By Artemis Kao Take a stroll to your nearest park, and you’ll find half a dozen bushy, golden tails waving in the wind. What is it between humans and Golden Retrievers that they have become one of the most popular dogs? The ten most popular dogs in the US (2004) Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever German Shepherd Dog Beagle Yorkshire Terrier Dachshund Boxer Poodle Shih Tzu Chihuahua The ten most popular dogs in the UK (2004) Labrador Retriever Cocker Spaniel (English) English Springer Spaniel German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian) Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Golden Retriever West Highland White Terrier Boxer Border Terrier (Data source: American Kennel Club website) Taking a look at the two rankings above, we find that Golden Retrievers are not only popular in Taiwan, but also in the United States and Britain. Furthermore, we discover that large dogs dominate both rankings. I would like to delve deeper into the question of why people choose large dogs over the “petite pooch” and use the Golden Retriever as an example of my observation.
First of all, we should ask: What does one assume about a dog owner, especially an owner of a pure-bred dog? Well, to make it straightforward, people who have the time and money to dote on dogs are rich, at least richer than those who are struggling simply to meet the necessities of life. Furthermore, we assume that a well-kept dog, especially one of a well-known breed, has received more care than a shoddy, inexpensive one. To top it off, large dogs need more space and more exercise than the smaller breeds, thus requiring a big backyard and an energetic owner. So just by owning a large, well-kept, pure-bred dog, we are led to the conclusion, whether intentionally or not, that the owner is rich and has a big house with a big backyard. Secondly, buying the dog is just the beginning of the stream of cash it takes to keep it. To maintain a dog’s well-kept appearance, the owner has to consider the cost of food, veterinary procedures and diagnostic testing, annual checkups, parasite control, annual dental cleaning, spaying/neutering, treats and toys, training, grooming, dog shows, licenses, gifts, surgery for emergencies, etc. etc. A Golden Retriever costs about $600 to $1500 in the United States (NT$18,000 to NT$45,000) and about NT$20,000 to NT$30,000 in Taiwan. The annual cost of maintaining such a large dog ranges from $800 to $6000 or above (NT$24,000 to NT$180,000), which comes to around $66 to $500 a month (NT$2000 to NT$15,000). Therefore, by owning a large dog with a well-cared-for look implies that the owner has at least NT$4000 of extra money each month to lavish on a dog. The more well-groomed and dog-show-certified a dog is, the more it costs, thus elevating the financial status of the dog owner. Thirdly, among the many large dogs, why have Golden Retrievers become so popular? The Golden Retriever has a friendly, gentle, and reliable temperament. They are not expected to be hostile towards other dogs or people. They have a rich, lustrous, golden coat of various shades, ranging from cream to copper gold to dark gold. With their sunshiny coat, laugh-like bark, and wagging tail, they sometimes even seem to serve as a public relations manager. If you see someone walking a boxer down the street, you will know not to mess around with a guy that owns a grumpy dog. Chances are the owner is just as grumpy as his dog. However, if you see someone walking a Golden Retriever, you are naturally attracted to the golden, waving fur flashing in the sunlight. You will approach the pair, even though the owner might just be as grumpy- looking. An owner of a Golden Retriever can imply that he has a friendly and sociable personality simply by owning a friendly and sociable dog. Just as the bourgeoisie today try to elevate their social status by carrying Gucci bags or identifying themselves with certain icons, Golden Retrievers have come to embody a high financial status and a friendly personality. Next time when you go shopping around Taipei 101 or the Xi Men area, take a look beneath the surface of the many dog owners who sit around on benches with their Golden Retrievers smiling beside them. a
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May 2024
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