I hear you on the Marley thing...happens whenever a dog movie comes out. However, have you seen the AKC advertisement featuring Marley? (Though, after seeing that movie, it casts the dog in a very bad light - so perhaps it will scare people off!) I know the breed clubs, the AKC, and local shelters are doing a much better job of trying to pre-empt emotional buying like that.
As for Obama...well, he strikes me as more of the type to appreciate a snake. But then, he probably has enough of those in his cabinet appointees.
I’ve had Cockers since 1979. I am very careful to only get them from show breeders. These three are everything a cocker is supposed to be, from size, disposition, health, etc. If people who stop getting dogs from puppy mills via dog shops or internet and backyard breeders our shelters would be empty and our pets would all be better off. I have seen people say they have cocker puppies and brag about them having a merel (sp) gene — that happens to be a very undesireable gene and no cocker with it in their line should ever be bred, but most buyers who are not knowledgeable haven’t a clue and unscrupulous breeders make it sound like something special. I love the parti- with sable markings. Sable is not an undesireable health-wise, but you cannot show them with sable.
And you base this on what?