Look at this article that compares AKC registrations from 1935 to 2015. ![]() Looking at registrations from a longer time span is especially interesting. Yorkies, Havenese, Chihuahuas, Maltese, Pugs, Papillons, Min Pins, Italian Greyhounds, Pekingese, Toy Fox Terriers, to name a few, have all had fewer number of dogs registered dogs registered over the last ten years. When we do, it seems that many small dogs are actually less popular than ten years ago. Thanks to Stephanie Smith at the AKC (much appreciated!), we can compare rankings of small dogs from 2005 to 2015. What about dogs in the U.S.? It is equally difficult to look at “all dogs in the U.S.,” but we can start by looking at AKC registrations. (Note however, that these statistics come from kennel club registrations, which, of course, is not the same as “all dogs in Australia.”) In other words, ANKC registered dogs got not just smaller and shorter, but their heads are also more puppy-like. The odds of registration of medium and small breeds increased by 5.3 % and 4.2 %, respectively, relative to large breeds (p < 0.001) and by 12.1 % and 11.0 %, respectively, relative to giant breeds (p < 0.001) for each 5-year block of time. In the process of searching, I did find some interesting information: For example, authors Teng, McGreevy, Toribio & Dhand, reporting in Canine Genetics & Epidemiology, 2016,found that in Australia.īoth weighted minimal height (p = 0.014) and weighted maximal height (p < 0.001) decreased significantly over time, and the weighted cephalic index increased significantly (p < 0.001). My web techie prince, David, said he’d heard that, on average, dogs weighed 17% less than “before.” I’ve tried to find the source for that, but failed so far (anyone?). However, understandably in many ways, size matters greatly to the dog loving public, and recently there’s been talk about a perceived trend that people are getting small dogs more than ever before. I personally like living with a mix of sizes, (Willie is 45 lbs, Maggie 35, Tootsie about 12) but most important to me is a dog’s physical and psychological health, regardless of size. In other words, like a lot of prejudices, mine melted away as soon as I discovered the reality of “the other,” and dropped the beliefs that had been inculcated in me at an early age. ![]() And lo and behold, I discovered that the smartest dog in one class was the Miniature poodle, and that the Cairn Terrier in another class stole my heart every week. Then, early in my career, I began volunteering at dog training classes, and eventually began my own training and behavior consulting business. According to one relative, “Rug rats” weren’t even “real” dogs, that distinction being reserved for Labradors and German shepherds. Comments were made by my parents and friends about small dogs that weren’t particularly positive. ![]() But today’s question IS about size, and whether a dog’s size influences your interest or attraction to it.įull disclosure: I grew up in a dog-loving family that gravitated toward medium to large-size dogs. I was going to title this Size Matters? But then, well.
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