For several years running, the French bulldog has been, perhaps improbably, the most popular breed among American dog owners. Some other preferred pooches include the family friendly Labrador and golden retrievers, poodles, beagles and dachshunds.

Making an under-the-radar appearance in the top five is the erstwhile German shepherd. This brilliant and fiercely loyal pedigree is a terrific companion and an ideal family pet. Now the breed made famous by Rin Tin Tin is enjoying a resurgence.

This is not news to the Trumbo family of Muirfield Village. They count their one-year-old shepherd Luci among their number. Luci is not the family’s first experience with the breed. “We had a German shepherd named Sasha when we moved here,” says Lori. “Her passing in March 2024 was really hard. She was with us before we even had kids.” 

The Trumbo family—Lori, husband Jamie, and daughters Lily and Chloe—found Luci near Yellow Springs, not far from where Lori grew up. Luci’s lineage included a forebear named Luzi. The Trumbos adapted that name to something more mainstream. “The name Luzi was in her line, but we thought we might have to explain that one a lot,” says Lori. “Luci seemed close but easier to say.”

Luci likes to stay close to her people. “She’s always happy to see us and just wants to be in the same room as we are,” says Lori. “We give her a lot of love and attention when she behaves well—which is most of the time.” Luci has been an effervescent presence since she joined the family. “She is very friendly and bubbly,” says Lori. When she was new to us, she would get so excited she would kind of bounce around—all four paws could come off the ground at once.”

For entertainment now, Luci loves to play catch with a ball. She also likes to play with her other toys. It’s a special treat when someone gets down on the floor with her to play with toys. Around the neighborhood, Luci likes to greet other dogs she meets on the trail. 

As for real treats, Luci savors freeze-dried liver snacks, dehydrated sweet potato pieces, beef cheek rolls and beef cheek braids. “We stay away from products with chicken,” Lori says. “We learned from our past German shepherd that many of these dogs get allergies and skin problems from the chicken.”

The Trumbos are experienced German shepherd owners, and they found a good match with their newest family member. “We are happy to have another German shepherd,” Lori says. “In our experience they have been very loyal, smart, family dogs that also are not that hard to train.” She might not be a movie star like Rin Tin Tin, but Luci brings a lot of love to the Trumbo family.