Bounding back into pet lovers' homes... the endangered 'Dougal' dog rarer than a panda
- 11 Skye puppies registered with Kennel Club this year, up 10 from last year
- Fewer than 400 in Britain of endangered dog, only 3,000 in the world
- 300 a year need to be born to save dog that inspired Magic Roundabout
The Skye terrier, one of Britain’s most endangered dogs and rarer than the wild panda, is bounding back with a mini breeding boom.
In the first three months of the year 11 Skye puppies were registered with the Kennel Club, compared with one in the same period last year.
But there are now little more than 3,000 of the breed in the world and fewer than 400 in Britain.
Top dog: The classic Skye terrier - one of 11 registered with the Kennel Club in this year's first three months
Inspiration: It is believed Skye terriers were the inspiration for Dougal (centre) in The Magic Roundabout
Experts claim about 300 a year need to be born to save the breed from extinction.
Meanwhile the total number of wild pandas is 4,000 worldwide.
Skye terrier lovers believe children’s TV character Dougal in the The Magic Roundabout was a drop-eared example of the pet.
The dog’s revival is being credited to the triumph at Crufts last year of Lampard, a prick-eared specimen which appeared in the Best In Show final seven.
Lampard’s owner Sue Breeze, from Swadlincote, Derbyshire, said: ‘The latest figures from the Kennel Club show we are succeeding in making the breed more popular.’
Under threat: The Kennel Club hopes the Skye terrier's rise in popularity will encourage dog lovers to take an interest in other endangered native breeds such as the Cardigan Welsh corgi
English Setters are also endangered, the Club warned, with fewer than 300 registered in Britain
She hoped more people would consider a Skye terrier as a pet.
She said: ‘A puppy costs about £650 and when you think people are paying over £1,000 for designer dogs they are reasonably priced.’
The Skye terrier is one of the oldest native breeds, dating to the 14th Century.
It is generally accepted the breed originated with a local terrier mating with dogs which survived the sinking of a man-of-war from the Spanish Armada.
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier, written about by Sir Walter Scott, is now one of the nation's rarest dogs
The best-known Skye terrier is Greyfriars Bobby, famous in 19th Century Edinburgh for supposedly spending 14 years guarding the grave of his police constable master, John Gray.
Mary Queen of Scots is reputed to have hidden one under her skirt when she was beheaded.
The Kennel Club is delighted with the terrier’s rise in popularity and hopes it will encourage dog lovers to take an interest in other endangered native breeds such as the Cardigan Welsh corgi, the Dandie Dinmont terrier and the English setter.
A spokesman said: ‘While this is positive news for a vulnerable breed we’ve noticed that foreign breeds and small handbag dogs popularised by celebrities are gaining in popularity.’
Most watched News videos
- Two heart-stopping stormchaser near-misses during tornado chaos
- Police arrive in numbers to remove protesters surrounding migrant bus
- Horror as sword-wielding man goes on rampage in east London
- Shocked eyewitness describes moment Hainault attacker stabbed victim
- Moment first illegal migrants set to be sent to Rwanda detained
- Hainault: Tributes including teddy and sign 'RIP Little Angel'
- Terrifying moment Turkish knifeman attacks Israeli soldiers
- Moment van crashes into passerby before sword rampage in Hainault
- Protesters slash bus tyre to stop migrant removal from London hotel
- Moment first illegal migrants set to be sent to Rwanda detained
- Manchester's Co-op Live arena cancels ANOTHER gig while fans queue
- Police officers taser and detain sword-wielding man in Hainault
