The Republic | azcentral.com Mon Nov 4, 2013 9:15 AM
Jessica Crunk, who takes her mutt, Monkey, to Glendale’s Northern Horizon Park Dog Park, grew up around Chihuahuas, and she can’t stand them anymore.
“They’re loud and annoying,” she said.
Crunk holds a minority opinion. Chihuahuas dominate the West Valley, ranking as the most popular breed regionwide. Only Labrador retrievers, which also are the most popular dog in the nation, outrank Chihuahuas in Maricopa County, according to an Arizona Republic analysis of county dog-license data.
The county has more than 350,000 licensed dogs.
Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and Southwest Valley cities follow the regional trend, with Chihuahuas and Labrador retrievers in the Nos.1 and 2 spots, respectively.
Love for the Chihuahua is a regional phenomenon, however, said Lisa Peterson, spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club. She attributed the dog’s popularity in Arizona to the Southwestern influence of Mexican culture and bursts of publicity from celebrities such as Paris Hilton, whose often accessorizes her high fashion with a Chihuahua.
Nationwide, Chihuahuas are No.18 on the list of most popular breeds. Otherwise, Valley residents appear to favor the same breeds as their fellow Americans. Labrador retrievers have held the top spot around the country since 1991. They are followed nationally by German shepherds, which rank third in the Valley, according to the license data.
But that may not hold true forever. Favorite breeds change with the times and the fashions, Peterson said.
Why the change?
Dog breeds go up or down the top-10 lists for a variety of reasons.
In the 1960s, poodles were the small status dogs, and they held the title of most popular dog for 23 years, according to American Kennel Club.
“People select breeds that reflect their lifestyle,” Peterson said. “Poodles needed constant grooming and maintenance. People with today’s fast-paced lifestyle may not have time for all that grooming.”
Poodles remain on the top-10 list only in a few Valley communities, including Tolleson, Sun City, Sun City West and Youngtown, perhaps reflecting a generational difference.
Finding a dog that matches a lifestyle should be the most important factor when choosing a breed, said Dawn Kavanaugh, CEO of Glendale-based All About Animals Rescue.
“Everything about your life is really important,” she said. “If you are in love with a dog that is super active and you’re working 12 hours a day, that’s not going to be a good match.”
The Obamas made Portuguese water dogs popular after bringing Bo to the White House in 2009 and Sunny earlier this year. The breed was chosen because it sheds less dander.
Find a match
Families and individuals need to research breeds before choosing a dog, Peterson said.
The traits of mixes can be predicted if the new owner can tell which breed predominates. Some of them need more attention or more exercise than others and some need more grooming.
Labs frequently top lists as the most popular breed because there is a widespread notion that they are great family dogs, Kavanaugh said. But other breeds, such as the Great Dane and the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, often make better family dogs because of their gentle, even temperaments, she said.
Bob Patterson, a retiree who lives in Phoenix, chose Marley, his golden retriever-golden Labrador mix, because he liked him as a puppy. Because of Marley’s disposition, he has become certified as a therapy dog, and he and Patterson, a retired Marine, visit sick children and veterans at the VA Hospital.
“It’s really gratifying,” Patterson said. “Whenever he goes up and puts his head on their lap, it’ll be a minute or two and then pretty soon you’ll see their hand go over and start petting him, and then they ... get a big smile on their face.”
People typically want either a really big dog, like Great Danes and mastiffs, or really little dogs, like teacup-size poodles and Shih Tzus, Kavanaugh said. Small dogs are especially popular.
“Right now, the little ones are very trendy,” she said. “It’s cute to carry them around in your pocket, in your purse or whatever.”
Oftentimes, people want certain breeds they see on TV, in movies or with celebrities, Kavanaugh said.
Chihuahuas, for example, have been featured in movies such as “Legally Blonde” and are a fashion accessory for certain Los Angeles celebrities, which helped boost their status, Peterson said.
Youngtown resident Hannah Eckert, who took Charlie, her 6-year-old pitbull mix, to the dog park at Peoria’s Pioneer Community Park, adopted the dog as a puppy after he was rescued from a mauling by a group of dogs. He has become part of the family and is especially good with her 2-year-old daughter, Emily.
“Ever since she was little, they’ve been best friends, lay next to each other, just hanging out. And he’s a very big protector, always comes back and will stand in front of us and check out what’s going on,” Eckert said. “He’s very laid back, but he’s also very energetic and can wear her out as well.”
Pitbulls, the eighth most-popular breed in the county, can be “incredible family dogs” if trained right, Kavanaugh said.
A dog’s temperament often comes down to how it is treated by its owner, not the breed’s nature, she said.
“All they want is love,” she said, “and that’s the most important thing.”
via www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/20131104top-dog-breeds.html
Jessica Crunk, who takes her mutt, Monkey, to Glendale’s Northern Horizon Park Dog Park, grew up around Chihuahuas, and she can’t stand them anymore.
“They’re loud and annoying,” she said.
Crunk holds a minority opinion. Chihuahuas dominate the West Valley, ranking as the most popular breed regionwide. Only Labrador retrievers, which also are the most popular dog in the nation, outrank Chihuahuas in Maricopa County, according to an Arizona Republic analysis of county dog-license data.
The county has more than 350,000 licensed dogs.
Glendale, Peoria, Surprise and Southwest Valley cities follow the regional trend, with Chihuahuas and Labrador retrievers in the Nos.1 and 2 spots, respectively.
Love for the Chihuahua is a regional phenomenon, however, said Lisa Peterson, spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club. She attributed the dog’s popularity in Arizona to the Southwestern influence of Mexican culture and bursts of publicity from celebrities such as Paris Hilton, whose often accessorizes her high fashion with a Chihuahua.
Nationwide, Chihuahuas are No.18 on the list of most popular breeds. Otherwise, Valley residents appear to favor the same breeds as their fellow Americans. Labrador retrievers have held the top spot around the country since 1991. They are followed nationally by German shepherds, which rank third in the Valley, according to the license data.
But that may not hold true forever. Favorite breeds change with the times and the fashions, Peterson said.
Why the change?
Dog breeds go up or down the top-10 lists for a variety of reasons.
In the 1960s, poodles were the small status dogs, and they held the title of most popular dog for 23 years, according to American Kennel Club.
“People select breeds that reflect their lifestyle,” Peterson said. “Poodles needed constant grooming and maintenance. People with today’s fast-paced lifestyle may not have time for all that grooming.”
Poodles remain on the top-10 list only in a few Valley communities, including Tolleson, Sun City, Sun City West and Youngtown, perhaps reflecting a generational difference.
Finding a dog that matches a lifestyle should be the most important factor when choosing a breed, said Dawn Kavanaugh, CEO of Glendale-based All About Animals Rescue.
“Everything about your life is really important,” she said. “If you are in love with a dog that is super active and you’re working 12 hours a day, that’s not going to be a good match.”
The Obamas made Portuguese water dogs popular after bringing Bo to the White House in 2009 and Sunny earlier this year. The breed was chosen because it sheds less dander.
Find a match
Families and individuals need to research breeds before choosing a dog, Peterson said.
The traits of mixes can be predicted if the new owner can tell which breed predominates. Some of them need more attention or more exercise than others and some need more grooming.
Labs frequently top lists as the most popular breed because there is a widespread notion that they are great family dogs, Kavanaugh said. But other breeds, such as the Great Dane and the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, often make better family dogs because of their gentle, even temperaments, she said.
Bob Patterson, a retiree who lives in Phoenix, chose Marley, his golden retriever-golden Labrador mix, because he liked him as a puppy. Because of Marley’s disposition, he has become certified as a therapy dog, and he and Patterson, a retired Marine, visit sick children and veterans at the VA Hospital.
“It’s really gratifying,” Patterson said. “Whenever he goes up and puts his head on their lap, it’ll be a minute or two and then pretty soon you’ll see their hand go over and start petting him, and then they ... get a big smile on their face.”
People typically want either a really big dog, like Great Danes and mastiffs, or really little dogs, like teacup-size poodles and Shih Tzus, Kavanaugh said. Small dogs are especially popular.
“Right now, the little ones are very trendy,” she said. “It’s cute to carry them around in your pocket, in your purse or whatever.”
Oftentimes, people want certain breeds they see on TV, in movies or with celebrities, Kavanaugh said.
Chihuahuas, for example, have been featured in movies such as “Legally Blonde” and are a fashion accessory for certain Los Angeles celebrities, which helped boost their status, Peterson said.
Youngtown resident Hannah Eckert, who took Charlie, her 6-year-old pitbull mix, to the dog park at Peoria’s Pioneer Community Park, adopted the dog as a puppy after he was rescued from a mauling by a group of dogs. He has become part of the family and is especially good with her 2-year-old daughter, Emily.
“Ever since she was little, they’ve been best friends, lay next to each other, just hanging out. And he’s a very big protector, always comes back and will stand in front of us and check out what’s going on,” Eckert said. “He’s very laid back, but he’s also very energetic and can wear her out as well.”
Pitbulls, the eighth most-popular breed in the county, can be “incredible family dogs” if trained right, Kavanaugh said.
A dog’s temperament often comes down to how it is treated by its owner, not the breed’s nature, she said.
“All they want is love,” she said, “and that’s the most important thing.”
via www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/20131104top-dog-breeds.html
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