Measuring Progress: Can Zoos Help Save Purebred Dogs?

Measuring Progress: Can Zoos Help to Save Purebred Dogs?

In 2026, breeders and exhibitors of purebred dogs often view their participation in the sport as similar to that of preservationists who advocate for threatened wildlife species. With roughly half of all fully recognized breeds now identified as “low entry” by the American Kennel Club, the survival of many purebreds is no longer guaranteed. In fact, without active breeders who produce multiple generations of puppies from registered, health-tested parents, quite a few breeds are vulnerable to becoming extinct in a relatively short period of time. And although reproductive technologies have become useful tools for many of today’s breeders, even semen banks won’t “save” a breed as it currently exists if there is no one willing to produce a litter or two—or ten—in the future. The threat of extinction is real… but it is not inevitable. Perhaps, efforts to preserve a dog breed might one day be supported by a community that has long been a leader in the preservation movement. For tomorrow’s purebred dog breeders, the day may come when it is necessary to collaborate with zoos.

As far-fetched as the idea may seem today, there is a precedence for having zoos publicize the interests of purebred dogs. In the Victorian era, zoological gardens helped to popularize individual breeds through exhibits that promoted them as curiosities. Before the advent of dog shows, the London Zoo introduced breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute (Esquimaux Dog) and the Labrador (Retriever) to the public as part of its original exhibition. Likewise, St. Bernards and Basenjis provided visitors with a remarkably memorable experience. At a time when the average person spent their entire life within a few miles of the place where they were born, the sight of such “exotic” breeds was undoubtedly exciting—and inspiring.

Of course, the thought of a domestic dog as part of a zoo exhibit today will likely elicit criticism, but a few facilities that are currently open to the public have had individual purebreds as part of a specific exhibit. At the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana, a Golden Retriever named Kassy successfully nursed three critically endangered African Painted Dog pups in 2023. When the wild dog’s mother proved unable to raise her litter, a network of accredited zoo professionals decided to introduce a surrogate as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP). Kassy was selected as she had recently given birth to a litter of her own. The Golden immediately accepted the wild dog puppies (named Blue, Red & Orange for their collar colors) as her own, providing some form of canine social structure in the process. Once weaned, the trio grew up in an enclosure adjacent to their biological parents so that they could learn their species’ social cues.

In West Orange, New Jersey, a Labrador Retriever named Bowie has been the constant companion of a cheetah named Nandi at the Turtle Back Zoo. The pair was introduced in 2019 when they were both just a few weeks old, and since that time, the captive feline has thrived in her relationship with the gregarious canine. And although visitors to the zoo may be surprised to see a Lab in an enclosure with the world’s fastest land animal, they’re provided with an opportunity to witness the many benefits that come with having an emotional support dog available 24/7. Zoo officials have reported that Nandi is less anxious than many captive cats and appears genuinely comfortable in her role helping visitors become aware of her species’ vulnerability in the wild.

Vulnerability, of course, isn’t something that is exclusive to wild animals. Too many domesticated animals, including an alarming number of recognized dog breeds, could be headed towards extinction if something isn’t done to prevent that from happening. Without the support of dedicated preservation breeders, the future of breeds like the Belgian Laekenois, Norwegian Lundehund, and Polish Lowland Sheepdog may be in question. At the very least, low registration numbers will mean fewer and fewer people can get to know these breeds outside the occasional dog show. And if the day should come when there’s no one willing to produce a litter of puppies, what will happen? What happens when a breed’s advocates retire as breeders and nobody steps up to fill their shoes? What happens if there is no frozen semen available? Some breeds are already on life support.

Should the day ever come when a dog breed is no longer supported by a viable parent club with active member-breeders, its future could depend on experienced zoo professionals who are willing to step up and meet the challenge of breed preservation. Local zoos could even become places where people go to see the world’s uncommon dog breeds. The possibility of this happening may seem ridiculous now, but it has already been done in one form or another. And although individual dogs can no longer be housed in cages as was done during the reign of Queen Victoria, and utilizing them as service dogs remains species-specific, vulnerable breeds might gain much-needed support at zoos where they can be experienced in the flesh, much like they were at the benched shows of yore. Zoos could become reliable “pet the breed” places with their own team of professional breeders and volunteer caretakers, where visitors can play with the dogs while discovering a breed’s history and the functional role it has played in service to humankind. A crazy idea? Maybe, but if rare breed supporters don’t act now to ensure the survival of their breeds, the job of preserving them could be left up to an unlikely group of capable allies.