Neighborhood Notes

Remember the old state tourism motto, "Oregon: Things look different here"? When it comes to the dogs that Oregonians love, things definitely look different here. We have preferences in our pooches that are different from any other place on the planet -- and we have a rich diversity of dog subcultures that match every niche in our eclectic state.

The choices we make, and the lives our dogs lead, tell us about ourselves.

Not a Yorkie city

It turns out we like hearty dogs. The American Kennel Club recently compared the most popular breeds in the country with their registration rates in the 50 largest cities. It's true that Portlanders followed the rest of the country in selecting Labradors as the No. 1 breed (nationally, Labradors have been the most popular since 1991). But after that, we have a difference of opinion. The big story nationwide was the tiny Yorkshire terriers that catapulted their way to the AKC's No. 2 spot last year. In Portland, these little dogs with major grooming requirements were tied for tenth place.

"You're not Yorkie city," said AKC spokeswoman Daisy Okas. "I think Portland has so much energy -- it seems everybody is very outdoorsy. The Yorkie signifies the pampered pooch with the barrette in the hair." While Portlanders like our big dogs, we also love little ones. It turns out we are a serious pug and dachshund city. That makes sense to Okas. "The pug isn't as pampered as the Yorkie, in the stereotypical standpoint," she said. The same goes for dachshunds. "They have more of a sporting edge."

But we Oregonians pride ourselves on our individuality, and that certainly is true when it comes to our dogs. Our relationship to our dogs is more than mere statistics.

Tasha Brain and her dog, Violet, live in the Alberta arts district. Walk through this area, and almost every dog you'll see is like Violet, a rescued dog of unknowable lineage. Dogs in this neighborhood don't ride around in carriers and are likely to sport a hemp collar and leash.

Each morning, Brain and Violet go to their favorite locally owned espresso place for their breakfast break. Brain speaks to her dog quietly, in whole sentences. Violet gets natural food, wears no clothes and doesn't have fancy hair (although Brain's multicolored dreadlocks are pretty fancy, in an arty Northeast Portland way).

"In Northeast Portland, it's let's save the world and be eco-friendly. Let's go to a shelter and save a dog's life. They're freethinking and creative," said Julie Cantonwine, who owns Healthy Pets Northwest, which has stores in the Alberta, Hawthorne and Multnomah neighborhoods.
read more at The Oregonian