Minority report

A sensible approach to outcrossing is essential if our vulnerable native spaniel breeds are to have a future. But it appears that, for some, purity is more important than survival

- David Tomlinson

I RECENTLY had a long chat with a spaniel enthusiast who argued, quite convincingly, that the only spaniels we need are cockers and springers, and that all the others are a waste of time. Britain has no fewer than seven native breeds of spaniel. We all know the English springer and the cocker but the other five – Welsh springer, field, Sussex, Clumber and Irish water – are rarities with such tiny populations that the Kennel Club classifies them as vulnerable native breeds. To qualify as vulnerable, a breed must have fewer than 300 registrations a year. In 2022, these five minority breeds only produced 651 puppies between the lot of them.

My acquaintance pointed out that the minority spaniels have such small populations and such little genetic variation in their blood that they are all doomed anyway. If we continue breeding from such a small pool of dogs, then their outlook is gloomy, with ever-increasing problems from genetic diseases. He went on to talk about the coefficient of inbreeding (COI) in these breeds and what it meant for their future.

All the minority spaniels have active breed clubs but if you look at their websites you will be hard-pushed to find mention of COI, as it’s not a subject that they are comfortable with. The COI measures the common ancestors of dam and sire, and indicates the probability of how genetically similar they are. There are advantages and disadvantages to being genetically similar. Dogs that are genetically similar produce puppies that look like them. If you breed a cocker with another cocker, the puppies will almost certainly look like cockers.