The Labrador Retriever is on track to win the popularity contest again this year, just as it has for many years.
Montgomery County residents registered 3,832 Labrador Retrievers with the auditor’s office last year, far more than any other breed (73 percent more than the second most popular breed).
Labrador Retrievers are loyal and amiable. They are intelligent and playful. They are energetic but not nippy.
To be sure, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Boxers and Golden Retrievers remain perennial favorites.
But the Labrador Retriever is top dog for good reason.
“They are people pleasers,” said Diane Martin, events coordinator with the Greater Dayton Labrador Retriever Rescue. “Their temperament makes them great for families.”
Martin said Labrador Retrievers usually are the perfect family dog, and they are especially good with the elderly and young children.
“They will put up an awful lot with your kids,” Martin said. “You can lay on these dogs, romp around with them and when they get tired, they just get up and walk away.”
But Martin said people should do their research before selecting a furry companion to make sure the breed’s temperament is the right fit.
Labrador Retrievers are somewhat high maintenance because of their need for exercise. They generally need physically active owners.
Chihuahuas were the second most popular breed in Montgomery County last year, and Shih Tzus ranked third.
Chihuahuas are very loyal, they love to snuggle and they have unique personalities, said Chris Mesker, a Butler Twp. resident who is the president and Midwest coordinator of the Chihuahua Rescue & Transport Inc.
“I have a whole house full of Chihuahuas and each one is a totally different dog and has a totally different personality,” she said. “There are no two exactly alike, they are like snowflakes.”
Chihuahuas become their owners’ best friends. They are big on cuddling.
But the small breed is not for everyone.
They are very hard to housebreak and they are not good around small children and big dogs.
“Even the most well-behaved children can still scare a Chihuahua and so the Chihuahua nips,” Mesker said. “A house-broken Chihuahua that is good with kids is a fairy tale — it rarely exists. … You have to understand the Chihuahua breed to love it.”
The dog’s size also puts them at risk of being attacked and injured by other animals, including dogs, hawks, foxes and coyotes.
In 2013, other popular breeds in the county were the Boxer (ranked no. 4 ), Golden Retriever (no. 5), Yorkshire Terrier (no. 6), Dachshund (no. 7), German Shepherd (no. 8), Beagle (no. 9) and Jack Russell Terrier (no. 10).
All breeds have peculiarities that make them right for some people and wrong for others.
Some are prone to health issues (Boxer, Dachshund). Others are prone to loud barking (Beagle). Others are notoriously hard to train (Yorkshire Terrier).
Some breeds, like Australian Shepherds, are too energetic for apartments. German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers tend to be good watchdogs.
Chihuahuas and Labrador Retrievers are among the most euthanized breeds of dogs, advocates said.
People can help prevent these outcomes by making informed decisions when adopting or buying a new dog.
“Buying a dog is like buying anything else; the more you know before you buy, the better off you will be,” according to the American Kennel Club. “We strongly recommend that you spend enough time investigating before buying. Remember, dogs are for life.”
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