In the Philippines, a big love for little dogs

The easy-to-cuddle appeal of small dogs is apparently not lost on Filipinos: the Shih Tzu, the chihuahua, and the Pomeranian are ranked as the top three dog breeds in the country, based on the Philippine Canine Club’s (PCCI) 2011 registration statistics.

According to the PCCI, the Shih Tzu has been topping the list since 2008, and Shih Tzu owners have increased from around 14,000 in 2008 to over 24,000 in 2011. For Cathleen Montelibano, owner of eight-year-old Ichi, Shih Tzus are the ideal pets because they are affectionate, easy to train, and easy to groom. “Shih Tzus are very submissive and loyal. They are sweet and not scary,” she told GMA News Online. "Ichi is so easy to take care of and he doesn’t bark and he doesn’t need a leash. I guess the only hard part was the potty training, but Ichi followed and remembered naman right away,” Montelibano shared. Other small dog breeds that made it in the top 10 are the pug and the poodle, which came in at number eight and number nine respectively. Meanwhile, bigger dog breeds rounded out the top 10, with the Siberian husky coming in at fourth most popular, the beagle at fifth, the Labrador retriever sixth, the chow chow seventh, and the German Shepherd tenth. Frenchies Other pint-size pooches such as the French bulldog are also becoming a big hit among Pinoy dog lovers. Based on PCCI’s registration statistics, there are currently over 4,000 French bulldog owners in the country, and the number has been growing at a rate of up to 35 percent every year. “The French bulldog has been gaining popularity over the last few years in the Philippines. Its characteristic as an excellent companion and being sweet are probably the reasons why they are getting popular,” said breeder Jonathan Tabisaura in a statement from PCCI. He also said that French bulldogs are very kid-friendly and do not bark a lot, except when there are strangers, making them ideal watchdogs. “They are classified as a non-sporting dog which requires minimal exercise compared to the other breeds,” he added. Tabisaura did point out that the Frenchie’s snub nose makes it difficult for them to breathe in high temperatures, so while those who were born locally can adjust to our tropical climate, it is still better to put them in a cooler environment during the daytime. Barbara de la Cruz, owner of a French bulldog puppy named Brie, did note that Frenchies can be costly pets because aside from being an expensive breed to begin with, they also have a lot of health concerns that need regular veterinary attention. Aside from that though, de la Cruz told GMA News Online that Frenchies are “perfect” and make for loving and fun pets. “Frenchies are good pets because they love to cuddle—as in they live to cuddle with their human—very sweet and affectionate,” de la Cruz said. “They’re also very lively and amusing. And of course their funny faces are the best,” she added. De la Cruz, who has also taken care of several other dogs of various sizes and breeds including a mini pinscher and a Labrador retriever, said that small dogs make ideal pets because they don’t need a lot of space. “With big dogs kasi, you need a big space for them talaga,” she said. She added that in the long run, the maintenance for small dogs is generally cheaper because given their size, they require less food, grooming, and smaller doses of medicines and shots. Ultimately, no matter the breed or size, there is a reason why dogs are popular pets and “man’s best friend.” "In a very busy urban society, I believe a very good stress reliever, aside from your family of course, is seeing a dog wagging his tail when he sees his master," said Tabisaura. "Its playfulness and affection bring unexplainable joy to his friend and owner.” — BM, GMA News