Pinnacle pups down to personal preference

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/06/2021 (1747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I have never met a dog owner who did not think their canine companion is the cutest, most loyal and brightest creature on the planet.

In fact, I have looked on in horror as rival dog owners — this was at a tension-filled dog show — threatened to brain each other with squeaky toys in a teeth-baring battle over whose hound was superior.

The thing is, all of these people are correct in the sense that all dogs are perfect in the biased eyes of the human beings that love them.

I was forced to ponder the issue of pup popularity last week when I peered into my email inbox and found yet another insightful report from the people at rover.com, a website that touts itself as the world’s largest and most trusted network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

The report was rover.com’s third annual survey of Canada’s most popular dog breeds, revealing which pups topped the popularity poll in 2021 amid the ongoing gloom of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first thing that jumped out is the fact that so-called “pandemic pups” — adopted to provide companionship and ease the stress of being largely trapped at home — are a real thing and not the creation of tail-wagging media types with too much time on their hands.

“With the pandemic shaping so many aspects of our lives this past year, an inspiring trend emerged: A lot of people have brought new dogs into their homes this past year. Almost half (43 per cent) of Canadian dog owners said they welcomed a new dog into their family during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the survey said.

“And, the vast majority (68 per cent) of dog parents said they’ve noticed more dogs in their neighbourhood over the past year.”

I know what you are thinking. You are thinking: “That’s fine, Doug, but tell us something we don’t know — like which dog breeds are the most popular this year?”

OK, there’s no need to growl at me, but you will be interested to hear that the list of popular pups can vary depending on what city or region you are looking at.

For example, according to rover.com, the top five breeds in Canada are:

1) Mixed breed: “Often hardy and always unique, mixed breed dogs continually top lists of the most popular dog types in Canada. There’s a mixed pup out there for just about everyone!

2) Labrador Retriever: “Labs are one of Canada’s most popular dog breeds. These high-spirited sporting dogs are perfect for people who love spending time outdoors swimming, jogging or hunting.”

3) Golden Retriever: “Intelligence and a friendly disposition make goldens one of Canada’s most popular dog breeds. These smart pups do well with obedience training and make great hunters.”

4) Goldendoodle: “The Goldendoodle is a fairly new crossbreed that’s growing in popularity. They’re known for their teddy bear looks, low-shedding coats and friendly personalities.”

5) German shepherd: “Intelligent and protective, German shepherds make loyal companions. These dogs bond well with their owners through physical activities like herding, tracking and agility.”

In contrast, when I asked rover.com PR spokesman Pete Bahrenburg about the most popular pooches in this city, he emailed the following list of “the top five trending dog breeds in Winnipeg”: 1. Bichon Frise 2. American Pit Bull Terrier (which is prohibited in Winnipeg) 3. Beagle 4. Miniature Schnauzer; and 5. Yorkshire Terrier.

The canine-friendly website surveyed 500 Canadian “dog parents” this month and discovered that 62 per cent of owners said breed was very important in choosing a new dog and the biggest consideration was whether the incoming pup was “family friendly.”

“Other key factors when getting a dog included: 48 per cent wanted a breed that would snuggle, 40 per cent wanted a breed that was highly intelligent and 34 per cent wanted a breed that would get along with other pets,” the survey said.

Interestingly, about 42 per cent of new owners adopted their new family member from a shelter, while roughly a third worked with a breeder.

For me, one of the coolest findings was this: “Oodles of Doodles: Nearly half (44 per cent) of pet parents got a poodle mix; 14 per cent got a Labradoodle, 13 per cent got a Goldendoodle, six per cent got a Bernadoodle, and four per cent got a Cockapoo.”

Which means — assuming I am interpreting this correctly — my own pre-pandemic pups are hugely popular because they are both mixed breeds and one of them, Juno, is a “Schnoodle,” a cross between a poodle and a Schnauzer.

Our other dog, Bogey, is a “maltichon,” which is a mix of the No. 1 dog in Winnipeg (the Bichon Frise) and a Maltese. Out of journalistic fairness, I should confess both of my mutts look more like a cross between a cotton swab and a makeup applicator than any officially recognized breed.

During the pandemic, they have kept my jittery brain off the global health crisis through their amusing antics, such as using their teeth to shred both my computer chair and our most expensive piece of furniture — the huge leather couch in our living room.

But that’s fine, because, as I said earlier, my trouble-making mutts are just like yours — the cutest, most loyal and brightest creatures on the planet.

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca