I was in a department store today. A woman came in with a standard poodle. The dog was a seven month old, white male. He was in training. I petted the dog and spoke to lady for a few minutes. I remarked about how neat I think standard poodles are. We both agreed that their lack of popularity is puzzling.
They are sweet, smart dogs. They are relatively calm, but can play with the best of them. They even enjoy water sports. You hear of folks looking for dogs that don't shed much, well this could be the breed for them. But no, they have to go look for a labradoodle instead.
This got me into thinking about the popularity of other breeds. It seems to me that some breeds are more popular then they should to be. I also wonder why certain breeds are not seen around more often.
There are many folks that prefer a small, lap type of dog. You see many of them. But most of them seem to be dogs like the Lhasa Apso, the Shih Tzu, and Yorkies. Most of these small dogs I have run into have the nastiest dispositions. Fingers are in danger around their faces. They bark all the time and house training them is a venture into futility.
King Charles Spaniels and Papillions are also small dogs that easily fit onto a lap. However, they have the sweetest tempraments. They are very intelligent and easy to train. So why don't we see more of them?
It seems that the most common large breeds around are labs and goldies. They are also very common at the pound. Why do folks that seek large dogs automatically get one of them? They are very energetic and slow to mature. If they are not given enough play time to vent off some steam they will take it out on the yard or the furniture. Then they are given to a shelter. Standard Poodles are much calmer and less demanding. Yet, you hardly see any.
There are other breeds I can talk about that fit into these categories. But I have ranted on long enough.
Can you think of any breed that is more popular then it should be? Or a breed that should be seen more often?
Hmmmm... a breed that is more popular then it should be, I think Rotties and Labs fall into that category. Rots are great dogs, but not for everyone. They are not a beginners dog, or for irresponsible dog owners. Labs, to me, are just wrong, wrong, wrong as pets. Not to mention, if you look on petfinder.com, you find that they out rank any other breed in homelessness by about 3-4 times.
They're overbred, and should be focused more as a sport breed then a family breed.
Dogs that I think should be more popular, I don't want the Pit Bull to be more popular, but I wish it was better understood, and people didn't believe all the myths and hype about the dog. People's ignorance, even into adult hood, is just terrible at times.
Other then that, I've never met any purebreds that were fairly rare, or blew me away and I wondered why more people didn't have them. I live in a place where labs, goldies, and gsd rule the landscape.
Guess my answer.. lol.. I understand why though- its a large dog and although a long coat- its easy to take off and rarely if ever mats. However- with heats so far apart, and a active breed club for education etc- .. However- I can not imagine why the Borzoi isnt more popular. They are loving, adoring pets, calm in the house, requiring a brush a day, and a soft touch in training.. I dont know.. ( good post lizzie! )
I think the Standard Poodle is not more popular because most people that want a large breed dog want a manly, tough dog. Although the Poodle was originally used as a herding and water dog, the breed has strayed from it's original purpose. People now see the Poodle as a "foo- foo" dog (even at 60 pounds!)
As for a Borzoi, I think the long coat scares people off. You say, "Just a brushing once a day...", but that seems like a lot of grooming to me
I like brozois....but...to me I wouldn't get one because for some reason...I am not really into the real large breeds. I like the Corgi...both of them. (two breeds) I think that they are wonderful dogs, they love people, they are hardly agressive, (they are very vocal, so that is a set back, but I love to talk to my corgi and he answers with a raaa-roo-raaahhh) they can go alot, they can run with the best of them, and they are so cute and only require a brushing a week. There are a couple of set acks besides vocality, like the coat being a sheding havaoc, and that they can get some back problems that are expensive to correct, and hip dysplasia. I think that they should be less rare because they are great with kids and require only a firm but kind hand in training. I see more of them than Brozois but they are still quite rare for a breed. I love Larbradors and am not surprised that they are common, although I hate to see so many in shelters! Good Gracious! One of the 10 top reasons for people leaving dogs is: (number 7) The dog doesn't match new fruniture, and (number 3) Lack of training! I mean OMGosh you can work with your dog! They aren't decoration! Good post!
WHOO! Hey....I was just thinking about something...well sometimes people just buy dogs for decoration....(disguting! I love dogs and am even wanting to work as a vet and as a rescue keeper. No-kill as long as the animals are healthy. And take in dogs with aggresion problems and solve them with training.) ...well anyways maybe they don't like the "look" of the poodle and/or the grooming specifications with the shaving....stuff.....I personally don't like the poodle being shaved on the butt. It just doesn't seem "right" because I wouldn't want to have no fur on my butt if I was a dog...but it gives them the upper hand in swimming. Just a thought...it isn't like I don't like the poodle at all it is just some things why the poodle isn't that popular like alot of the dogs....like corgis...with vocalness, and sheding havoac!!!!
Originally posted by corgisrlovable: WHOO! Hey....I was just thinking about something...well sometimes people just buy dogs for decoration....(disguting! I love dogs and am even wanting to work as a vet and as a rescue keeper. No-kill as long as the animals are healthy. And take in dogs with aggresion problems and solve them with training.) ...well anyways maybe they don't like the "look" of the poodle and/or the grooming specifications with the shaving....stuff.....I personally don't like the poodle being shaved on the butt. It just doesn't seem "right" because I wouldn't want to have no fur on my butt if I was a dog...but it gives them the upper hand in swimming. Just a thought...it isn't like I don't like the poodle at all it is just some things why the poodle isn't that popular like alot of the dogs....like corgis...with vocalness, and sheding havoac!!!!
Going off what you were talking about, with helping dogs and work as a vet, I thought I would just add that I might taken a step in the wrong direction for me but for a good apparent reason, because I love animals and dogs in general. So with that being said, I think I might become a Animal Control officer here in Fairfax County,Virginia.
I sent my mom an email about it, hope to hear her response soon.
King Charles Spaniels and Papillions are also small dogs that easily fit onto a lap. However, they have the sweetest tempraments. They are very intelligent and easy to train. So why don't we see more of them?
AAAAHHHHHHH!!! Sorry. Lol. I am so happy to see that someone understands that some breeds are way underestimated. I'm obviously obsessed with Cavaliers, and I agree, I don't see many around.
I think one reason that some breeds become overly popular is because that everyone wants to have the "cool" dog, or the "in" dog, such as the lab. Too many people have them and more and more people want to be cool, or popular, so they go and get a popular dog. Definetly not the smartest thing to do.
CAVIELOVER Several years ago we owned a dog grooming shop. Many of our customers owned small breeds like Lhasa Apsos, Yorkies, and similar dogs. Most of them were little monsters.
Unfortunately we only had a few King Charles Spaniel customers. I say unfortunate because they were the sweetest little dogs. They actually showed affection. They licked instead of nipped. We always felt like we should be charging more for grooming the little demonic dogs. The King Charles made us feel guilty charging anything.
I agree with you that breed popularity does not seem to be based on facts or reality. People looking for a dog should use their brain at least as much as their hearts when shopping for a dog.
We don't see a lot of Standard Poodles because they're high maintenence when it comes to bathing and grooming. Because of the high maintenence factor there aren't many backyard or careless breeders which makes them that much more scarce. IMO that's a very good thing for the welfare of the breed.
Here in the Arizona deserts we don't see many sled dog types, collies or brachyleptic breeds because of the extreme heat.
What we do see are a lot of pit bulls, beagles dobies, dachshunds, dalmations and tons and tons of chihauhas. Surprisingly the most common long haired breed we see are Chows and chow mixes. My neighbor keeps the neighborhood well supplied with chows and chow mixes as his female has a litter every six months and the males run loose during mating season. They keep themselves busy chasing after the wandering unspayed pit bull females.
What breed would I like to see become more popular? None! I'd love to see all dogs become so hard to come by that once an owner got a dog; they'd never want to let it go for fear of not being able to find another one.
APPLESMOM1 I really do enjoy reponding to threads that don't involve poop eating or chains.
You made some good points. However, if you keep a poodle in a short cut, their upkeep isn't too bad. Besides, you have to admit they have nice personalities.
You were right on about breed popularity. Popularity in dog breeds is more of a curse then a blessing. Still, at least temperament-wise, there are some breeds you think you should see around more.
One other breed that I think is too common is the Miniature Schnauzer. I know this will offend any lovers of this breed but, if there was such a thing as a defective breed this one is it. They all seem to be little barking machines. How anyone can operate a motor vehicle with one inside is beyond my comprehension.
Maybe we can rescue this forum from the dumps. Lets give it a try.
I really don't know why some breeds are picked higher than others, it just seems unfair. A lotof them are very good breeds,yet undogfanciful people just listen to shallow rumors and looks. I have a GSD, Lab, and a Pomerainian. They are very popular types of dogs, but that's why my dad allowed me to get one. I wanted a doberman or a Rottweiler, he says "they're too mean"-total bunk! I love all dogs and wished to tell my dad he's dog-racial, but being lucky enough to be allowed my Pomerainian, I figured I'd keep my big mouth shut for the moment.
Lizziedog1, I've been on the waiting list for a rescue standard poodle for a year and a half. Not one has been surrendered during that time while miniatures are abundant.
Thanks for the laugh on the mini schnauzers. I have one of those little barking machines living with me at the moment.
He's 10 years old and my daughters dog and I've had him for a little over a month. The first week I was tempted to open the door and send him packing for fear I might do him in because of the incessant barking.
I have my front door open all day which they'd never done because of his barking. Well, I'm too old to change my ways so I took on the challenge.
After a week of solid consistency all I get out of him now is a warning yip; sort of like, "did you see that?" when the feral cats gather around to eat. He lays in front of the screen door with every muscle in his body quivering the whole time they're out there. If he does slip up just one word quiets him, "stop".
We're still working on the backyard barking. As long as I'm with him, he's quiet as a mouse but if he's out by himself he has ocassional lapses of memory. It's enough to make you think he's being t ortured.
I haven't tried walking him on a leash yet or taking him anywhere in the car. My daughter says I wouldn't be able to handle him in those situations. What! A 20 pound dog, can't be handled.
WRONG, WRONG, you have hit a nevre with me on the Labs. I happen to have 2. They are feild trained, and GREAT HUNTERS. They are also house pets as well. Maybe the homeless rate would me mcuh lower if HUMANS would understand the breed better. Not just fall in love with the idea of having a puppy.
Labs have to be worked out every day. I tired Lab is a happy lab. Also if the BYB would stop breeding, and passing on BAD genes. I know of one breeder that I would love to buy one of her pups. I'm on a waiting list, and it's going to take 3 years, due to the fact she breeds to improve the breed.
quote:
Originally posted by angeeleeta: Hmmmm... a breed that is more popular then it should be, I think Rotties and Labs fall into that category. Rots are great dogs, but not for everyone. They are not a beginners dog, or for irresponsible dog owners. Labs, to me, are just wrong, wrong, wrong as pets. Not to mention, if you look on petfinder.com, you find that they out rank any other breed in homelessness by about 3-4 times.
They're overbred, and should be focused more as a sport breed then a family breed.
Dogs that I think should be more popular, I don't want the Pit Bull to be more popular, but I wish it was better understood, and people didn't believe all the myths and hype about the dog. People's ignorance, even into adult hood, is just terrible at times.
Other then that, I've never met any purebreds that were fairly rare, or blew me away and I wondered why more people didn't have them. I live in a place where labs, goldies, and gsd rule the landscape.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: rbag2blacklabs,
It's okay to disagree with me, I just don't like the breed at all. I never have, and I never will. It's unfortunate what's happened to them, and good for you for using them for what they were trained to be, field dogs.
Originally posted by rbag2blacklabs: WRONG, WRONG, you have hit a nevre with me on the Labs. I happen to have 2. They are feild trained, and GREAT HUNTERS. They are also house pets as well. Maybe the homeless rate would me mcuh lower if HUMANS would understand the breed better. Not just fall in love with the idea of having a puppy.
Labs have to be worked out every day. I tired Lab is a happy lab. Also if the BYB would stop breeding, and passing on BAD genes. I know of one breeder that I would love to buy one of her pups. I'm on a waiting list, and it's going to take 3 years, due to the fact she breeds to improve the breed.
quote:
Originally posted by angeeleeta: Hmmmm... a breed that is more popular then it should be, I think Rotties and Labs fall into that category. Rots are great dogs, but not for everyone. They are not a beginners dog, or for irresponsible dog owners. Labs, to me, are just wrong, wrong, wrong as pets. Not to mention, if you look on petfinder.com, you find that they out rank any other breed in homelessness by about 3-4 times.
They're overbred, and should be focused more as a sport breed then a family breed.
Dogs that I think should be more popular, I don't want the Pit Bull to be more popular, but I wish it was better understood, and people didn't believe all the myths and hype about the dog. People's ignorance, even into adult hood, is just terrible at times.
Other then that, I've never met any purebreds that were fairly rare, or blew me away and I wondered why more people didn't have them. I live in a place where labs, goldies, and gsd rule the landscape.
You are obviously a responsible lab owner. You are using your dogs for what they were bred to do. What we meant was that you get a lab and ONLY have it as a house pet, not to work in the feild, or hunt or whatever.
I agree that certain breeds are more popular then they should be. The most popular breed though would have to be Labradors, because they are active, playful, love to swim and play, VERY smart and quick learners and LOVE strangers and other people! That is why they cross-bred the LABRADOODLE. Poodles are very popular for their looks, and labs are very popular for their personality...hence: the two popular dogs are bred! i wonder what they are going to come out with next!
Originally posted by chester_and_mandy: I agree that certain breeds are more popular then they should be. The most popular breed though would have to be Labradors, because they are active, playful, love to swim and play, VERY smart and quick learners and LOVE strangers and other people! That is why they cross-bred the LABRADOODLE. Poodles are very popular for their looks, and labs are very popular for their personality...hence: the two popular dogs are bred! i wonder what they are going to come out with next!
Hopefully, what they come up with next, is NOT breeding two different breeds together, giving them a cute label, and trying to market them as an actual breed for hundreds of dollars.
