A giant litter of adorable pups has given a boost to Britain’s most endangered dog breed.
Delighted breeder Ve Callaghan welcomed 10 newborn Irish Red and White Setters - after a mere 39 puppies were registered during the whole of last year.
That’s compared with 35,347 Labradors, Britain’s most popular dog.
The traditional gun dogs have fallen out of favour in recent years, with many owners preferring smaller “designer” breeds such as cockapoos and labradoodles.
Experts are hopeful that the huge litter can help re-establish the loveable setters.
Unsurprisingly, new homes have already been found for the pups.
Jim Cuddy, chairman of the Red and White Setter Club of Great Britain, said the breed has been in a perilous position for the last decade.
He described them as “fabulous dogs”, but said: “Instead of recovering they have been in consistent decline for the last 10 years, although this is the first time they have been at the bottom.
“It is a very bleak future for them, it’s not good.”
He added: “They are really quite wonderful dogs to look at and are very graceful the way they move.”
