Labradors fetch No. 1 spot in city

[bigdoglover]

The Chronicle

By Salathia Bryant

Poodles may be precious, terriers tenacious.

But family-friendly is a quality many local dog lovers consider when choosing their four-legged friends.

While taste in dogs may be as diverse as the city's makeup, Houstonians license more Labrador retrievers than any other breed.

Since July 2005, 4,103 Labs have been licensed with the city.

One of those is Lucy, a 10-month-old purebred chocolate cutie who lives in Montrose with her owner, Nicole Franco. Despite Lucy's chewing proclivities — bras, air conditioning wires and sunglasses — Franco couldn't imagine owning anything else.

"There is no other dog for me," she said. "All my friends have Labs. When you love Labs, you love Labs. They are one of the sweetest breeds out there. It's like having a small child."

Animal welfare experts say some people choose breeds they grew up with, while others pick pooches that fit their lifestyles — active, couch potato, high-society.

"Some people love pocket dogs and some people want a dog they can wrestle with. There's a breed out there for everyone," said Heidi Brasher, spokeswoman with the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Loralei Zwitt, owner of My Dog & Me, said Labrador retrievers have topped the American Kennel Club's popular breed list for at least a decade. Zwitt said the dog was bred to work closely with hunters and has a trainable disposition.

"The Lab is definitely America's dog. They are very sweet-natured and affectionate," Zwitt said. "People are not prepared for the difficulties they run into with Labs. Labs can be an active puppy and destructive by nature. They are a bull in a china shop."

So far this year, just more than 33,000 dogs have been registered with the city, a fraction of the actual number of dogs in Houston.

According to the U.S. Humane Society, 39 percent of U.S. households have at least one dog, or about 280,000 Houston households.

Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the city health department, estimated that only 5 to 7 percent of owners license their pets, even though it is required by city ordinance. She said that only a handful of local veterinarians process the licensing paperwork; most simply hand pet owners the information to take home.

"Houston has always had a hard time getting compliance with dog license (requirements)," she said.

Zwitt said breeds such as Dalmatians, Chihuahuas and Jack Russell terriers have spiked in popularity after being featured in movies, books or on television shows. In some cases, that popularity has led to breeding for profit and problems within the breed.

Love for the breed aside, Barton suggested there may be a practical reason why more Labs and German shepherds are licensed.

Barton said pet owners may be more likely to license larger dogs than small house breeds because they are more visible to animal control officers.

It's not just the big dogs, though. Chihuahuas and dachshunds are among the most licensed breeds. Poodles are popular, too. Area shelter officials say smaller breeds, including Yorkshire terriers, are usually requested most often.

Houston Humane Society spokeswoman Courtney Frank said Chihuahuas have a special following.

"We get big guys asking for Chihuahuas all the time," she said. "Ever since that 'yo quiero' Taco Bell dog, they are popular."