One reason I bought a Leonberger was because there was such a small breed community in this country that the genetics were well known on practically every animal and it was a very well controlled and healthy breed stock. Now that Leos have been admitted as an AKC recognized breed and people start seeing them in televised dog shows I expect them to become more popular--which won't be a good thing IMO.

Remember when dalmations (mostly poorly bred ones) flooded the market after the Disney movie? I think there was a similar thing with one of the Mastiff breeds that appeared in Harry Potter.

 Quote: tracy collins

One reason I bought a Leonberger was because there was such a small breed community in this country that the genetics were well known on practically every animal and it was a very well controlled and healthy breed stock. Now that Leos have been admitted as an AKC recognized breed and people start seeing them in televised dog shows I expect them to become more popular--which won't be a good thing IMO.

Remember when dalmations (mostly poorly bred ones) flooded the market after the Disney movie? I think there was a similar thing with one of the Mastiff breeds that appeared in Harry Potter.

I remember when Something About Mary came out and Border Terrier owners were afraid the same thing would happen.

It didn't, though. Saved by that plain brown suit!

There are Border Terriers in my family, and I sure do love them (although Bob Scott is right when he puts JRTs and Border Terriers both into the "crazy little bassids" category ).

The most popular thing in my area (Kootenays, BC), is the "wolf cross". Mind you, I don't mean actual wolf hybrids, just people who like to think, or have been told, their mutt is part wolf. I swear that about 50% of large breed mixes that I meet, are introduced as part wolf... and being that I work at a vet, and sometimes at a friend's pet supply shop - I meet a LOT of them!
When I first moved here, I found it hard not to get frustrated and confrontational about it, but now I just play along! "Oh my! Part wolf? Mother or Father? Did you meet the wolf?! That's amazing! Has it killed your cat yet?!" etc...

That is pretty good. Just go along with it. Funny stuff. The town I live in has tons of heelers. Lots of farmers that use them. But maybe I can recruit some farmers when I get my next pup and work some herding into him....

It does seem only logical that whatever breed is the most popular, that is going to be the breed with the highest bites too because so many people buy dogs for their popularity and then don't train them. All you have to do is go out on a walk down here in the beach cities and you'll see a vicious, biting example of every breed out there. That what makes me mad about the bum bite wrap that certain breeds get, while other breeds that are 'cute', are out there biting and it's just overlooked. I saw a really friendly, cute looking golden retriever make bleeding teeth holes in a man's leg, but it was just brushed off and blamed on 'the man had a hat on and it scared the dog' - if that would have been a GSD or pit bull, it would have been hauled in and locked up.

Sorry, a little off topic, but I'm sick of having to carry a big stick to defend us from the 'cute' dogs!

I disagree with popularity being any indicator of health or constitution of the breed. Increase the numbers of dogs in any breed pool and you are bound to be able to find more examples of condition X or condition Y but the overall pool of unsymptomatic dogs also increases. The increase in the amount of frequency is another beast altogether which is totally up for debate. I point to a lack of culling by breeders who are willing to put up with less than sound for sake of look, this is not always the same as an increase in popularity but also a shift in priorities of breeders.
I think a great example is the greyhound track. Severe health issues in racing greyhounds is almost unheard of. Why? Well only a sound dog can compete and win, and only those who win are likely to breed a new generation of greyhounds. I've never heard of a off the track hound with HD, bloating, or the litany of immune or structural issues that plague other dogs including showline greyhounds. I don't think that's just luck but rather breeding a form to function and requiring health to be a factor to success. No one cares how cute a racing greyhound is, how deep it's pigment is, or that it's father won at Westminster, they just want it to run faster than the next guy.
So when I look at breeds like pomeranians and see that they have a 1/3 chance of having luxating patellas, Cavaliers that almost all have heart problems, or neos that commonly have cherry eye I have to wonder who is calling the shots and why that's the case. It doesn't mean one breed is better than the other it just means we have to think about what factors this dog was selected for and what the trade off is for that selection.

I'm very glad that my breed, Toy Fox Terrier, is not popular and I sincerely hope it's never "discovered."

I agree with Melissa. Unfortunatley having a popular breed encourages more BYBs. there are plenty of good sound goldens out there. My Golden was a wedding gift from a friend. I knew next to nothing about proper breeding. He lived to 14 1/2 but had bad skin allergies. That was the only bad thing about him. I have a feeling if I'd had him on raw he would have been much better. It seems like everyone has a Golden at obedience trials. Some say they are the easiest to train. I saw no Bullys, mine were the only ones.(The last one (AKC Ob) I went to was pretty small though.)

Mals #81. Nice!

I have interest in only about four breeds, and one isn't even on there (Dutchie), while one is beset with health issues (GSD).

Dutchie's aren't AKC though so they wouldn't be on there anyways right?