Kennel Club has revealed dwindling numbers

The Kennel Club has announced that the Old English Sheepdog is at risk of extinction. Only 316 Old English Sheepdog puppies have been registered this year, compared to nearly 30,000 Labrador retrievers, roughly 2500 Chihuahuas and 5,500 pugs.

The breed has subsequently been "deemed vulnerable" and has been placed on a specialist 'At Watch' list, which highlights the dog breeds registering between 301 and 450 annual registrations.

The drop in popularity has been attributed to the breed falling out of fashion. Bill Lambert, Manager of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme, said: "The decline of the Old English Sheepdog, which people can meet at our Discover Dogs event in Earls Court in November, can be partly explained by lifestyle changes as it needs a lot of grooming and exercise and so it not suitable for the fast paced urban lifestyles of many people.

"But it is also a lot to do with fashion. Despite the fact that Old English Sheepdogs have good temperaments and can make fantastic family pets, their popularity is being eclipsed by more fashionable foreign breeds that can be much harder to train and care for. Of particular concern is the growth in popularity of the Siberian Husky, a beautiful dog which is notoriously wilful and generally unsuitable for urban life."

There are thirty vulnerable breeds in total, with four being on the 'At Watch' list. The Clumber Spaniel, the Otterhound, the Foxhound and the Cesky Terrier number amongst the vulnerable.