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Hot dogs

What makes an exotic breed come into vogue? And what happens then?

mong style-conscious dog owners, exotic breeds have become almost as de rigueur as designer clothing and boutique bottled water. Call it canine chic.

In the 1980s, it was the Chinese Shar-Pei, a breed whose signature wrinkles were outdone only by its price tag -- as much as $3,000 for a pedigreed show dog. Owning one was like driving the latest luxury sedan.

More recently, scarce breeds such as the Havanese, the Löaut;wchen and the Anatolian shepherd are starting to fire the imaginations of discriminating dog fanciers. Last year, all three gained official recognition from the American Kennel Club, the arbiter of all things canine in this country. Still relatively unknown outside a small group of enthusiasts, these breeds could be poised to catch on among the general dog-owning population.

Media exposure tends to drive popularity, according to experts. When a breed turns up on TV or in the movies, a boom inevitably follows. "Right now, Eddie from Frasier has everyone thinking they want a Jack Russell terrier," says Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis, the Los Angeles-based trainer, author and host of the PBS series Woof!

The same thing's happening with the Chihuahua. Since Taco Bell adopted one of the doe-eyed pups as its corporate pitchdog in 1997, the breed has steadily climbed the AKC's annual breed registration chart. Of 156 breeds and varieties recognized by the organization, says communications director Nancy Matlock, the Chihuahua ranked seventh in the number of registrations in 1999 -- just behind perennial, if prosaic, favorites such as the golden retriever, the Labrador retriever and the German shepherd.

But what of the more exotic breeds? How do they suddenly rise in popularity? It's the allure of the new, Matlock says. "We as Americans seem to be attracted to the different, the latest thing. Then, as more people meet these dogs, there's a groundswell."

The experience of Jeannette Stark, a St. Louis-based trainer and breeder, supports Matlock's hunch. As she approached retirement years ago, Stark, now 78, decided she wanted a canine companion for her golden years. "I made a list of requirements of the perfect breed for me and studied, studied, studied." Among Stark's stipulations: no breed-specific health problems, small size, good looks, keen intelligence, limited shedding and AKC registration. The dog that met every requirement, save registration, turned out to be the Havanese, a then exceedingly rare breed with roots in Cuba. After a long search, Stark eventually located a puppy from a breeder in Phoenix. Now there's a strong national parent club, and individual registrations are rising.

Sturdy, small, long-haired and determinedly affectionate, the Havanese has the sort of good looks that are their own best advertisement. "Toy without being fragile," Stark says. "It's everything I ever wanted in a dog and more. People come up to you and say, 'That's a darling dog. What is it?' "

Despite the cost -- $900 to $1,500 for a pet; $1,200 to $3,000 for a show dog -- Havanese are gaining fast with aficionados, Stark says. That trend should accelerate now that the Havanese is an AKC member in good standing.

"Every serious breeder hates it when their breed gets too popular," says Bash Dibra, the New York-based author and dog trainer to the stars. In the worst-case scenario, quick-buck artists flood the market with poorly bred dogs. Buyers can end up with neurotic, aggressive animals with congenital health defects -- thyroid problems, hip problems and cataracts. As stock quality falls off, breed popularity nose-dives. Then unwanted boom dogs can wind up in shelters.

"People shouldn't get a dog because it's popular in Hollywood," says Margolis, whose West Coast celebrity clients include Elizabeth Taylor and Madonna. "They should buy a dog because they like it and it's right for them. Buy the inside of the dog, not the outside."

Freelance writer Kevin Markey lives in Holyoke, Mass., with his wife, Ann, and a mixed-breed dog named Happy.

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Let's not forget the felines

Man's best friend or not, dogs haven't cornered the exotic breeds market. Cats, too, have their days. According to the Cat Fanciers' Association, the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats, Persian, Maine coon and Siamese are the most popular breeds in the United States. In terms of total registrations, the common American shorthair comes in ninth. Up-and-coming breeds include the Norwegian forest cat, the Ragdoll and the Selkirk Rex, all accepted for registration this year.

The New Jersey-based CFA advises against buying a cat simply for its exoticism. "We strongly recommend attending a CFA cat show and taking time," says PR director Michael W. Brim. "This is a long-term commitment."

In all, the CFA recognizes 37 breeds. Among those unlikely to be found prowling back alleys: the Egyptian Mau, the Tonkinese and the Javanese, a sleek, big-eared cross between the Balinese and the Siamese. Prices for the hottest pedigreed cats range from $100 to $700 for a pet-quality kitten to as much as $3,000 to $5,000 for a show-quality kitten, Brim says. "It comes down to supply and demand, area and which breed the person is interested in."

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Choosing a Dog

You should never pick a breed just because it happens to be hot, pet experts agree. Far more important than popularity, they say, is compatibility.

"Why get a dog to keep up with the Joneses?" asks Matthew Margolis, founder and director of the National Institute of Dog Training in Los Angeles. "The Joneses' lifestyle may not be your lifestyle. A first-time dog owner should never have a Jack Russell, for example. This is a high energy, high-maintenance animal. Unless you can afford a full-time professional trainer, your dog is not going to be like the dog on Frasier."

Margolis recommends doing plenty of research before buying a dog. "Don't talk just to one breeder; talk to several. Compare what they say. And by all means talk to trainers. They're not trying to sell you anything. They'll tell you about any potential negatives as well as all the positives." His book Good Dog, Bad Dog contains a dictionary of 100 breeds and their chief characteristics.

New York-based Bash Dibra, who helped the Clintons train their chocolate Labrador retriever, Buddy, and who wrote the book Dogspeak, advises people to make a list of factors likely to influence breed choice. "Are you active? How much time do you have to exercise and train a dog? Do you live in the city or the country, a house or an apartment? Are you single? Do you have a family?"

One development Dibra has noticed that he hopes has legs is a growing vogue for mixed-breed dogs adopted from shelters.

"I call them hip-hop dogs," he says. "They have a little bit of this, a little bit of that. When someone rescues one, they get a loyal pet, and in the process there's one less abandoned dog."