Dogsey

My dad owned a Sealyham when he was a young boy living in Suffolk and use to go rabbiting.

There's a lot there isn't there ?

I could be persuaded by a Norwich terrier, lovely little dogs.
I'm surprised by a couple on the watch list cos I know a couple welsh springers and a couple of old English sheepdogs.

When I was young, Sealyhams and Norwich Terriers were everywhere.......lovely dogs. I am surprised by Lakeland Terriers being on the list because there are several around here alone, and my parents had a rescue bitch that had been used for breeding and kept in a dark shed poor thing.

We should definitely care - it's a bit like saying that we shouldn't mind about elephants or tigers becoming endangered; each breed or species that dies out leaves the world a poorer place in my opinion.

Really surprised the King Charles Spaniel made it on there.Everybody and their granny seems to own one here!

Eileen, are you thinking of the Cavalier King Charles? There are certainly tons of those about, but I haven't seen one King Charles lately

Oh,didn't know there was a difference....oops!

The King Charles Spaniel is a little less "pretty", and slightly smaller.

Shows you what I know!..Thankyou Sally.

I have English Setters which are on the watch list. I chose the breed for their beauty, temperament, the fact that they are a native breed and as we live in the country we can satisfy their exercise needs. We have a small gene pool to play with and as part of the English Setter Association we are working hard to deal with what we see as any health problems and to improve the breed. I have imported a male from Poland to help widen the gene pool.
However, no matter what we do, there is only likely to be a small market for puppies outside those who want to show. At the moment peoples heads are being turned by poodle crosses with funny names and outrageous promises or dogs that will fit in your handbag.

Each of our native dogs have been bred for its own purpose and are not suited to be crossed with a poodle or be carried in a handbag. It is so sad that some of these fantastic dogs with that amazing historical background -and bred specifically for British purposes may be lost.

I am sure all the other breed clubs are working as hard as we are at ESA.

Maud