Six dogs which originate from Ireland have seen their popularity plummet in recent years, leading to less breeding and the danger that they will be wiped out altogether.

The Irish red and white setter, the Irish terrier, the Glen of Imaal terrier, the Kerry blue terrier, the Irish soft-coated wheaten terrier and the Irish water spaniel are as Irish as the Irish wolfhound, but they are unrecognised and out of favour with the public, who have come to embrace shitsus and chihuahuas instead of their native breeds.

"The dog's role has changed considerably in the last number of decades and with more and more people living in small houses or apartments with no gardens, a big dog has become increasingly impractical, " said Julien Barney of the British and Irish Dog Preservation Trust.

"Then celebrities have made small dogs fashionable and the demand for them has risen rapidly in the last few year. Ten years ago, a shitsu in Ireland would have been a rare sight. Now they're everywhere and the bigger dogs are losing out."

Exemptions to this example are the Irish wolfhound and the red setter who have retained their popularity . . . one for its intrinsic Irishness, the other because it has been immortalised by Bus Eireann.

But dogs like the Irish water spaniel, a dog who, in the past, was sent into water to cast ducks into the air for shooting, have never had such recognition.

"In the 1970s, the Irish red and white setter nearly disappeared altogether, " said Barney. "There were only 50 of them left in the country. But a dedicated breeder in Bray started a campaign to get them back and it was very successful. Now, they're going downhill again and unless we can make them popular, these dogs who are native to Irish shores will be wiped out. That would be a great pity."

Oodles of doodles

While some dogs are in danger of extinction, crossbreeding of pedigree dogs has become increasingly popular in Ireland. Dogs such as puggles (pugs crossed with beagles), labradoodles and goldendoodles (labradors and golden retrievers crossed respectively with poodles) and golden shepherds (golden retrievers crossed with German shepherds) are gradually becoming a part of the Irish dog population.

"By cross-breeding certain types of dog, you get the advantage of both breeds, " said Susan Kealy of the Irish Kennel Club. "There are still only a small number of such dogs registered with the Kennel Club, but it's becoming more common."

In fact, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind are at the forefront of cross-breeding in Ireland today and are currently training a number of new breeds to meet the changing needs of their clients.

"In the last five years, we have really made strides in our breeding programme and this year we are expecting the birth of 120 puppies, " said Michael Edmonds, breeding supervisor. "Because the needs of our clients are changing, we have found that we need different types of dogs to meet these needs and so far it has been very successful."

Because the traditional guide dog, the labrador, tends to be a little excitable, Irish Guide Dogs have bred labradoodles and goldendoodles for older blind people. These dogs have the intelligence and placidity of the poodle, but the strong body and gentle nature of the labrador and golden retriever.

Goldendoodles and labradoodles from Irish Guide Dogs have also proven to be a big success with autistic children, helping their interaction skills and keeping them calm when outside.

Labernese please

For older clients who can no longer keep up with the brisk trot of their labrador or doodle, Irish Guide Dogs now provide golden shepherds, as these have the gentleness of the retriever and the stateliness of the German shepherd.

Currently, the organisation is eagerly awaiting the birth of the country's first ever labernese dogs in early March. These dogs are a cross of the Bernese mountain dog and labrador retriever and are expected to be excellent guide dogs.

"This isn't something we're doing for the fun of it, " stressed Edmonds. "These dogs are specially trained to help people and getting the right dog for the job is extremely important."