January 22, 2009

The top 10 American dogs vs. the top 10 New York City dogs.

American:
Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Beagle, Boxer, Dachshund, Bulldog, Poodle and Shi Tzu.
New York City:
Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Dachshund, French Bulldog, Yorkshire Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Havanese, Shi Tzu (tied for eighth) and the Bulldog.
See the way NYC shuns the German shepherd and the beagle. See the greater appreciation for the poodle in NYC? Should I get a poodle? Should Barack Obama get a poodle? Do these lists help answer those questions?

And by the way, are the names of dog breeds supposed to be capitalized? I see the reason to capitalize French and Yorkshire and King Charles, but why are we capitalizing "Poodle"?

50 comments:

MadisonMan said...

I note the absence of clumber spaniel.

I think it would be mean to have a beagle in the City. They're hunting dogs that love to run. Where can they do that in a metropolis?

Michael Haz said...

MM - you beat me to the clumber mention.

Dogs need jobs. If you buy an active dog, it needs to be worked regularly and vigorously, in all kinds of weather.

If you are away from home for more than a couple of hours daily, get two dogs so they can keep each other company. Lonely dogs tear up furniture.

Bob said...

A poodle? What, Fifi going cuckoo on Jacques Chirac didn't sound warning bells in your mind?

We currently have a Jack Russell bitch at my house, she's a sweet dog, but were I to pick a breed I like, it would be a Border Terrier or a Norwich Terrier.

If you really want to freak people out, Ann, get a Bedlington Terrier, everyone will ask why you're walking around with a lamb.

KCFleming said...

I'm a dog agnostic. I am gone 12 hours a day and sleep 6 of the remaining hours. I would have maybe 17 minutes to devote to a dog. I suspect they need more face time than that.

As a result, I have books, which never need a vet and rarely bite me (e.g. when Peggy Noonan went insane, I had her books put down; muy triste).

George M. Spencer said...

So...where is Lassie?

The original Mom was Cloris Leachman. Who knew?

Dust Bunny Queen said...

I agree with MM. Beagles need lots of room to run and they make a lot of noise. Unless you have a lot of time to spend with your dog, country or city, I think it's mean to have a dog at all. Just like I think it is terrible to have a child and keep him/her alone or in day care all the time.

Obama should get a dog that suits his personality and lifestyle. Poodles are very smart and friendly.....well except for those manic depressive types that want to chew your face off.

And by the way, are the names of dog breeds supposed to be capitalized? I see the reason to capitalize French and Yorkshire and King Charles, but why are we capitalizing "Poodle"?

Yes for dog breeds. They are proper nouns sort of like brand names like Ford or Toyota. Not so sure about poodle. If you were talking about the breed Poodle,I think yes. But if you are just saying something like "look there's a poodle", like look there's' a dog....you wouldn't

Swifty Quick said...

e.g. when Peggy Noonan went insane

Went insane or revealed her true colors.

traditionalguy said...

Best dog for your College Professor lifestyle is a cocker spaniel, with an obedience school degree. The are lapdogs, which is good for the indoor dog role. Their tails do not knock your stuff off all the time as do Labrador Retrievor and other outdoor types. Their bark is seldom heard. They will chase birds, and should be trained to a leash when walked. They also fit into your cars seat when traveling, which they enjoy.

Jen Bradford said...

Unless you work insane hours, it's possible for a city dog to be in much better physical & mental shape than a suburban dog with a fenced yard. When I go walking with my dog, we pass by several very neurotic bored dogs who are left out on their own for hours (less so in winter, of course), one of whom runs maniacally back and forth in front of his gate in a kind of trance - it's really sad.

I have a cocker spaniel. The shelter said she was great with other dogs, cats and kids - lies, damned lies! After a year she has improved a lot, but it's lucky she's cute (and I am besotted), because she needs loads of reassurance and discipline. Otherwise she can be very un-cute.

Tibore said...

I'm surprised the retrievers are on the list. You wouldn't think that people in the city would want a largish dog, and Labs and Goldens can grow to a fair size. Not as big as, say, Great Danes, that's for certain, but still, they're not Shi Tzu sized either.

I remember a friend who had a German Shepherd while living in an apartment in a big city. It's possible to do it, but the dog really prefers having a yard. Even twice a day walks were not enough.

Original Mike said...

Beagles are too good for New York Citites.

Leland said...

I wouldn't consider the grounds of the White House a limiting constraint. Sure, it is in a city, but there is plenty of room for a dog to roam.

The question is in 4 years, if he were to lose, would he give up the dog?

traditionalguy said...

Another answer to your thread question is do not get a poodle. Poodles are all selfish, neurotic jerks in dog's bodies. They should not be discussed with real dogs which are Loyal..Loving..Patient and Forgiving. Those are the reasons people love dogs. Poodles are only for spoiled masochists with no self respect.

Darcy said...

Please, no Lab bashing. They are perfection as far as dogs go. Even with their tails swiping everything off of surfaces and the following you everywhere thing. Those aren't negatives. They are amusing, adorable tendencies. They may not be the perfect dog for every individual, but that's a different argument.

Barry said...

Poodles are awful. And nearly every Poodle owner I've known is awful as well. I guess I haven't known many, but I don't live in NYC either.

While Labs and Goldens can be high-energy and high-maintenance, if you do your research and find good breeders, you can get one that's in a mellowed line that's been bred for a more stay-at-home disposition. Some of the best dogs I've known have been Goldens, though I've never owned one.

Maybe it's cliche, but the best breed is mixed-breed. Mutts are less likely to have congenital defects of purebreds. You can find mutts with much more unique characteristics and physical features. I've had three mutts from the pound, and three purebreds from the pound. The mutts all lived longer, were healthier, better behaved, and more companionable than any of the purebreds.

bearbee said...

American v New York City ....interesting

Does that mean American taxpayer money will not be used to bailout NYC?

You never impressed me as an animal lover.

They drool, fart, lick your face, shed, don't wipe their paws, retch and have accidents.

And, yes, many need work, space and lots discipline, love and face time.

Darwin said...

my vote: vizsla dog

Richard Fagin said...

A Standard Poodle would be a good choice. My experience with them is they are quite unlike their miniature cousins in temperament and loyalty.

President Obama should get the girls a Rottweiler puppy. That'd drive the New York lefties up the wall, not to mention make the Secret Service's and the State Department's job a little easier. I'd offer him my Dane, but she's too much like John Kerry, all jowly and a scaredy-cat pacifist.

sonicfrog said...

Go American, get a Boston Terrier!

TitusLoveuLongTime said...

Clumbers are rare, hello, how long have I been saying that.

I know of only two others on the island. They are really expensive and there is a very long waiting list and the application process is grueling. Once you own a rare clumber though you are connected to the rare clumber circuit and will always be able to get another rare clumber. City dogs are treated like Gods, they have great lives. As many of us city people don't procreate our dogs are our children and we treat them very well and they know it.

Speaking of dogs I am taking care of a couple of the queens dogs in my building this week. They are in Miami this week. Poor things went to Miami this week and it is 50 degress there. Their dog isn't rare or fabulous but she is very sweet and very good. The rare clumbers are being very good to her as well but aren't sure about our new addition this week

Now I have to get back to work. Very strategic today. Offers are going out like crazy.

My question is how are some of Obama's staff going to live on less than 100k in DC. That is just wrong No one should make less than 100k especially when living in a semi fabulous city. DC is not that fabulous but it is semi fabulous. What will 100k get you in DC?

Bill said...

Why does it say, "German Shepherd Dog"?

Unknown said...

They're capitalized because they're official breed names, just like we capitalize Guernsey and Hereford.

So "hound" when it occurs in a sentence but not as part of the name of a breed is lower case; it is capitalized in "Coon Hound."

Palladian said...

"Go American, get a Boston Terrier!"

Yes! The Boston Terrier is the quintessential American dog!

Palladian said...

"Clumbers are rare, hello, how long have I been saying that.

I know of only two others on the island."

Sometimes things are rare because they're very desirable and because supply is very limited. And sometimes things are rare because they're so ugly that no one wants one.

TitusLoveuLongTime said...

My rare clumbers are beautiful Palladian. You want to touch my rare clumber Palladian?

MadisonMan said...

Palladian, what are you talking about? That's a beautiful dog!

chuck b. said...

I think a standard poodle sounds like a great Althouse dog. A veterinarian I dated owned a poodle named Fabrice. They're very smart and loving and rather energetic. It will need walking and regular exercise. You obviously have lots of time available for that. How do people exercise a dog during the long frozen winter? A poodle would keep squirrels and bats out of the house, for sure.

Personally, I don't care for the way a poodle's coat feels. Sort of a mix of frizzy/dry and tight perm. I don't like the texture.

We had cocker-poodle cross called a cockapoo when I was a kid. Very, very sweet and my mom taught her to do all the neat tricks.

American Liberal Elite said...

If you'd shown me the NYC list and asked which of the ten was not a kind of dog, I'd have said "Havanese." Never seen one; and yet New York is apparently crawling with them.

Roux said...

Mutts are probably the best dogs but I have to say our best dog (out of 5 or 6) was our white German Shepard Sheba. She was beautiful and protective of our children. We miss her dearly.

David said...

Obama has a poodle: Joe Biden.

Yesterday Joe stained the rug in the Executive Office Building with the President looking on.

Time to bring in Dog Whisperer. Maybe he can train Joe.

bearbee said...

At least Biden didn't turn dog selection/adoption into an overacted 3 act Broadway melodrama.

Waiting for Dogot.

Shhhheeesh...

David said...

"The question is in 4 years, if he were to lose, would he give up the dog?"

Clintons did. The let it run out on the road. You would think that with 83 gazillion dollars of security they could keep the poor dog safe.

When Hillary replaces Joe Biden as VP in 2012 will she get another dog?

traditionalguy said...

Sorry if I offended owners of standard poodles. I have no experience outside Toy Poodles. Also the new VP is a Toy that Obama will soon outgrow once he sees how much clean-up time he's going to cause by his narcissitic misbehavior. Hillary can explain it to Obama when a teachable moment arises.

TitusLoveuLongTime said...

Thank you MadisonMan. I agree that is a beautiful dog. Very royal, and loving and nice.

Galvanized said...

Ahh! How is it possible that the Papillon showed up on neither list? They're agile, intelligent, calm, loyal, and perfect pets, especially in the city.

Also, given that so many different types of poodles exist, I don't think that the word should be capitalized.

kimsch said...

Shih Tzu or Cavachon (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Bichon Frise). They do have Chi-weenies (Chihuahua/dachshund) too. The little ones like to be inside but also like to go for a walk.

In Ireland at a B&B Hubby and I saw a Cava-Setter. She was a perfect miniature Irish Setter whose dam was a Cavalier King Charles and whose sire was an Irish Setter.

sonicfrog said...

Ahh! How is it possible that the Papillon showed up on neither list?

Papillon??? It's French... Duh!!!!

chuck b. said...

chuck b. wrote: "How do people exercise a dog during the long frozen winter?"

A typically dumb question. Althouse can go sledding. Dogs like to play in the snow, don't they? I've only encountered snow twice in my life.

bearbee said...

If you and your dog are housebound, play fetch by throwing a ball down the 2nd floor stairs a few dozen times. That should get the cardio-vascular pumped up,
or
if you are mechanically inclined see how Jerry keeps in shape.

traditionalguy said...

I honestly saw a dog treadmill on The Dog Whisperer. That could work when snowed in. But dogs I have loved are too smart to go outside any longer than you make them when cold, windy rain is coming down. Maybe "dry snow" would be OK? The dog will stand by you during an emergency. I really think they are in tune to their master's hurts and fears, and will guard and console you.

Christy said...

Havanese is a Bichon by way of Cuba, apparently.

My friend adopted a gorgeous white German Sheppard that had flunked out of K-9 training. Still knew it's drug sniffing stuff, as my pal found out when a guest arrived and the dog "secured" her. Without breaking skin, I might add.

bearbee said...

Speaking of treadmills, the Anchorage Zoo built a treadmill for its lone 8000 lb female African elephant Maggie.

A complete waste of several hundred thousand dollars.

The zoo finally caved in to public pressure and sent her to a spacious warm climate sanctuary in California.

ak said...

We will have to wait for our implacable dictator of a cat to pass on before we get dogs. I'm pretty sure the cat would try to kill any interloping dog while we were at work. When we do get dogs, we'll adopt from a shelter. But if I were going to get purebreds, I would go with terriers--Norwich, Cairn, or Border.

My in-laws had a new dog at Christmas, a Cavalier King Charles mixed with a cocker spaniel. He was adorable and so much fun.

Fred Drinkwater said...

A standard poodle did $2000 damage to my car when it ran from its yard and T-boned the side of my car, just aft of the front wheel well...head first. I couldn't even get the door open after that. No damage to the dog, that I am aware of. It just ran back up to its front porch and complained to its owner that I had been mean to it.

So I was not surprised to hear about that wacko french chien.

Poodles. The favorite dog for demonic posession.

Revenant said...

I can't picture owning a Labrador in New York City. Those dogs need serious outdoor time with lots of running around. You'd spend half your day schlepping them to and from Central Park.

They're nice if you've got elementary school aged kids, though.

Anne Good said...

One could argue that it would be better to have a much larger dog in the city such as a Newfoundland than a Lab simply because the former doesn't need the same level of activity.

Kirk Parker said...

traditionalguy,

Chuck B. points is to the really important question: How do cockers do in that vital protection-against-squirrels role?

Trooper York said...

Hey maybe Caroline can try out to be one of the top ten New York dogs now that the senator thing didn't work out.

Kev said...

I'm a dog agnostic. I am gone 12 hours a day and sleep 6 of the remaining hours. I would have maybe 17 minutes to devote to a dog. I suspect they need more face time than that.

My situation is similar to Pogo's, plus I live in a zero lot-line neighborhood, so my backyard is smaller than some people's sidewalks. I think it would be cruel to subject a dog to such conditions, but it doesn't stop some of my neighbors from owning them.

Acitra said...

Jacques Chirac did not have a poodle, he had a "Maltese Poodle," better known in the states as a Maltipoo, or a cross between a Maltese and a Miniature Poodle. Not only that, the dog was suffering from a mental disorder.
Poodles have an excellent, sweet temperament, and rarely bite.

I'm a dog groomer, I should know.

Shih Tsu's, long-haired dachshunds, and members of the retriever and spaniel families (with the notable exception of the American Cocker Spaniel) are all very sweet breeds that I see frequently in my shop.
Schnauzers, American Cocker Spaniels, Chow Chows, and Welsh Corgis are the most frequent biters we see. These breeds are all treated quite carefully when we meet a new one, until we find out whether or not it's going to be nasty. (With Schnauzers the overwhelming majority will bite at first, but can be won over with gentle treatment).

Dogs like Pugs, smooth-coated Dachshunds, and the Spitz breeds are generally very nice dogs, but not very tolerant of being "picked on"-- clipping nails and such can be dangerous in these breeds, but they don't usually bite without good reason.