Otterly adorable! The rare twin hounds who could be vital for the survival of a dying breed... and they're named after the Kray twins

• Otterhounds Ronnie and Reggie are vital to the survival of the vulnerable breed 
• Numbers went into decline after otter-hunting was banned in the UK in 1978 
• There are thought to be fewer than a 1,000 Otterhounds left globally, making them rarer than the giant panda or the white rhino
• The pups named after the East End gangsters will be moving to a loving homeWith their adorable wet noses and eminently rufflable ears, these otterhound puppies seem to have been unfairly named after a pair of East End gangsters.

  But Ronnie and Reggie need to be tough like their Kray twins namesakes because they are vital to the survival of the native breed – the most vulnerable in Britain. 

  The dogs are built like 'brick outhouses', their breeder says, and are likely to grow to more than 8st with a height of 27in.

  According to the Kennel Club, only seven otterhound puppies were registered last year, with the demise of the large, shaggy-coated breed beginning after 1978, when otter-hunting was banned.

  Ronnie and Reggie, now eight weeks old, will soon be moving to loving homes.

  Lincolnshire breeder Hugh March said: 'They have lovely, outgoing personalities. Keeping them together would result in more than twice the usual puppy naughtiness.'

  

  +3

  With their adorable wet noses and eminently rufflable ears, these otterhound puppies seem to have been unfairly named after a pair of East End gangsters. But Ronnie and Reggie need to be tough like their Kray twins namesakes because they are vital to the survival of the native breed – the most vulnerable in Britain

  +3

  According to the Kennel Club, only seven otterhound puppies were registered last year, with the demise of the large, shaggy-coated breed beginning after 1978, when otter-hunting was banned

  

  +3

  The dogs are built like 'brick outhouses', their breeder says, and are likely to grow to more than 8st with a height of 27in

  Mr March has temporarily named the pair after the Kray twins as they are said to be full of their own self-importance and resemble 'East End thugs'.

  He added: 'I decided to nickname them Ronnie and Reggie because they are two twin boys who look like East End thugs in that they are built like brick outhouses.

  'They are already big with lots of bone.

  'They are also full of their own self importance and strut around the place as if they own it… There is still a lot of brotherly love, but their true character starts to come out when they go to their new homes as they will realise that they have got all the space to themselves.

  'They are still very much a working hound and have a specialised mind. If people are not used to the scent hound temperament it can be a shock to the system.'

  There are thought to be fewer than a 1,000 Otterhounds left in the world, making them rarer than the giant panda and the white rhino.

  Although the breed has made a successful transition to being a pet and show dog, numbers have continued to decline.

  There are still a handful of breeders around who remain dedicated to keeping the breed going.