Dogs gone wild:Los Angeles' popular breeds

The little cute Yorkshire Terriers were bred to kill rats; the furry Pomeranian was originally a larger size and used to herd sheep; the pug and Maltese were pets of royalty and aristocracy and the dachshund was originally bred to hunt the aggressive badger.

When we take possession of our dogs as man or woman’s best friend, we must keep in mind the rich heritage of our dogs when we’re training and caring for them. As I noted in a previous article, our dogs cannot be 100 percent trained out of its instinctual behavior so know what you’re getting yourself in to before you rescue, adopt or buy.

Hunting dogs were bred primarily to work with people to hunt animals; herding dogs not surprisingly evolved to herd diverse types of livestock including sheep, cattle, reindeer and any other cloven footed animals; hounds were created to chase and track by sight or smell quarry; terriers were raised to hunt and kill vermin while dogs in the Toy Group were initially developed to provide companionship to rich people. I did not list every category here, but please learn which group your dog has membership and understand what that means for you and your environment.

Before you can hope to truly understand and connect with your dog, you need to know something about its history. My dachshund book collection continues to grow each year, and I believe the more I’ve learned about Rufus’ ancestors, the stronger our bond becomes.

This series of articles, Dogs gone wild, has been fun for me and I hope it has helped and entertained you, our loyal readers. Saturday night at my house was like a scene from my childhood favorite “The Secret of NIMH,” but by understanding Rufus’ breed characteristics, by having a good working relationship with our vet and by being a graduate of an obedience class we are better prepared to react when Rufus hears the call of the wild.

Los Angeles’ Top Dogs according to the American Kennel Club. 

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Bulldog
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Yorkshire Terrier
6. French Bulldog
7. Poodle
8. Pug
9. Pomeranian
10. Maltese 

L.A.’s Top Dogs Breed Ranking according to the Los Angeles Times’ data desk. 

1. Chihuahua
2. Labrador Retriever
3. German Shepherd
4. American Pitbull Terrier
5. Poodle
6. Cocker Spaniel
7. Chow Chow
8. Rottweiler
9. Golden Retriever
10. Dachshund
11. Shih Tzu
12. Pomeranian
13. Boxer
14. Beagle
15. Siberian Husky

Photos:
Top – Tinks & Pairs, Chihuahuas
Middle – Polie, Dachshund
Bottom – Beans, French Bulldog

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