If you’re looking to adopt a dog, but don’t know where to start, we’ve compiled a list of New York City’s most popular dog breeds. Divided into categories, from intelligence to size, this guide delivers a summary of some of the most popular dog breeds around.
Intelligent Dog Breeds
The following information about intelligent dog breeds is founded on The Intelligence of Dogs, a book with a self-explanatory title, written by a professor of psychology. It’s probably important to observe that if it’s intelligence you’re after in a canine companion, it’s important to provide activity or challenges for the dog. Left idle or bored, an intelligent dog with energy to burn is likely to create his or her own challenges, which may be destructive in nature and cause the animal anxiety.
The Border Collie has been ranked the top dog in terms of intelligence. If you had any doubt about the intelligence of this breed, head to YouTube and browse the various videos of these dogs performing tricks rivaled by no other breed. Last year, it was a Border Collie called Chaser who broke the world record for knowing the largest vocabulary of any dog, having learned the names of 1022 items, responding to commands to either retrieve these specific toys or touch them with her nose or paw.
Ranked second smartest dog, the Poodle maintains an expected reputation for brains. The German Shepard, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Australian Cattle Dog, Shetland Sheepdog also made Top 10 Most Intelligent Dogs. It’s no surprise that the Labrador is grouped with this bunch also. After all, the breed is utilized as seeing-eye dogs, sniffer dogs and therapy dogs for a reason. As the only small dog to have made the intelligence list, the Papillon boasts both aesthetic appeal as well as intellectual capacity and the Rottweiler, though it has developed a somewhat negative reputation for brawn, is also number nine in the intelligence ranking.
Cutest Dog Breeds
This category is completely subjective, considering “cute” could be perceived as anything - small and fluffy; teddy bear like. Some prefer the smooth, silky fur of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the fine cat like features of a Pom.
On the other hand, Urban Dictionary defines cute as “ugly but interesting”, which more accurately illustrates my own person preference for physical characteristics. Dopey looking dogs with oddly disproportionate legs or torso, a drooping, wrinkly face or a bulbous heads are features, which I particularly enjoy. Falling under this category are Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, Corgis, Shar Peis, Japanese Chins, the French Bulldog, the Brussels Griffon.
Boo is arguably the most famous dog in the world, known globally for his puffy, spherical smiling face and a penchant for photo posing. Listed as a Public Figure on Facebook, Boo has received over 4,500,000 likes and his YouTube channel boasts millions of views. His book, Boo: The Life of the World's Cutest Dog, is sold everywhere from Barnes and Noble to Urban Outfitters.
Deemed The Cutest Dog in the World, Pomeranians with flat, blunt features have soared in popularity. Boo merchandise includes stuffed toys, pictured here with the original canine himself (titled Spot the Imposter on Buzzfeed).
Largest Dog Breeds
At seven feet high, Great Dane “Giant George” holds the title for largest dog ever. Measured by a Guinness World Record official in 2010, it was declared that not only is George currently the planet's largest dog but is also the tallest dog ever recorded. Though Giant George maintains this title, he is just one among several giant breeds.
Though many of their fierce characteristics have since been bred out of these dogs, all of the gentle giants were originally bred for hard manual labour. The English Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, and Dogue de Bordeaux (the breed made famous but Turner and Hooch) were all respectively bred for guarding and protecting. The Irish Wolfhound was used for hunting wolves, as its name suggests, and the Anatolian Shepard herded and protected flocks of sheep and cattle. One of the biggest dog breeds in the world, the Newfoundland, was originally bred and used as a working dog for fishermen in the Dominion of Newfoundland and excels at water rescue.
St Bernards have faced mixed judgment due to conflicting perceptions created by the media. In Stephen King’s Cujo, the villain was a rabid St. Bernard stalking a trapped family stuck in a car. In Beethoven, however, the dog saves the day.
Smallest Dog Breeds
Almost every dog breed can be found in miniature or toy size and these small dogs populate almost every dwelling in Manhattan, it would seem. The Bichon Frise, Chihuahua, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Pug, Shih Tzu and Maltese are among some of the more common varieties, but one can find any number of crosses a la the Cockapoo and Puggle.
Miniature dog breeds blanket almost everything from Miniature Pinscher to Miniature Schnauzer. There’s even such a thing as a Miniature Saint Bernard, which seems like an oxymoron to me. Then, there are the toy dogs. Though not all of the respected global Kennel Clubs categorize the same breeds as toy, most of them are shared. Toy dog breeds have enjoyed sustained popularity, expanding to include an array of breeds from Toy Australian Shepard to the humble Yorkshire Terrier.
The Pomeranian’s ancestors were reportedly as big as Huskies and I cannot begin to image how they might shrink such giants down. I imagine they probably utilize some kind of transmolecular laser shrinking machine in the style of ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’.
Rarest Dog Breeds
Though this article is primarily dedicated to popular dogs breeds, NYC is home to some of the most exceptional uncommon dog breeds in existence and in my opinion, they deserve a mention. If you’re going to glimpse the noble Tibetan Mastiff anywhere, it’s as likely to be here as anywhere else. It was a Red Tibetan Mastiff that became the world’s most expensive dog after selling for £945,000 to a coal baron from the north of China.
The Peruvian Hairless Dog, not to be confused with the Xoloitzcuintli (I swear I didn’t just make that up), resembles the Chinese Crested. It is curious to think how dogs with such distinct physical characteristics (no hair!) managed to develop in several very separate countries.
Though every dog has its merits, the breed deemed Ugliest Dog in the World, has a special place in my heart. The Chinese Crested dogs often take home the coveted award. Pictured Below is Elwood, 2007's World's Ugliest Dog Winner.
SOURCE: https://www.google.com/search?q=dog+breeds&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&s...
