The Taco Bell Chihuahua and Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Separated at birth?

Disney, which has brought the world more talking dogs than right-wing talk radio, is pinning its box-office hopes this year on not one, but two mouthy mutts: "Bolt," a showbiz German Shepherd, and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," whose trailer is a Bollywood-style extravaganza of singing and dancing lapdogs. Disney, it seems, has made an educated guess that people cannot get enough of Chihuahuas who talk with funny Mexican accents.

It may be right. The Taco Bell Chihuahua was one of the most popular advertising campaigns of all time. But bringing talking Chihuahuas to the screen doesn't come without hazards. To begin with, it's not the most original of concepts; Taco Bell was forced to pay $30 million in 2003 to a pair of MIchigan marketing executives who claimed the fast-food chain's ad agency -- Marina del Rey-based TBWA/Chiat/Day -- stole the idea from them. Not that anybody who ever watched Saturday-morning cartoons would think a talking Chihuahua was a blazingly new idea. What's more, many Latinos see such portrayals as a slur, and animal-control officials worry that Chihuahuas are already adorable enough without promotional help from Disney. The Chihuahua is the most popular breed in Los Angeles, with many ending up in local shelters, and Department of Animal Services chief Ed Boks fears the upcoming release will just encourage people to breed more.

Disney may still end up with a hit on its hands, but the obsession with chatty Chihuahuas is driving Hollywood to ignore the potential of other breeds. Personally, I'd like to see more miniature Dachshunds that talk with funny German accents. And maybe that wear little monocles.