The Wire Fox Terrier, one of Britain’s most iconic breeds, is likely to enter The Kennel Club’s list of dog breeds ‘At Watch’ for the first time in its history.
The ‘At Watch’ list monitors breeds with between 300-450 puppy births a year. Those with fewer than 300 puppy registrations annually are recorded on the organisation’s Vulnerable Native Breed list.
According to the Kennel Club, annual puppy numbers from the dog registration body shows “a significant fall so far in 2023 for the breed, with just 281 Wire Fox Terrier puppies born – a 21 per cent decrease in popularity compared with the same period in 2022, where there had been 359 puppies recorded in the first three quarters of the year”.
According to Kennel Club registers, the breed has declined by nearly 30 per cent in the last five years, and has seen a 94 per cent drop since its popularity peak in 1947, with over 8,000 puppies were born.
This does not necessarily mean the Wire Fox Terrier is set to disappear, dogs of this breed may simply not be registered with the Kennel Club. Despite being a popular breed, the Jack Russell Terrier – which the Kennel Club only recently recognised – is in the ‘Vulnerable’ list due to the few litters registered with the Kennel Club. The same goes of Greyhounds, who figure on the ‘At Watch’ list as they are overwhelmingly bred to race and never registered with the club.
Still, the sharp decline in registrations remains a cause of concern for the organisation. Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club, said, “The Wire Fox Terrier was the nation’s favourite breed a century ago, and it remained popular for decades, so it is very concerning to see such low numbers for a friendly and lively dog that was once beloved by royalty and families alike, and there is a real danger that we could lose them forever.
“There were just 27 vulnerable dog breeds a decade ago. There are now another eight breeds either vulnerable or at risk, with the Wire Fox Terrier sadly looking likely to join this growing list. We have such a rich diversity of breeds, so we urge the British public to find out more about the lesser-known breeds, especially those who are at risk of disappearing.”