'Over the last half century, we have seen many of our native breeds almost ignored, while we have concentrated on abnormally hairy, almost hairless or absurdly loose-skinned breeds from afar,’ laments David Hancock in a Country Life article of 1987Although this may be a little harsh, and it should be noted that many imported breeds have perfectly acceptable amounts of both hair and skin, it is nonetheless true that some of our native breeds are being ignored by the dog-owning public to the degree that they are in danger of disappearing entirely.Image 1 of 2Considered the original Irish setter, the athletic red-and-white breed is a dependable and biddable gundog. (Image credit: Shutterstock)Image 2 of 2Once believed to be part otter, the rat-tailed Irish water spaniel, a retriever known for its sense of humour, lives up to its middle name.
(Image credit: Alamy)‘We’re so lucky to have such a variety of breeds in this country, with so many different personalities and characteristics, so the fact that some could disappear completely is concerning,’ says Bill Lambert, spokesperson for the Kennel Club (KC). ‘People simply forget there are so many wonderful dogs to discover, not only the popular and well-known ones, and we urge people to spend time researching the many breeds that we have in Britain and Ireland.’The smooth collie is an elegant, active dog; friendly and faithful.
(Image credit: Alamy)When it comes to selecting a new canine companion, it is easy to be blin.
