Royal Kennel Club and Roslin Institute Launch Genetic Diversity Project for Sussex Spaniels

The Royal Kennel Club has partnered with the Roslin Institute on a research project examining genetic diversity within the Sussex spaniel, a native breed the club classifies as vulnerable because fewer than 300 puppies are registered each year. Annual registrations fell from 24 in 2024 to just 15 in 2025, underlining how small the breeding population has become.

The project aims to combine DNA samples from up to 150 dogs with the club's existing pedigree records, giving breeders and scientists an evidence-based picture of the breed's genetic health. Roslin Institute researchers say the resulting insights should also help inform how other rare and vulnerable breeds are managed in future.

For owners and breeders of numerically small breeds, the project is a reminder that genetic diversity, not just visible health traits, is central to a breed's long-term welfare. Understanding how much variation remains in a population helps breeders make informed pairing decisions and avoid inadvertently narrowing the gene pool further.