Rarest dog breeds in the UK

Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog

Bo, the fluffy new member of the Whitehouse family has officially settled into his presidential pooch quarters. However what many of us may not know is that Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog, and a fairly rare breed at that.

Underneath all those soft black curls lies a strong swimmer with the ability to dive underwater. Dogs like Bo were a fisherman’s best buddy and would be taken out on fishing boats to assist and retrieve any tackle that fell over-board or rescue men that were washed out to sea.

Whilst only some of us may have come across a Portuguese Water Dog, there are many other dogs out there we rarely hear about. For example the Glen of Imaal Terrier claims to be the rarest breed of domesticated dog in the world. There are only about 35 registered in the U.K. In fact, there are now more giant pandas in the world than this Irish-bred canine.

Whilst only some of us may have come across a Portuguese Water Dog, there are many other dogs out there we rarely hear about. For example the Glen of Imaal Terrier claims to be the rarest breed of domesticated dog in the world. There are only about 35 registered in the U.K. In fact, there are now more giant pandas in the world than this Irish-bred canine.

The Kennel Club have published a list of what they call ‘most vulnerable breeds’ in other words dogs which are of British origin and considered to be declining in numbers and whose status has diminished over a number of years.

Here is a list of the top five rarest native breeds (recorded in 2005).

Skye Terrier

5. Skye Terrier - Skyes can be active dogs or couch potatoes. They will take all the exercise you can give them or they are just as happy curled up on your lap. They make loyal companions and good family pets. There were only 30 Skye Terriers recorded in the UK in 2005. Here is more about active dogs.

Welsh Corgi

4. Welsh Corgi – There are two types of Corgi Cardigan and Pembroke. Both are among the healthiest and longest-lived dogs in the Herding Group. Queen Elizabeth keeps five Corgis and four Dorgis (Corgi/Dachshund cross) in the Royal household. A group of star corgis were named "Best Historical Hounds" and "Best in World" at awards at the BFI Southbank in 2007. There are only 77 Corgis in the UK.

Greyhound

3. Greyhounds – This dog was originally used to hunt and later used as a racer! Many greyhounds have become great pets and show dogs. Because of their fast legs, Greyhounds have been subject to a life as race slaves and many are left without a loving home after their life as a dog racer has ended. Read more about this on the PETA blog.

Sealyman Terrier

2. Sealyham Terrier – The Sealyham was once one of the more popular terriers and one of the best known Welsh breeds. Today it’s listed as one of the most endangered breeds. Much to everyone’s amazement, Efbe's Hidalgo at Goodspice the Sealyman Terrier, still managed to scoop Best In Show at Crufts in 2009.

Sussex Spaniel

1. Sussex Spaniel – These active and energetic dogs make the best working breeds and are used for field work and hunting. The Sussex originates from the county of the same name in southeast England, where it was bred to be a companion and field worker for a hunter seeking small game. With its short legs, the dog is perfectly shaped to explore the underbrush, to either flush out or retrieve game. Watch news about a Sussex that recently won a Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

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Canine Robinson Crusoes

This week’s story about Australian cattle dog, Sophie, is most definitely the ultimate feel good story for the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Sophie was a castaway for 4 months on a remote island in Australia before she was found by rangers who reunited her with her owners. Read the full story here.

This dog’s saving grace was down the fact that she loved and knew how to swim very well. The super pooch swam in up to six miles of shark infested waters before landing on the island where she fed off goats to stay alive.

But the burning question is, can all dogs swim? Milo for instance hates bath times and like him some dogs are genuinely afraid of the water, so don’t assume that your dog will naturally be able to swim.

The good news is instinctively all dogs have the ability to swim when and if they need to, but some are much better at it than others. This comes down to a dog’s body shape and physical ability. How much your dog enjoys contact with water is another matter and depends on his or her confidence.

The risks for canine swimmers are the same as for humans: deep, freezing waters or fast-flowing rivers and high banks can easily pose a danger. Even if your dog is an excellent swimmer whatever you do don’t leave him/her unsupervised when they are having a paddle.

Here are some swimmingly fantastic stories and tipsters for you:

Baywatch buster - Bilbo the Newfoundland has been patrolling the beaches of Cornwall for years. He has a track record for diving into the foaming depths, warding off swimmers on rough days and showing bathers they should only swim between the safety flags. Read more about the Baywatch dog that puts Pamela Anderson and the Hoffman to shame here.

Lucky pooch - A Cairn terrier with a phobia for water nearly drowned in the freezing North Sea. The lucky pooch escaped thanks to two fishermen who spotted the furry mutt and pulled him from the sea. Freddie had become confused by the fog while walking with his owner Jean and ended up in the water where he swam off in the wrong direction. Read more amazing animal survival stories here.

A swim a day keeps dysplasia at bay - Swimming has proven to be an excellent exercise for dogs with joint problems such as hip dysplasia. Read about the German Shepherd Nat who benefitted from her weekly dog hydrotherapy sessions after she was diagnosed with common health problem called hip dysplasia. Click here for the full story.

Doggy paddlers - American Water Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs and English Setters are just some of the most comfortable swimmers. If you want to find out more about breeds that were born to swim click here.

How to introduce your dog to water – There are right and wrong ways to do this, one of the wrong ways is to throw your pup into the water unexpectedly one of the right ways is to find a pool or pond that isn't rough and allow your dog to explore the area first and get his bearings. Read about how you can teach your dog to enjoy the water here.

Click here to watch some super cute swimming pooches in action.

Happy Easter from Milo & Lisa at Pooch and Mutt headquarters and dont forget to enter April's prize draw to win a bag of Bionic Biotic. Click here.

Pooch & Mutt: Egg-citing Easter Pooches

Pooch & Mutt: Egg-citing Easter Pooches

Egg-citing Easter Pooches

Bunnies, eggs, daffodils and that magic word...chocolate! That’s what Easter is all about, but don’t forget that whilst chocolate is harmless to us, it is like poison for our four legged friends.

Be sure to remind friends and family about the dangers of chocolate to your dog this Easter and ask everyone to take extra care to keep all those tempting treats out of your dog´s reach. If you are organising a kids egg hunt make sure that pooch is kept on a lead and well away from any tempting hidden chocolate eggs. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which is a stimulant related to caffeine and it can cause vomiting and diarrhea, restlessness and hyperactivity, excessive thirst and increased urination, a rapid heart rate and excessive panting. If ingested in large quantities it can even be fatal. Although it takes larger dogs longer to be affected by a helping of chocolate the severity of it depends on the dogs's weight, the type of chocolate and the amount consumed. For more information about chocolate and dogs see Chocolate Toxicity - Toxic Amounts of Chocolate. We thought we would lend a paw at keeping those powerful noses in check over Easter and giving you a few ideas about other things you can do to distract your pooch from all that chocolate mania! Hide n’ seek - once you have enjoyed your human egg hunt your dog can join in the fun later on Easter Sunday, try hiding a few dog treats from him/her around the garden and let your mutt do the sniffing! Dog friendly Easter treats – Present your mutt with a rawhide easter egg treat or check out the latest doggy gadgets to distract him/her from all that egg-citement – Top ten pet gadgets. You could even get a Carob Dog Easter Egg, a healthier alternative to chocolate. If you’re feeling very generous or guilty perhaps, Holly and Lil is offering Pooch and Mutt fans 10% off its ranges of colourful and egg-travagant collars. Visit Holly and Lil and enter ‘poochandmutt’ on checkout to get your discount. Easter Fairs and dog days - If you fancy getting out for the day you can visit the Easter Fair and Dog Show at Gables Farm in Plymouth on 11th April. The Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter is also holding an Easter Fun Day on Easter Monday 13th April at their Benton Farm Shelter. The Americans never cease to amaze us with their crazy love for dogs, check out the Long Beach Pet Parade which takes place in California this Easter. Take a day trip out to Norwich and visit the Pooch & Mutt stand at the East Anglian Game & Country Fair which takes place 25 and 26th April. You can enjoy displays of Dog Docking and even meet the Horse Whisperer, Gary Witheford!

Take your dog on holiday - You don’t have to leave your dog home alone this Easter why not take your pet with you? Check out the Dogs Trust listing of dog friendly cottages. A percentage of your holiday will also go to the charity. Go to www.dogstrust-cottages.co.uk or have a look at the Mirror’s guide to taking your dog on holiday here.

What to do if your dog does swallow chocolate! - If you think your dog may have eaten a harmful amount of chocolate, call your Vet or take your dog to an emergency animal hospital immediately! Symptoms will usually begin within two hours but sometimes it could also take as long as 24 hours. Delaying treatment could be a fatal mistake. Contact the PDSA for advice or contact your local vet via Yell.com

Delaying treatment could be a fatal mistake. Contact the PDSA for advice or contact your local vet via Yell.com

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