“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
—Josh Billings (a.k.a. Henry Wheeler Shaw; humorist and lecturer)
“Meet the Breeds,” the annual four-legged love-fest sponsored by the American Kennel Club, teamed up with the Westminster Kennel Club for the first time this Valentine’s Day.
On Saturday, February 14, 2015, for seven ecstatic hours, Pier 92 was the ideal place to fall in love–perhaps hundreds of times over. There was so much adoration in the air the endorphin level on Pier 92 that wintry Saturday was almost palpable.
A sold-out crowd of tens of thousands of kids, including those masquerading as adults, visited over 140 breed-specific booths to ogle, play with and learn the subtleties of various breeds, ostensibly so they can make an educated choice when adopting a family dog.
Since West Villagers tend to live in small apartments that are often walk-ups, have neighbors in close proximity who don’t want to hear unnecessary barking, rarely have a fenced yard, and are busy New Yorkers, making this choice can be difficult. Hence the popularity of the French Bulldog and the English Bulldog, the number one and two most popular breeds in the 10014 zip code, according to Hillary Prim from the American Kennel Club. These breeds don’t require a lot of exercise or grooming, and are not known for barking.
The problem with bulldogs is that they have been bred for their disproportionate body shape with very large shoulders and tiny rear ends, making mating and whelping virtually impossible. According to the bulldog breeder, Laura Aline, artificial insemination for mating and a Cesarean section for whelping is how just about all 21st century bulldogs come into existence. It can be life-threatening for the birth mother to push out the big-shouldered puppies, so for the safety of the dog and her pups, a C-section is routinely performed.
These unsavory facts may make you consider other breeds, just as loving, lounging and bark-free as the bulldogs. Poodles, the third most popular 10014 breed, are a good choice. They come in all sizes from toy (6-9 pounds) to standard (45-70 pounds) but, of course, require grooming.
At “Meet the Breeds,” a toy poodle breeder adamantly denied the common misunderstanding the poodles are “hypoallergenic,” though it is true they have hair rather than fur, and therefore do not have dander, a common allergen. She also claimed that the lighter colored poodles seem to produce fewer allergens—perhaps explaining the popularity of the fluffy little white dogs you see all over the West Village.
Having a personal penchant toward hounds, I spoke to many breeders from this group of floppy eared dogs that includes the Rhodesian Ridgeback, the fourth most popular AKC-registered dog in 10014. I can personally attest that Ridgebacks are great apartment dogs after age 18 months, as are many breeds that mature at about that age.
However, the consensus is that a retired racing greyhound is a loving family dog, has had enough exercise during his or her racing career to enjoy lazing around the apartment with you, requires no special grooming and is not a barker. As a bonus, adopting one of these elegant retired athletes is a remarkable humanitarian gesture.
Breanna Foister and Matthew Montouris-Gore live in a small W. 11th Street studio with two greyhounds adopted from Forever Home Greyhound Adoptions in Albany. Known for screening potential homes carefully, this agency offers purebred greyhounds for $300 with a $150 refund upon proof of neutering. Compare that to the $4,500 price tag of an English bulldog.
In regard to their two greyhounds, 9-year-old Logan and 5-month-old Randall, owner Matthew said, “They’re amazing as far as companionship.” Breanna, their adoptive “mom” chimed in with, “The only cost is couch real estate,” referring to the greyhounds’ longing to be snuggled up next to their masters.
Leslie Adatto, still adjusting to the loss of her beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback, Cecil, is the author of “Roof Explorer’s Guide: 101 New York City Rooftops,” found on amazon.com and in book stores and museum gift shops throughout New York City.
I met a Brussels Griffon that I fell in love with and I want one so much. I would love to rescue one but seriously doubt anyone would give up such a sweet breed. I would take a Greyhound or a poodle too. Oh and the French bulldog is on my list too.
How lovely and apt. I too am still mourning the divine Cecil.