Up on his Argyll croft near Oban, the morning routine is already underway – feeding the sheep, checking the cows and getting the dogs out for a run. 

For Peter MacQueen, broadcaster, author and a leading voice at the 2026 Scottish Game Fair, this isn’t just home. It’s where his daily work begins. 

Alongside him are three familiar figures: Flòraidh the Westie, Peigi the Dandie Dinmont and Sùla the Scottish Deerhound. Together, they’ve become central to Peter’s growing mission to bring Scotland’s native dog breeds back into everyday life. 

“I’ve always been a dog man at heart,” he says. “Just like most people you’ll meet at the Fair.” 

After his Westie, Seòras, passed away a few years ago, Peter began to think more about what these breeds represent and what might be lost if they disappear. His BBC ALBA series Cù Leis Thu? then took him on a journey across Scotland to find a new companion and better understand the country’s native dogs. 

“We all come with our own idea of what breed we want,” he says. “I had my Westie hat on – I’m from Argyll, I thought that was the dog for me. But meeting the breeders changed everything.” 

Those breeders – often maintaining bloodlines over generations – opened his eyes to a stark reality: seven of Scotland’s 14 native breeds are now at risk. 

A Celebration of Scotland’s native breeds and the people who care for them

That experience led to write his book Tails of Scotland, a celebration of Scotland’s dogs and the people who care for them. 

One of those breeds is the Dandie Dinmont. After meeting them, Peter was won over by their character and brought home Peigi. Not long after, Sùla the Deerhound joined the family. 

But the numbers behind these breeds are worrying. Last year, only two Deerhound litters were born in Scotland – just 15 puppies in total. 

“It’s devastating,” Peter says. ‘Without more awareness, some of these lines could disappear.’ 

Peter at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair

At this year’s Scottish Game Fair, Peter is hoping to change that. He’s helping create a dedicated space where visitors can properly meet these breeds – and the people behind them. Breed clubs, owners and responsible breeders will all be there, sharing knowledge and encouraging people to get involved. 

The weekend will be organised into groups. Friday focuses on terriers – the traditional ground dogs like the Skye, Cairn, Dandie and Scottish Terrier. 

“The Scottie is an icon,” Peter says. “You see them on shortbread tins and whisky bottles, but registrations are now below 450 a year.” 

Saturday turns to gundogs, including Gordon Setters and Golden Retrievers. And Sunday brings the hounds, including Peter’s own Deerhound, alongside one of the rarest sights of all: the Smooth Collie, with fewer than 30 registrations last year. 

For Peter, this isn’t just about dogs – it’s about culture. One of the most profound elements of Peter’s advocacy is the link between the breeds and the Gaelic language. 

“The names tell their own story,” he says. “Take the Cairn Terrier, càrn means stone. These were working dogs, bred for a purpose. As our lives have changed, we’ve lost touch with that.” 

That doesn’t mean they don’t fit into modern homes – far from it. 

“Every breed comes from a working background, but they adapt,” he says. “A Gordon Setter might take over your sofa and sing when it’s hungry, but they’re brilliant family dogs if you give them enough to do. And Peigi, our Dandie, might be small, but she runs the house.” 

The aim at the Game Fair is simple: make these breeds visible again. 

Peter’s space will give people the chance to meet the dogs up close, see how they behave and speak directly to the good folk who know them best. 

When asked what the single most effective thing a visitor can do to help, Peter’s advice is find the tent, meet the dogs, talk to the breed clubs, join a newsletter and be inspired by these amazing dogs. 

“These dogs have always been part of Scotland,” Peter says. “They are our walking heritage and they need us now more than ever.”