Are fashionable pooches pushing old favourite dog breeds to extinction?

Some of the country’s best-loved dog breeds could become a rare sight across the UK, new research suggests.

The West Highland terrier, which originated in Scotland, is just one of the breeds showing a significant drop in registrations over the past ten years

Analysis of Kennel Club figures shows registered ownerships of Yorkshire terriers and Siberian huskies have dropped significantly over the past decade, with researchers warning they could disappear completely within the next 20 years if trends continue.

Other pedigree pooches at risk of dying out include the Bichon Frise, the Akita and two which originated in Scotland – West Highland and Cairn terriers, which have fallen by 71 per cent and 68 per cent respectively in 10 years.

Meanwhile, there has been a massive rise in ownership of more exotic breeds.

Concerns have been raised that Cairn terriers and other traditionally popular dogs could disappear if pet owners continue to copy celebrity trend-setters

The French bulldog is enjoying a surge in popularity, with registrations up nearly 1,500-fold. The Lagotto Romagnolo has increased by almost 600 per cent and Kooikerhondje by 364 per cent.

Corgis, the Queen’s favourite, have risen by 174 per cent, but the Labrador continues to occupy the top spot with the most registrations.

It’s thought several factors are behind the trends.

There has been a major rise in the popularity of crossbreeds such as Labradoodles, Cockapoos and Schnoodles, which are not registered and do not show up in the figures.

But A-list dog-owners and celebrity animals are also influencing the public.

However, analysts at marketing firm Blueclaw, which carried out the study, warn that some fashionable breeds may not make the best pets.

Matthew Sweeting, researchers at Blueclaw, said: “It’s easy to think of well-known breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier and Siberian Husky as staples in the UK, but they’re at a very real risk of extinction if dog owners continue to choose their pets based on their perceived popularity online, rather than considering alternative breeds.”