Top dog breeds of the 1920s: the decade's most popular dogs

Part 1

The German Shepherd Dog takes the top spot

The German Shepherd Dog had been accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1908. It overtook the Boston Terrier in 1925 and became the number-one dog of the decade. Based on registrations, German Shepherds led the pack from 1925 through 1936. Much of that popularity is tied to a single dog you may already know, Rin Tin Tin. If your dog is a German Shepherd, this history is part of theirs too.

Rin Tin Tin and the rise of the breed

Rin Tin Tin was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, in October 1918. He was rescued as a puppy from a bombed kennel by American soldier Lee Duncan near the end of World War I. Duncan trained him and got him silent film work, and Rin Tin Tin went on to appear in 27 Hollywood films. His first starring role came in 1923's Where the North Begins, a film often credited with helping save Warner Bros. from bankruptcy. Along with the earlier film star Strongheart, Rin Tin Tin is credited with greatly increasing the popularity of German Shepherds as family dogs.

Part 2

The rest of the decade's top ten

After the German Shepherd and the Chow Chow, several familiar breeds rounded out the 1920s list. It was bred as a cross between an English Bulldog and a white English Terrier, and its supporters founded the Boston Terrier Club of America in 1891. The Pekingese, the Wire Fox Terrier, the Collie, the Beagle, the Airedale Terrier, the Cocker Spaniel, and the Bulldog completed the top ten. If you like a breed with a long backstory, several of these have one.

1. German Shepherd Dog, the number-one breed of the 1920s.
2. Boston Terrier, an American creation bred from an English Bulldog and a white English Terrier.
3. Chow Chow, at its highest-ever ranking as the decade's number-two breed.
4. Pekingese, traced back to the Tang Dynasty in China in the 6th century.
5. Wire Fox Terrier, an old English breed with records going back to 1790.
6. Collie, with roots in the herding dogs of Scotland and northern England.
7. Beagle, whose American popularity grew after 1860s imports from England.
8. Airedale Terrier, originally known as Working, Waterside, and Bingley Terriers.
9. Cocker Spaniel, the smallest breed in the Sporting Group.
10. Bulldog, once used in the sport of bull baiting before the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835 ended it.

Part 3

The Chow Chow's peak decade

The Chow Chow probably originated more than 2,000 years ago from crossing the Mastiff of Tibet with the Samoyed. Chow Chows were imported into England beginning around 1880. The breed grew more popular after Queen Victoria took an interest in it while it was on display at the London Zoo, where it was called the Wild Dog of China. The 1920s marked the highest ranking the Chow Chow has achieved so far, at number two. You can see why a dog with that much history still turns heads today.

Part 4

New breeds recognized during the decade

The AKC recognized only 74 breeds in 1920, far fewer than the more than 190 recognized today. New breeds joined the registry through the decade, including the Kerry Blue Terrier in 1922 and the Curly-Coated Retriever in 1924. The year 1925 brought recognition for both the Miniature Pinscher and the Golden Retriever. The Afghan Hound and Miniature Schnauzer followed in 1926, and the Briard in 1928. The Saluki was recognized in 1929, closing out the decade.

Part 5

Why the German Shepherd stayed popular

German Shepherds had been developed in Germany from 1899 by Max von Stephanitz, using traditional German herding dogs. The breed gained international recognition after the end of World War I. During the war, anti-German sentiment led the American Kennel Club to have the German Shepherd Dog Club of America rename itself the Shepherd Club of America, dropping the word German from the breed's name for a time. After the war, the breed's reputation as a war dog spread, and canine film stars such as Rin Tin Tin helped its popularity grow worldwide. If you share your home with a German Shepherd, you are living with a breed built for herding, war work, and companionship.