Vintage….dogs?

Perhaps the most important aspect of my appraising career it taking the pulse of the culture in which I live. This is done just by living and taking note of what I see. Though I wouldn’t call myself a dog aficionado, I have some dog buddies and we are always happy to see each other.

During my travels I see dogs of all shapes and sizes. Many are dogs whose popularity has been more recent: Labradoodles, Border Collies, French Bulldogs, Jack Russells, pugs, ShihTzus, Australian Shepherds, Berenese Mountain dogs and Rottweilers all spring to mind.

Some breeds are more evergreen, like Huskies, Labs and Golden Retrievers. Country Side Antiques in particular is home to the dignified Golden, Beau, whose gentle demeanour and love for photobombing ensures his popularity.

But recently I’ve noticed a trend. A magnificent German Shepherd accompanies his owners on daily walks past my house; another neighbour has two or three huge St Bernards. I’ve seen a fully cropped Doberman straining determinedly at the end of their leash. The inspiration for this blog struck when I saw a Rough Collie out on a walk. As in a full-sized Lassie.

All these dogs represent breeds that were popular when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. Though I don’t remember the legendary German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin, I do remember the Littlest Hobo. (Yes, Hobo was full GSD. A very strikingly marked GSD whose lines are apparently still kept a secret.) A St Bernard starred in a short-lived TV show called George. Dobermans, with their sleek frames, dark colouring, menacingly cropped tails and ears are still often portrayed as the archetypal ‘villain’ dogs. And the Collie? The eponymous Lassie, who was forever having to rescue Timmy – whether on her own or with human aid – from falling down a well.

Is this trend really surprising? Taken in the context for everything retro and vintage, not so much. Nostalgia plays more of a part in our lives than we like to admit. It’s the siren call of our own personal history, luring us back to tinted memories, even if it is just a brief glimpse. Seeing one of these four dog breeds out for a walk or romp in a park is like the twitch of a curtain into that past before it falls back into place.

And that is my take on only a handful of dog breeds that seem to be gaining traction once again. If you enjoyed this post, please like and share.