Disappearing Dog Breeds

Disappearing Dog Breeds

Did you know that there are dog breeds that are disappearing? While it is clear that some dog breeds are much less common than others, there are some dog breeds that are at risk of not existing in the next century or even decade. While this is definitely a phenomenon, getting clear data on the numbers and breeds is not straightforward. While often dog breeds are listed by organizations as “rare”, “vulnerable”, or “endangered”, the definitions of these terms is not clear, and it is difficult to get solid numbers on dog breeds due to lack of reporting, inaccurate reporting, and over reporting.

A male Azawakh, a west African sighthound that is a rare breed in the US {photo: AKC}.

That being said, there are some hard numbers that we can get, although the information is limited by the source. One method is registration in kennel clubs, which can indicate the popularity of certain breeds can give us a window into what breeds are on the decline, and what breeds may be moving toward extinction. Many countries have a kennel club, and list the dogs that are registered with them. While very helpful in determining what breeds are popular, and which are in decline, these numbers are limited in their efficacy, as not all breeds are part of the registry, and not all dogs of breeds existing in their data are registered.

There is also a geographic discrepancy, as what dogs are popular (or unpopular) in their respective countries will vary. Of course the country of origin may be assumed to have higher numbers of some breeds. For example, the number of Norwegian Lundehunds can be expected to be higher in Norway, but this is not always the case. Confounding this, some kennel clubs, such as the British Kennel Club, list the breeds that are considered “vulnerable” - with less than 300 registrations per year - and “at watch” - with only 300-450 registrations per year, while the American Kennel Club does not.  

 

A Norwegian Lundehund, considered the rarest of all breedsregistered with the AKC in 2021, is a 6 toed dog that was bred to hunt puffins in Norway {photo AKC}

Another way to determine what breeds are rare is to consider DNA testing samples. What are these companies seeing the least of? According to Wisdom Panel, a well-known canine DNA testing company, “there is no set criteria for what makes a dog breed rare [and data for] breeds that are uncommon and difficult to obtain due to extremely limited breeding programs are considered rare.” The reasons for low numbers in the DNA data are twofold, as “some rare dog breeds have long histories and enjoyed periods of immense popularity only to see their numbers shrink over time. Other breeds are newly developed and haven’t had time to build up a true following.”

The limitations of the data are clear: we only know the numbers of animals that are registered with kennel clubs across the world, and those numbers assume that dogs not registered are not officially part of the breed. Not to mention, the data we get from DNA testing sites is limited by the individuals who choose to get their dogs tested, suggesting that the participants in DNA tests are those who are not sure what breed their dog is. With that in mind, let's look at some of the breeds that seem to be disappearing, according to the limited data we have. For the purposes of this survey, we will consider the American breeds, and then breeds worldwide, with those limitations in mind.

According to the American Kennel Club, the following dogs are the 20 dogs with the least number of registrations for the US. Those with an asterisk are those that appear to be in active decline.

 
 

Looking at the list above, it is clear that many of these dogs are not American in origin, and may have higher populations in their home countries. For example, the Israeli Canaan Dog is uniquely suited for its native environment, which is very different from most environments in the US.

A Canaan Dog, a guardian breed from Israel {photo: AKC}

According to Wisdom Panel, who was the only DNA company that listed rare breeds on their website, the rarest dogs in terms of their DNA database, were the Azawakh, Harrier, Hokkaido Inu, New Guinea Singing Dog, and the Peruvian Inca Orchid. Of course, this data set is limited by the people who choose to test their dogs’ DNA for one, and for another by those who do not already know what breed their dog is. Again, the numbers are also limited by geography. For example the Hokkaido Inu. While listed as a breed by the AKC, it is rare outside of Japan, where there are is an estimated population of 10-12,000.  

 

A Hokkaido Inu, native to Japan, is rare outside of its home country {photo: primitivedogs.com}

 

Why are some breeds in decline?

Change of lifestyle 

As people move into modern society, and away from rural, agrarian, or labor intensive lifeways, they need dogs to perform different tasks or play different roles in their lives. The need for  agrarian based working dogs has changed from the job of protecting and procuring food to such tasks as service dog work, search and rescue, scent detection, and emotional support, to name a few. In addition, most contemporary dogs are companions and family pets only, and the genetic predispositions seen as desirable in historical working dog contexts, are seens as quirks of personality in many modern homes, and a nuisance in some others. For example, a Great Pyrenees is the superlative livestock guardian, but may be too much of a good thing in terms of apartment living. Some of these genetic predispositions are used for sports, or fulfill other human needs such as protection or hunting, and still others are used very rarely. Maintaining a working dog inside of a family pet home can be difficult and may sometimes be impossible to do ethically. 

For example, well bred hunting dogs have been highly prized for generations worldwide. Now however, many of the targeted species for hunting are now protected, either by law or society's moral code. This is the case with the Otterhound for instance. Hunting otters was outlawed in the US in 1978, and now there are only 4-7 litters of Otterhounds per year registered in North America. (AKC). The same is true of both the American and English Foxhound. Now that their job has disappeared, their high predatory drive has rendered them too difficult for many families to maintain (AKC).

Clearly, different traits are important to modern dog lovers. So, traits like sociability, athleticism, aesthetics may be prized and therefore selected for, rather than strict working potential. For example, the most popular dog on the AKC's registration list is the Labrador Retriever, and while the vast majority of Labrador owners do not duck hunt, as the dog was bred to do, the social and amenable demeanor of these dogs makes them suitable for many modern family homes. Likewise, Border Collies are just as commonly used for agility sports as for herding (meanwhile, Smooth Coated Collies are disappearing). 

Cross Breeding

Breeds that are not carefully protected could end up being bred out of existence by producing offspring outside of the genetic line. According to the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the popularity of “mutts” in America was up 65% from 2015 - 2019, and 7% of mixed breed dog homes have more than one. While mixed breed dogs make fantastic pets, and are often easier to maintain than working dogs, they are also what is most likely to be found in shelters, making up 95% of the American shelter population, making them very accessible to the average American family. In addition, some dog enthusiasts are intentionally breeding dogs for their functionality and biddability, making them more suited to modern needs and desires, by blending two or more breeds with those desired traits. 

Small Gene Pool

Catalburun is one of the only dogs in the world featuring a split nose and suspended ears, probably due to inbreeding because of limited numbers (Outdoor).

It goes without saying that the rarer the breed, the less genes are available to keep the breed healthy, and avoid inbreeding as much as possible. Keeping bloodlines “pure” and healthy requires that advocates for preserving a breed be very selective in choosing which specific dogs (genes) to use in breeding. According to a blog post from the Institute of Canine Biology, breed preservation is a careful mix of “inbreeding, linebreeding, outcrossing, and crossbreeding… used strategically by breeders to ‘shape’ the gene pool.” Without this strategic and scientific approach, many breeds can lose important genetics, some crucial to the physical survival of individual dogs. For example, even popular breeds such as the Dalmatian, can be impacted by genetic loss. Dalmatian breeders “inadvertently lost a critical gene for nitrogen metabolism” that resulted in the entire population being prone to painful urinary stones. Without a variety of genetic lines to choose from when trying to breed lost genes back into a population, it becomes difficult to maintain a “pure” and healthy breed. As in the Dalmatian example, it becomes important to selectively breed lost characteristics back in to a population when their health is at risk. For Dalmatians, careful preservationists used selective breeding between a Pointer and Dalmatian to get the gene for nitrogen metabolism back into the Dalmatian gene pool. Without the devotion of breed advocates, and impeccable controls, this may not happen for a breed. 

Will these breeds go extinct?

The future of these breeds is unknown. If a group of people are devoted enough, sometimes they can maintain a rare population of dogs. This is not impossible. For example, in 1965, the Chinook was the rarest breed registered with the AKC, with as few as 125 individuals. Some five decades later, they are on the rise, albeit slowly, with 800 known individuals, as of 2022. 

Another example of breed survival is the ever popular companion dog, the Shih Tzu. After the Communist Revolution in China, there were only 12 Shih Tzus known in the entire world, making them functionally extinct. Because of the adoration of the American soldiers in China in the 1950s, some of these “little lions” were brought back to the US, where enthusiasts carefully bred these dogs. Now, the Shih Tzu is consistently in the top ten of the AKC's most popular dogs. 

Many breed preservationists believe that protecting these breeds is as much about protecting cultural heritage as it is love of the breed. To apply a local example, consider bear hunting, which is an important aspect of cultural preservation for many people in Southern Appalachia. While no longer necessary for the survival of isolated populations in Appalachia, bear dogs are an important signal of cultural affiliation and ties to a shared cultural heritage. For these people, dogs tie individuals to their ancestors and their ancestral way of life, including direct, but lost, family members.

Are you interested in canine breed preservation?

If you are considering adopting a rare breed dog, be ready to be an ambassador for the breed. Many people will not know what breed your dog is, and will ask you if it is a mix of other dogs they know. Consider moments like these to be a teachable moment, and a reason to champion your dog's special breed. As best stated by the AKC with regard to preserving dying breeds, “to lose these great dogs would be a travesty, and there are so many reasons to take up their cause, whether that renewed interest comes from exhibitors or simply dog lovers with a historical bent.” That being said, the AKC website has information on how to contact breeders and rescues for all of the breeds that are officially registered with them. Also, there are many rescue groups that can be found via a Google search of your favorite breed.

A Pyrenean Shepherd {photo: AKC}