Dog Breeds Approaching Extinction

Dog lover or not, one must realize the dramatic increase in the number of certain dog breeds. For example, take a look at the Golden Retriever; the dog labeled as "the best family dog". How many Goldens do you see every day? Unfortunately, the popularity increase in some famous dog breeds damaged some other breeds' population. The annual AKC (American Kennel Club) breed registration data shows that some "less popular" breeds only have less than 300 registrations this year. While some others, like the Pembroke Welsh Corgi--Queen Elizabeth's favorite breed--have 301-450 puppies confirmed, putting them on the AKC's "at watch" list.

Queen Elizabeth II and her Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Along with the energetic Corgis in AKC's "at watch" list is the shaggy Old English Sheepdog. The breed, used in the first Little Mermaid cartoon, had just 316 of its puppies registered this year. Apparently, despite the fact that this beautiful breed makes a good family companion, their popularity were eclipsed by more fashionable foreign breeds. Especially the ones that celebrities own.

Old English Sheepdog "Max" in "Little Mermaid"

It is hard to deny that dog ownership has a lot to do with fashion. Even if dogs are living beings, some of us bring them into our lives according to what's "in" and "trendy". When a certain movie starring a specific dog breed became world famous, it is almost guaranteed that people will adopt or purchase that breed right after--leaving the previous "trend" in the shadows. This year's AKC registration data shows that some 2.669 Chihuahuas were registered along with 5.496 Pugs which have seen a 615% increase in the last decade. Other popular "handbag" dogs are also seeing a rapid increase in population. Some opinions state that other than fashion and trends, this extreme difference in popularity is also likely to be caused by people's tendency to emulate celebrities.

Paris Hilton and Chihuahua "Tinkerbell"

So the conclusion is, I am writing this article to perhaps once again remind how pets should not be treated like a fashion accessory--much less an object. Each person leads a different lifestyle and would suit different breeds. Even if Hachiko looks really sweet in the movie, an Akita might not suit you and buying one just because of the movie is not a wise decision. If every person in the world adopts or purchases dogs based on the current trend, "forgotten" breeds such as the ones listed above might disappear one day. Can you imagine seeing certain dog breeds in a zoo some day? I don't think so! And that's why we should think twice before bringing a pet into our household, no matter the breed.