The Most Prominent Dog Breed From Different Parts of Europe

Dear blog, 

I have been keeping a rough record of the most popular dog breeds in each city or area I have visited. I find it interesting to see what dogs are "in style" or the most favored in each area. Some make so much sense. Some make just enough. 

Each place I have visited in Europe has been full of dogs. Most places in Europe are extremely walkable, so of course people are walking their dogs. 

In Budapest the most prominent dog breed we saw were Italian Greyhound and regular Greyhounds. I feel like it fits. Greyhounds are a little strange and Budapest is also a little strange. I love looking at Greyhounds, they look so awkward and silly. 

In Spoleto, a small town in the Umbria regione, the most popular dog we saw was either Shih Tzus or Toy Poodles. I feel this also fits. Spoleto was an adorable little town so of course their most popular dogs would also be adorable little dogs. 

In Venice it was tough to narrow it down. The only thing all the dogs really had in common was that they were off the leash. Most dogs we saw were trailing behind their owners, just going as they pleased. I saw so many different types of dogs but if I really had to choose, I would say maybe Jack Russel Terriers were the most common. 

This was, however, the only picture I captured of a dog in Venice. 

In Prague the most common dogs were mutts. We saw one dog off the leash carrying a carton of spinach in his mouth. It was so silly! His owner was also carrying one. They were the cutest duo. It was them and their spinach against the world.

In the first town in the Dolomites, Selva, the most common dog was the Golden Retriever. It made sense why, these dogs were not only adorable but fit and ready for warm or cold climates, perfect hiking buddies. 

However, when we were in the Dolomites, the most common dogs seen were much smaller. I think it was because of how nimble small dogs can be on steep mountains like that. 

In Siena, the most popular dog breed is by far the Dachshund or more commonly known as the wiener dog. 

In Lazise, a small town in Lake Garda, the most popular dogs were small scruffy dogs with great haircuts, and great attitudes. 

In Polesine, a Province of Rovigo I saw more cats than anything. However, I did see one of the most admirable types of dogs of all: The farm dog. This dog kept watch over the property while maintaining the #1 title of Man's Best Friend. 

In Emilia-Romagna, an area near Bologna. I saw few dogs, but the dogs I did see were Australian Shepherds. 

In this town called Limone, Land of Limoncello, it didn't really matter what breed, small dogs were all the rage. 

In Mdina the common link between all dogs is that they were medium sized. I found it funny that Mdina had all medium sized dogs. They were all unique and all funky looking. 

In Milan the most common dogs were by far Golden Retrievers. It seemed that this town favored all that was "in fashion" and it seemed golden retrievers were just that. 

In each place we went to I saw dog breeds that I have never seen before. 

This dog looked like it was supposed to be tall, but wasn't. 

This dog looked more like a wolf than a dog. 

In all of my time observing dogs in Europe I came to many conclusions. One being that small towns favored small dogs, another being that you saw many more dogs being walked as the towns are much more walkable, and the final one being that no matter which dog is the most popular where, they are all special.