Will the Obama Puppy Create a Run on Portuguese Water Dogs?
March 26, 2009 by Paris and John
Filed under News
If history is a reliable indicator, the adoption of a Portuguese Water Dog by the Obama family will cause a surge in the demand for this breed.
Similar celebrity pet choices have created huge demand for particular breeds. Sainsbury’s Bank, a UK pet insurer, notes that the number of chihuahuas it insures increased by 417 percent between 2006 and 2008, growth the Bank believes was influenced the numerous celebrities with chihuahuas including Cheryl Cole, Madonna, Jordan, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.
The insurer is preparing for a similar surge in Portuguese Water Dogs, known for their good temperament as well as good looks. Neal Devine, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, said, “We advise against being guided by fashion trends when purchasing a dog and instead urge people to understand the physical, mental and financial needs of a particular breed first. Generally speaking, the cost of looking after a pedigree animal is more expensive than for a crossbreed.”
The company reminds potential pet parents that Portuguese Water Dogs are known to be susceptible to:
- hip dysplasia
- eye disorders such as cataracts, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – an inherited disease that causes blindness – and distichiasis
- a rare heart disorder called Juvenile Dilated Cardio-Myopathy
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