“A dog recognizes its master as its family” – this was the conclusion that was revealed through the MRI Scan of the Dog’s brain sometimes back.
Dogs have been a part of human civilization since the beginning of time. Ancient literature from Egypt, India, Incan, and many other parts of the world has pictorial and written accounts of Dogs as an integral part and parcel of the lifestyle.
However, between the late 1800 and early 1900s, the relationship between humans and dogs began to transition into something much more profound and more emotional. From working dogs, they began to also play an essential role as companions and assistants in day to day life changes.
Dogs are often known for their fierce loyalty and immense unconditional love towards humans. This beautiful relationship is continuing without much change in the dynamics. However, with so many breeds of dogs and their unique character traits, it is not surprising that there has been a rise and fall in favoritism.
No dog is ever less lovable or essential, but with the changing trends, lifestyle, and socio-economic changes, some breeds have been a higher crowd drawer than others. Listing this iconic change in the direction of the most favorite kind of dogs of the last century is a tough job.
Based on the historical accounts, a rough estimate conclusion can be drawn which breed has dominated the charts for every decade since the advent of the early 19th century.
The 1900s – The playful Koolie
The early 19th century favorite, according to the American Kennel Club, was the Koolies. One of the most loved breeds during the time, it was a crowd favorite for its natural temperament and high trainability. Despite being a herding breed, they were known for being an excellent companion.
The other significant favorites during this decade included Boston terrier, English setter, Bull terrier, Pointer, Bulldog, Airedale terrier, Beagle.
The 1910s -The gentleman Boston terrier
The second decade of the 20th century saw a rise in the favoritism towards smaller dog breeds. The Boston terrier was famous as the “American Gentleman” due to their quirky attitude. This highly intelligent breed was easy to train and equally good as a companion.
Even though Boston terrier was a favorite, some of the other most sort after breeds during this time included Airedale terrier, Coolie, French Bulldog, Cocker spaniel, Pekingese.
The 1920s – The loving yet ferocious German Shepherd Dog
War was brewing all around the world, and every small bit of help was welcome. German Shepherd was introduced into the defense system for the first time as an experiment. Besides being highly intelligent and loyal, GSD showed how good of a working dog they are besides being a loving company.
Their caring and family-oriented temperament made them a valuable asset even among families. Other favorites during this period included Chow chow, Pekingese, Wire-haired fox terrier, Cocker spaniel, Bulldog.
The 1930s – The mini gentleman Boston terrier again
Boston terrier was always an inclusion in the top 10 favorite dogs for decades together. Besides being very small in size, the ease of training and maintenance made this Dog the most preferred pet for families and single men during the time. A great playful company, they also had a slightly higher life span than many other breeds.
Other crowd favorites during the time included Fox terrier, a Scottish terrier, Beagle, Pekingese, English springer spaniel, Pomeranian, Bulldog.
The 1940s – The funny eared Cocker Spaniel
This highly energetic mid-size Dog became an All American favorite after winning the Best in the show at American Kennel Club’s dog show. The beautiful Dog with a very cheerful disposition was a definite lap dog who loved to snuggle on the couch, thus making it perfect for families with kids and elders alike.
Other favorite breeds during the 40’s era included Boxer, Dachshund, Pekinese, Fox terrier, English springer spaniel, a Scottish terrier, etc.
The 1950s – The floppy-eared Mr. Know it All – Beagle
Incredibly curious and highly intelligent, Beagles belong to the smaller size hound family. The 1950s was the era of hunting sport. Bred to hunt small games like Hare, rabbits, etc., Beagles showed great character traits that included companionship, guarding tendency, and playfulness.
Ease of trainability made them a must-have in most of the households during the time. The 1950s was more about smaller breeds, so the other favorites during the time included Boxer, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Boston terrier, Pekingese
The 1960s and 1970s – The elegant beauty – Poodle
The funny, energetic, and loving Poodle was bound to make a name for itself in the hall of fame as one of the best breeds of Dog ever. This beautiful water dog was especially great as an elegant beauty anywhere it went. Very affectionate by nature, they were also great companions during games and worked as well.
They dominated the favorite chart for over two decades. Other crowd favorites during these two decades included Cocker spaniel, German shepherd, Beagle, Dachshund, Chihuahua, Pekingese, Collie, Miniature schnauzer, Cocker spaniel, Basset hound, etc.
1980 – The return of the Funny eared Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel once again was back on the throne as the favorite after 20 long years of Poodle’s reign. Their easy trainability and energetic nature made them a natural choice as the favorite. The other breeds that were quite popular during this period included, Labrador retriever, German shepherd, Golden retriever, Doberman pinscher, Beagle, Miniature schnauzer, Dachshund, etc.
1990 – 2000 – The Loving, gentle giant Labrador
One of the most preferred breeds of Dog for over two decades is a labrador. This large retriever breed is not only highly trainable and intelligent, but they serve as an excellent assistant dog as well as Therapy Dog. A loving family companion and a great hunting dog, the labrador, is exceptionally versatile in their character trait and usability.
The other preferred choice of dogs during the late 90s and early 2000s includes Rottweiler, Golden retriever, Cocker spaniel, Poodle, Pomeranian, German shepherd, Bulldog, Boxer, etc.
Dogs will continue being one of the closest companions of humans for centuries to come. However, with the deteriorating growing conditions of the environment and the changing facade, many breeds are on the verge of going extinct.
Lack of breeding, unwillingness to adopt, and many other such factors have contributed to the decline of some of the most beautiful and lovely dog breeds like Curly Coated Retriever, Bloodhounds, Otterhound, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Irish Wolfhounds, etc.
These breeds may not have been the trendsetters in any of the eras of the 1900s, but they all had unique character traits and abilities that set them apart from the rest—often regarded as high priced and high maintenance. These breeds lay forgotten today never to be seen again in the next coming century.
With the entry of the 21st century, choosing to get one of these rare but beautiful breeds despite the many old crowd favorites may help in reviving them once again. After all, “a dog is a man’s best friend until death does us apart.”