In the blink of an eye, certain dog breeds are in fashion and quickly replaced by another breed that has burst onto the dog loving scene. This favorable rise and fall often is attributed to a movie or television show featuring this amazing dog. What some of the public don’t realize, they see this incredible dog do these incredible things and decide they want one. Fast forward to a new dog in the home, owners begin to grasp that their dog is nothing like the movie persona they fell for. Not only is the breed not like they were in the movie, it is quickly realized, the dog is not a good fit for the family. Listed below are five dog breeds that were much beloved, overbred to meet demand and relinquished because humans didn’t do their research.
Chihuahua
Taco Bell began it with catchy commercials and a catch phrase. Thanks to the celebrity endorsements this breed was displayed as a cute accessory. The Chihuahua spurred the “pocket dog” craze. Soon after, the Chihuahua was highlighted in their own trilogy “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”. Since then, they have become one of the most relinquished dogs in the United States.
Some potential owners see these sweet pups as a cute little lap dog that transfers easily to a purse. What they don’t realize is that the Chihuahua is a dog, dogs need training and boundaries. A Chihuahua can be just as aggressive and mean as any other dog. They also may cause just as much damage.
Dalmatian
This rise and fall with the Dalmatians happened twice, with the animated release of “101 Dalmatians” in 1961 and again with the live action version in 1996. These spotted pups are darling and come with their own set of pros and cons. Most are enthusiastic and lively. Some Dalmatians express their happiness by curling their lips into a sort of grimaced smile. To those who recognize it, it is comical and heartwarming. To those who don’t it may be a little disconcerting.
Dalmatians need a job for mental stimulation and a decent amount of exercise. If their mental and physical demands are not met, there will be a spotted whirlwind of destructive behavior. The Dalmatian used to run alongside horses, as a carriage dog and a firefighter, physical exertion is expected.
Collie
The strong, graceful look of the Collie is instantly recognizable. It is also immediately equated with a faithful dog who could always find someone to speak her language. “What’s that Lassie? Timmy fell down a well? Again?” Before Lassie however, there was another Collie obsession, one that began in the 1880’s. Queen Victoria created it by bringing several back from a trip in Scotland. Endorsed by royalty, commoners had to have these amazing herding dogs.
In the 1950’s/60’s the Collie was still in high demand, with potential owners expecting a dog who could balance an account ledger and broker world peace. They found very quickly the Collie, who is highly intelligent, could also be a bit of a diva; if not treated with respect.
German Shepherd
In the 1950’s another bright dog delighted children across America. Every week Rin Tin Tin, an incredibly intelligent dog would delight audiences in his many heroic adventures with his human side kick, a boy named Rusty, and the old west as the backdrop. German Shepherds are well known for their cleverness and their ability to train for any and every possible canine job available. Because of their above average intellect, potential owners don’t understand that German Shepherds need, not only mental stimulation, but a job. If the German Shepherd isn’t worked properly, it may develop its own form of stimulation, at the owners detriment, of course.
Shepherds start out as cute, little, furball puppies. They snuggle and love and chew, some owners forgive them and allow the behavior. These are the owners who wake up one morning and realize their cute little furball is a full grown out of control dog with no boundaries, no stimulation and no job. Rin Tin Tin has left the building and been replaced by Cujo.
Cairn Terrier
“Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.” The Cairn Terrier was originally bred to dig vermin out of rock piles. From Scotland fox chaser to following Dorothy down the yellow brick road, these feisty little dogs have energy for days. Potential owners who didn’t read up on this lively breed probably pulled their hair out in tufts as their Cairn raced down the sidewalk and across a busy street to chase a rabbit. The prey drive is strong in these little dogs.
