Was musing the other day with some friends over why some breeds really take off and others never do. Doesn't seem to be anything to do with being easy to look after (lots of big, hairy, stubborn, very active etc breeds are popular) - or even beautiful (won't mention breeds here to avoid offence but there are some pretty ugly popular breeds! :) ). Nor is it to do with how long they are about - some relatively recent breeds to the UK have really taken off - Aussies, DDB etc), others have been around years or are even native and never seem to get a look in.

Not that popularity is necessarily a good thing of course - but rarity has real problems as well - as the current concerns in the dog press about some of our native breeds illustrates.

So why for instance are Rough Collies really popular and Smooths aren't (when Smooths are a damn sight easier to look after!)? why so many Westies and so few Welsh? Why are Pyreneans pretty common and Maremmas almost dying out? What makes Pembroke Corgis so much more popular than Cardigan (think I know the answer to that one!).

As owner of two of the above (uncommon) breeds I am really interested in people's thoughts about this. Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't want either of my breeds becoming really popular but it would be nice to see show entries in double figures again! :)

It's a really interesting question!  I suppose ESS, Goldens etc could be more popular because they were (or indeed still are) working dogs which lead to ready availiability?  Breeds seem to go through surges in popularity, too - Staffies certainly seem to have a bigger profile than ever before.

To be honest, I think that some go for certain breeds on a whim - my neighbour got a miniature shnauzer because she thought he looked "entertaining"... lol, he's certainly that, but she loves him anyway!

I suppose the notion of attractive breeds is a sticky one - different people find different breeds gorgeous!  TV and films have their part to play - look at the surge in demand for dalmations after 101 Dalmations!  Huskies/malamutes also got more popular after Snow Dogs, St Bernards after Mozart...  Westies have a large profile due to their use on dog food tins etc.

Yep, a very interesting question with lots to ponder!

It is an interesting question one that has crossed my mind from time to time, as I meet a curly coated retriever once and he was gorgeous; but you rarely see them about.

And what is the answer to this question then >>>>What makes Pembroke Corgis so much more popular than Cardigan (think I know the answer to that one!).<<<< as a neighbour of mine had a pembroke once and when he got another I asked why not a cardigan he just laughed :)

Karen

Some breeds have an aesthetic appeal, exotic connection or symbolise an admired lifestyle I think. The shar pei seemed to sum up the 80s and 90s redefinition of beauty outside conventions while the Borzois and Afghan hounds still evoke lost dynasties, hidden kingdoms and the much loved black labrador is the sign of a healthy country family life complete with4X4, rectory and 4 kids oh and green wellies. Sadly the black lab is forsaken for the GSP as a lifestyle statement here :D Then theres dogs as symbols of personal attributes like machismo or loving companionship or even dogs as signs of discerning connossieurship - how many Basenji do I see? Now that celebrities like Julian Clary have pound pups maybe rescues willl get a fair shot at good homes.

>And what is the answer to this question then >>>>What makes Pembroke Corgis so much more popular than Cardigan

Nothing about the dogs themselves - I was thinking of the royal connection. I bet a lot of people got Corgis because the Queen had them!

Yes - the Curly coat is another - why not as popular as the other retrievers? And why are Field Spaniels so rare and Cockers and Springers so popular?

I agree that for some breeds it is TV/Film connections - perhaps the rapid increase in DDB has something to do with memories of Turner and Hooch? Maybe the Pyrenean thing goes back to Belle and Sebastian (remember that one??!). The I suppose further back there was Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. I wonder how many of the most popular breeds can be traced back to some such publicity somewhere along the line?

So follow on question - how can one encourage healthy interest in a breed without it going to the other extreme?!

Good question again, my breed Staffords are popular - maybe beyond popular :( no idea why no adverts -tv programes) nothing. Just the fact I think the "wrong" people took to them.
I would give anything for Staffs to be as they were 20 odd years ago  you'd know it if you saw it but you don't see many about. :)
But to take a saying from a car ad "the dog in front is a Stafford" :(

Karen

I agree that many people are just buying a stafford for the look, but i also think that people are now actually seeing them for the dog they are and not what the press made them out to be, so they have much more trust and faith in the breed now, i know that mine has changed many peoples ideas on the breed, although i wouldn't like to see the uk swamped with them, but it does make me smile everytime i see one because i know how much enjoyment their owners must be getting from them. Personally i would not have a different breed although i do like many breeds, the stafford just fits in with my life and with the kids :)

Emma

I have a Curly Coated Retriever... Liver Bitch and they are a fantastic Breed... but you just don't see any in my neck of the woods... so it's great when you go to the shows and we all get together...

No idea why they are not as popular as the other Retriever Breeds... think you either love or hate those Curly Coats...!!!! Obviously I Love 'em...!!!!

Vicki & Pepper xx

Great question!

Although I'm always on here defending dog keeping in Japan, one of the real problems here is that breed fashions seem to change rapidly - Dalmatians had their day, as did Japanese Spitz until everyone discovered that they just bark and bark and bark all day long, corgis (again, only Pembroke, and the royal connection means nothing here, so there must be something else!), and so on. 

One good thing at the moment is that the tiny breeds are the most fashionable at the moment - toy poodles, chis, and mini dachshunds - so at least these are more suited to cramped apartments and are easy to exercise and feed.  I always have a perception of the UK (perhaps exaggerated by my long years away) of being full of "hard lads" with Rotties, Akitas, and Staffords that they have no idea how to keep. 

I definitely think the exotic factor is a biggie (and I have to admit played a role in my choice), which is sad as some of the native breeds get left behind, like the Otterhounds and Field Spaniels in the UK.  Here in Japan, Shibas have always been in the top ten numerically, but purebred Akitas are mostly confined to the Akita region in Northern Japan, and the other Japanese breeds - Shikokus, Ainu dogs, Kai, Kishu, Tosa, and so on are incredibly rare, probably because they are simply not as attractive as the little balls of fluff from Europe!

I'd be really interested to hear from other countries as to the popular breeds there, and also someone to solve this Pembroke/Cardigan corgi mystery!

One more thing which always amuses me here - Jack Russells are also very popular at the moment, with people paying 1000 pounds and over for a pup!  When I was a kid in the North East of England, everyone just had a Jack Russell and probably wouldn't have paid more than fifty quid for it!

so many people see my BCs & talk to me about owning one,"because they are so easy to train arent they?"................
i try to tell them that they arent novice dogs & need loads of mental & physical stimulation,& that mine are only so calm as i do alot with them,(i was going to use "normal" but they arent!)& are demanding & can be a little dittsy, but they seem to just want a clever dog that they think is going to arrive obedient!-no wonder rescues are full of them!
i cringe even more when i dev a film of the new collie puppy (i work in aphoto lab) & then they tell me it was from a farm from working parents!!!OMG they havent even considered the amount of drive that pup will have!

people see mary rays at crufts,one man & his dog etc etc & think they are easy,  VERY trainable -yes! easy? -no way!

whole heartedly agree Michelle.  I have two BCs and love them to bits but yes they are very hard work especially as they both came from farming parents!  We had them both from pups and so have managed to control their drive but would never trust them around sheep just in case because I dont think you can ever completely train it out of them.  Their enthusiam and energy is what attracted me to them not their supposedly easy trainability.  As you said it isnt easy and does time and time and more time but then I love it so for me I wouldnt have any other breed.

Claire

nor would i!

Gosh, i must admit i was probably a bit loke that, i didn't do enough research as i stupidly thought all Bc's were like my friend's dog. Oh no!! I love meg to pieces but she is hard work and incredibly mad, but i do lots of training and attempting to do agility with her e.t.c My friend's bc is more like a greyhound or a retriever trapped in a border collie's body, she is so lazy and soppy! In my defence though the breeder knew that she was my first dog, yet never questioned my suitablity. Mind you this is the same couple that gave another bc from working parents to a 20 year old single mother of a 8 month old and another on the way, who lives in a big estate with no transport. HMM! Must admit though i would never give her up and would love another one, but next time i will look for a better breeder!
Just out of interest, what are Australian shepherds like in temperament e.t.c.? I have seen pics of them and they look gorgeous!

I don't know about the UK, but here in the United States Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are the two most popular breeds. They are everywhere! I can walk into Wal-Mart looking for wolf or Siberian husky items and all I can ever find is Retrievers. I love both of these breeds, but are wonderful and beautiful. But as they aren't my favorite breed, I wish I could find other breed items to buy. *sigh*

I believe these two breeds are the most popular here in the states because they are gorgeous dogs and are always said to be loyal and protective. There are many large families here with lots of children, so a loyal family dog is the one to get. :)

Lucky for me, wolf merchandise[sp?] look very, very similar to a husky, so I am able to purchase a wolf statue and set it in my bedroom and it passes as a husky. :D

Have to admit I dont know much either about the Aussies but do think they are great.  There is a breeder down here that I met last year at a show.  Problem was nobody knew what the Aussie was then and accused him of docking the tails of his BCs.  The dogs he had seemed to have lovely tempraments and dont seem that dissimilar to the BC,  These ones were a lot calmer but that could just be good training. 

They do have border collie in their background as they I believe were "created"in the USA & not Australian at all. Cannot understand why they dock them them tho'

Moonmaiden, I understood that they were born like that - at least that's what someone told me.  Never actually tried to find out if that was the case though.

Hi There,
           As someone who has 3 aussies, I would say that they are a lovely breed, but are not for everyone. They are a herding dog by nature, and are not the sort of dog that is happy to sit around doing nothing. They need to be kept busy and stimulated......
There are 2 types right now, a show aussie and a working aussie. The show aussie will work as well as show, quite happily, and I find is not as high drive as the working type aussie which I personally could not live with. Aussies are loving, and very people orientated, but will guard...... I would also say, that on the whole, I have found them to be less manic than Border Collies..... but that is just my opinion.
Hope that helps, :D
Gabrielle x

Gabrielle, can you clear up the query about their tails then - are they docked or are they born like it?

I think that Aussies usually have a natural bobtail but it is often docked if it is more than 4 inches.

I believe Aussies can be born with bobbed tails half tails or indeed full tails. Gillian

Hi There,
           Yes, that is correct... Aussies can be born with varied lengths of tail, full, three quarter, half, quarter and natural bobs........... They are docked if the tail length is more than 4 inches. We now have a breed standard in the U.K. for aussies with tails, as eventually, if a docking ban is put in place, you will see all the lengths of tail in the show ring. There are currently only a handful of aussies in the U.K. with tails, but on the Continent and Europe, there are lots...... I personally prefer my aussies without tails, but that is just a personal preference.......:D
Gabrielle x

Same as the Spanish Water Dogs.  There are a couple being shown here in England with full tails, luckily they are lovely looking girls but still prefer them with short tails.

the more i see the more i like! they seem more laid back than the collies, they are very clever but seem to be more of a "thinker" than a collie & all the ones i know are all really really funny!brill soh! very trainable,loves learning & retains lessons.  they are lovely

Definitely - but I'm biased :D

Daisy

im not though! just my thoughts!!!!!!!!