal Terrier (36) Skye Terrier (37) Otterhound (41) Sussex Spaniel (61) Smooth Collie (63) Sealyham Terrier (65) Field Spaniel (67) Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)(68) Irish Red & White Setter (93) Manchester Terrier (113) Dandie Dinmont Terrier (124) Norwich Terrier (128) Lancashire Heeler (146) Irish Water Spaniel (162) Clumber Spaniel (223) To put these numbers in perspective, in 2007 the Kennel Club registered over 45000 Labradors! The Countryfile program set out to highlight the plight these breeds find them selves in. The item was filmed at Cotswold Farm Park, near Cheltenham on Tuesday 12th February 2008 on a beautiful sunny winter’s day and as the farm is famed for its many rare breeds of livestock it was the perfect venue. The BBC presenter for the item is Miriam O’Reilly, whose credits include Farming Today, Costing the Earth, File on 4 …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Selective Dog Breeding Aims and Background
Selective dog breeding aims to progressively improve upon the features of a dog breed. It is the other side of the coin to some irresponsible breeders, who reportedly keep them in small cages for long periods without exercise, love, or human contact. No matter how experinced a dog owner is the excessively caged animal will always tend to develop undesirable behaviors and may bark excessively. He may even become destructive and unsociable.
Selective dog breeding has been practised over millenia since early human development, and it has provided the huge range of dog breeds that exist today.
It is thought that selective breeding was begun when humans came across an abandoned wolf cub and took it with them. As this wolf grew older it would become less fearful of humans and therefore be semi-tamed. Humans maintained a population of useful animals around their homes since pre-historic times . They intentionally fed useful dogs, while killing wild dogs, establishing the relationships between humans and specific types of dogs over thousands of years.
That created the pedigree dog breeds which are well known today. It is important that al breeders breed selectively and choose their male and famail dogs for breeding carefully.
Studying pedigrees and visiting kennels is the best way to select the most compatible stud, and this can consume weeks or even months of a breeders time. And because the onset of a bitch\’s season can\’t be predetermined exactly, a short-notice trip to the stud will probably be necessary, making proper choice of mates very difficult. Stud owners and owners of the bitch certify the mating to the stud-book or the club. Stud-book and club cannot determine if the named stud has mated the named bitch, also not if the bitch of a breeder (knowingly or not) has been bred by several studs (also out of other breeds) in one season. A lot depends on trust amonst breeders in the dog breeders world.
Mutations can prevent proper development and maturation. Even though particular traits might seem like they are novel, in such cases it is really a loss of information since the animal has stunted development in one trait. Mutations occur spontaneously all the time. Environmental pressure can drive what mutations are favored, but mutations are not caused only by the environment.
Generally selection also loses out because most people just take the first available stud or the cheapest to breed with their female. Not doing extensive research on the medical history of the other dog can cause medical problems that become genetic in that breed. Generally Wolf-Dog is very common figure of Caucasian peoples tradition and legends and is very old in this region (actually it comes from Hittites period). But legend is not to be mixed with reality – it is absolutely evident that Nagazis have not any relation with wolfs. Generally, the wider the variation in the parents, the wider the potential for variation in the litter.
Genes do not act singularily and in isolation. The effect of an allele in the phenotype is as much a property of its genetic enviroment (and for that matter the \’traditional\’ enviroment) as the protein it codes for (look into additive gene effect).
Inbreeding brings out recessive genes in the homozygous condition. Genes that are “homozygous” are genes that have no opposing gene in a sense – in other words, the dog will carry this trait and no other version of the trait. Inbreeding can also lead to a bitch\’s decreased fertility or her giving birth to smaller litters. Inbreeding is the breeding of close relatives not separated by more than one generation, i.e, brother to sister, father to daughter. This method is used to concentrate good qualities in the line but may also concentrate bad qualities.
Hip problems with different dog breeds should be identified at an early stage. If you think that smaller dogs are safe from joint problems, you\’re wrong. Hip dysplasia is a potentially crippling malady that affects many breeds. Eye, heart and skin problems negatively impact many breeds.
Breeders consider a mixed breed a horrible thing. There\’s huge pride in the dog\’s lineage, its pedigree, as if breeders were talking about their own family trees, as if they\’re descended from aristocracy. Breeders could not escape their responsibility without all the kind “rehomers and rescuers” who take that responsibility for them. The breeders of unclaimed dogs in pounds could be fined, making the breeder responsible, if all pups had to be micochipped. Breeders who sell cheap puppies. It takes a lot of funds and other resources in order to raise healthy puppies.
Steve Evans recommends that for high quality dog breeds articles and information you visit the web page for Dog Articles List right now! Another great read is the Doggy and Puppies News blog.
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Question by Philippa C: What are some dog breeds that get along with cats and rabbits?
I have 2 cats and 2 rabbits and am really hoping to get a dog. Can anyone suggest any dog breeds that may or may not get along with my other pets? Or possibly how I can train the dog to not attack or bother the cats and rabbits? Thanks guys.
Best answer:
Answer by Alexa:
if you want a small dog: maltese.
a larger dog: collie.
What do you think? Answer below!
(out of 7 reviews)
They are beautiful dogs.
They are beautiful dogs.
Hope you enjoy him – do go to Obedience classes and try Heelwork to Music too.These ar great little dogs -see mine on M.T. dancing!
I’ve just watched the one on tonight 7/02/2010 about them putting spiders into other caves and there was this acoustic music in the background anyone know who it’s by?
Awesome! Love supporting our vulnerable breeds
049 is a smooth collie
They are perfect!
I have grown up around Irish Water Spaniels and they have amazing personalities…they are surely the clowns of the spaniels
Looks like an Ibizian Hound to me.
Otterhounds are one of the most ancient of breeds, you can trace back their origins over one thousand years. Perhaps that also have primitive eating and drinking habits too!
Wonderful Breed – enjoy!
We have an otter hound. Be warned there realy messy eaters and drinkers.
we just bought a manchester terrier and he cost 400 pounds.
Hi Paul
The time is 049/50 – I’d like to know what the brown dog standing up with head pointing left is – dog has a white neck and brown body.
Thanks
Susan
Hi there,
can you give me the time into the clip so that I can check it out for you.
Thanks for looking!
Paul Keevil
What is the dog that is brown with white neck and white front legs standing next to the grey dog with white neck. She looks like the same breed as my dog – I’d love to know what breed it is as she loves water and running.
Irish Red and White Setters aren’t just superb hunting dogs, they make fantastic family pets too, if you give them enough excercise (which is a lot, preferably off the leash). Their wide emotional range make them seem more human than any other dog breed I know.
I own two glen of imaal terriers love em to bits think the goin price is about 800 at the mo.
We have an Irish Red and White Setter; they have been accepted by AKC as of Jan1, 2009, so that will probably increase their exposure here in America. Our pup came from a litter of 14; his breeders are very dedicated to the breed and have a few from Ireland.Best hunting dog I have ever known!!
This is just not true. I arranged for all the dogs to attend and at no time was I asked about the cost of a puppy. For example puppies from Sealyhams and Skye Terriers, 2 of our rarest breeds cost about £450. It is a great shame because this one throw away comment has spoilt an otherwise excellent bit of promotion for these good old fashioned traditional British Breeds, whose numbers continue to decline. Thanks for bringing this matter up, I am happy to clarify.
Paul K
Why may i ask will we have to pay “£1000 ” a puppy. It certainly doesnt cost anything near that to rear a puppy.Are they pricing themselves out of the market in a twisted atempt to keep the breeds exclusive”. If so the breeders themselves are not helping !
I have a Glen of Imaal terrier, :)
She is just like how they described them, She looks like a teddy as well XD
Second idea, promotion is the way forward. For anyone who wishes to find out more about any breed, a reminder that Crufts is coming up in early March, where the DISCOVER DOGS hall will feature every breed there is, with many helpful owners on hand to answer questions and give genuine information
The main problem, with the first suggestion, Carolina, is that a reputable breeder should not even CONSIDER a proposed breeding unless he/she has a reasonable amount of forward interest in puppies first.If the enquiries for the breed are not there to begin with, it would be irresponsible to go ahead with a mating then worry about unsold pups later.
Thanks for sharing this with us Paul, I never saw the episode and nice to see this clip. I have favourited and 5 starred this.
Andy
What a fantastic thing you are doing championing rare breeds. I have a norwich which is endagered and a norfolk which is more popular. But i love all terriers especially the more unusually seen ones. I would also love a dandie but my house isnt big enough. Thanks for posting this as i missed it first time round.
Review by for The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs (Dog Breeds & Dog Care)
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Well done. Everyone has their own opinion on temperment and I do disagree on some of the Author’s comments. Overall it s a nice book with great pictures.
Review by for The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs (Dog Breeds & Dog Care)
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I founda lot of information in the book. I read it about everynight after homework. I am still choosing the right dog for me and my kid sister.
Review by Mrs. H for The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs (Dog Breeds & Dog Care)
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The deadly suggestion is found on page 31 in the feeding & nutrition section. On that page is a photo of chocolate candy pieces with the caption, “Very nearly every dog loves chocolate”. It’s now known that chocolate can be toxic, as in fatally toxic, to dogs. Not much chocolate needs to be ingested, either.
If one removes that great, big error from the book, the rest is rather good. The book provides at least one color photo of each breed described, with well-organized, brief information. Each breed’s section includes a small, yellow “breed box” (text box) that covers the areas of size, grooming needs, exercise needs, feeding and temperament, almost in bullet point form. Each breed is also described in several text paragraphs.
My family found this book to be a great place to start in looking for a new dog. We, in fact, discovered a rare breed that we liked very much through this book and did purchase a dog of the same breed for our family. Our little dog has turned out to be just like the book described.
It’s a good coffee table book and basic reference tool for looking up dog breeds.
Review by R. McRae for The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs (Dog Breeds & Dog Care)
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Not quite the “Ultimate Encyclopedia” one would expect from the title. I’ve read several other guides to dogs that cover each breed much more thoroughly. But still handy for quick and concise reference. Better suited for dog care as a whole, than individual breed info which is quite limited.
Review by Jonathan I. Porter for The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs (Dog Breeds & Dog Care)
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I have spent hours flipping through this book and I always find something new. My dog was a stray living on the city streets. She had been abused by her previous owner and I like to think that she escaped from them. I have had her for 3 years and she is amazing. My family adopts all of our dogs from stray rescue organizations. I would never buy a pure breed knowing how awesome adopted mutts are. This book has been a great resource for finding out the likely breed combinations of our mutts. I cannot compare it to other books as this is the only one I am familiar with. If you are thinking about getting a dog, get a mutt. You will be saving a life! I have saved many dogs that I have found running across streets and puppies left in parking lots. Full breed dogs will always find a home. Puppies will always find a home. Don’t worry about them. Save a mutt :) they will be gracious and loving. It’s like they know that you saved them.
My little Bichon Frisa gets along great with my other dog (poodle) and cat. He is so laid back I think he would get along with any small animal.
Get a dog that has not been bred to hunt. I would not let any dog be unsupervised with a bunny ever. As for the cat, as long as you get the dog when it’s a puppy it will be fine, it’s the cats you should worry about. My dog is terrified of one of my cats because he picked on her when she was a puppy. Make sure that the dogs, cats, and bunnies have their own space. We’ve gated off our kitchen and family room so our dog can’t get upstairs.
Any dog, no matter what breed, can get along with other animals (no matter what species)
I have a borzoi (russian wolfhound) and they are one of the top dogs that people say shouldn’t be trusted around cats due to the fact that they were bred to hunt. I also have a cat. He never bothers her at all. He respects her a lot and gives her her space.
No matter what kind of breed of dog you get never leave them alone. My friend had a Lab and a rabbit; They were the best of friends. They even slept together and would spend hours outside together. One day she came home and there was blood all over the house and one sad bunny :[. I don’t mean to scare you but I’m just warning you. If you are going to watch them get a highly trainable,friendly, non-hunting dog.