Dog Breed Information

The Afghan Hound is an ancient breed, native to the Sinai. There are pictures of this breed in caves in northern Afghanistan that date back more than 4000 years. Th…

Unlike many other dog breeds, the origin of the Airedale is well-known. The breed was created 150 years ago by working class farmers in a valley in the West Riding …

The Akita Inu (dog) hails from the island of Honshu in the region of Akita, Japan, and has been used for everything including guarding, hunting, fighting, and polic…

The Alaskan Malamute is a Nordic sled dog believed to have descended from the Arctic wolf and primitive working dogs. They were developed by a tribe of nomatic Innu…

The original American Bulldog was used in the bloody sport of bull and bear baiting. They were also used by farmers and ranchers as guard dogs and for hunting bear,…

The American Eskimo Dog is a member of the Nordic Spitz family. They have fox-like faces, tails carried over their backs, pricked ears, and a thick coat. The true …

The American Rat Terrier was first developed in England in 1820 from a cross between the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Manchester Terrier. They were later brought to t…

Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are members of a very old breed, probably developed from powerful hunting dogs from Mesopotamia. The breed was developed over time to meet a…

The Australian Cattle Dog was bred in the 19th century by Australian cattlemen who sought a dog who could handle the harsh climate and working conditions of Austral…

The Australian Shepherd, commonly known as the “Aussie,” is not from Australia, despite its name. The breed as we know it today was developed in the ear…

The first traces of the Basenji were found in the Egyptian tombs and on wall drawings dating back five thousand years ago. They are probably one of the oldest breed…

The Basset Hound is an old breed and is descended from the St. Hubert Hound, the present-day Bloodhound. In fact, Basset Hounds are scent hounds and their keen sens…

The origin of the word “beagle” is uncertain. A few theories are that it might have been derived from the French word begueule, meaning “open thro…

The Bearded Collie is one of the oldest breeds in Britain. He has gone by the names of Highland Collie, Mountain Collie, or the Hairy Mou’ed Collie. Shaggy he…

It is thought that the Bernese Mountain Dog was a cross between farm dogs from the Swiss Alps and the Mastiff-type dog, the Molosser, that the Romans brought with t…

The breed derives its name from the French word Bichon which means, “small, long-haired dog.” The Bichon Frise is a descendant of the Water Spaniel. The…

Bloodhounds date back as far as Medieval Europe to the monastery of St. Hubert and before. They were bred to have a keen sense of smell to track boar and deer. The …

The precise ancestry of the Bolognese is a mystery. It is a member of the Bichon group of dogs, which simply means a small, long-haired dog. Its closest relative in…

The Border Collie originated in Northumberland along the borders of Scotland and England. The word “collie” refers to sheepdogs and is derived from Scot…

The Boston Terrier was originally crossed between an English Bulldog and the White English Terrier, which no longer exists today. They were developed in the 1870s i…

The Boxer’s ancestry comes from Germany. They were originally bred between a German Bullenbeisser (a breed descended from Mastiffs) and the Bulldog; however, …

This popular pointing and bird hunting breed hails from Brittany, the Celtic area of northwest France which lies just across the English Channel from Wales. It is b…

Brussels Griffons trace their history back to Belgium, where they were developed to hunt and kill vermin. They were created from several breeds, including the Affen…

Bull Terriers were developed due to the popularity of bull-baiting in Great Britain. In 1835, lovers of this sport decided to create a fierce gladiator by crossing …

The Bulldog today is so sweet and docile compared to its bloodthirsty beginnings! The Bulldog was developed entirely in England and descended from ancient mastiff-t…

In the mid-19th century, English gamekeepers needed some serious help to deal with poachers, so they developed the Bullmastiff from a cross between the Mastiff and …

Cairn Terriers were developed in Scotland on the Isle of Skye, where Captain Martin MacLeod is credited for developing this little dog. They are named after the loo…

Cane Corsos are Mastiff-type dogs originating in Italy from the old Roman Molossian breed of dog. These dogs were used in the ancient Roman arenas where they were p…

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were developed from the toy spaniels that were popular pets with the British royalty from the seventeenth to nineteenth century. In t…

There is an oft‐repeated story that in 1807, two Newfoundlands were saved from a shipwrecked brig off the coast of Maryland. The two Newfoundlands that were saved…

The history of the Chihuahua is steeped in speculation. One theory is that Chihuahuas originated from a dog called the Techichi in the Toltec Civilization near Mexi…

The Chinese Crested did not originate from China. It is thought they originated from Africa or Mexico and were brought to China aboard ships where the Chinese reduc…

The Chinese Shar-pei originated from the Guangzhou Province in southern China. They were bred to be hunters, herders, guardians, and just an all-purpose utility dog…

Experts have speculated that the Chow Chow is one of the oldest dog breeds, and genetic testing has proven that to be true. They are believed to have originated in …

The exact origin of the Cocker Spaniel is unknown; however, they were originally bred as a hunting dog. They are believed to be one of the oldest types of Spaniels …

The Collie hails from Scotland and is believed to be descended from dogs which accompanied Roman invaders and then interbred with hard-working Scottish herding dogs…

It is thought that Cotons arrived in Madagascar, located off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, several hundred years ago by ship either by being ca…

The word “Dachshund” is German and means “Badger Dog” or “Badger Hound.” They first appeared on the scene in the 15th Century. I…

The Dalmatian’s history is long and full of legends. Traces of spotted dogs are found in Egyptian historical records, so they certainly are an ancient breed. …

From day one, the Doberman was designed to do only one thing – put the hurt on bad guys. The Doberman Pinscher was developed in Germany in the 1800s by a Germ…

Sometimes known as a French Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux originated in France’s Bordeaux region dating back over 600 years ago. They are thought to have ori…

The English Springer Spaniel is the foundation for all English hunting spaniels. Spaniel-type dogs are thought to have originated in Spain many centuries ago and we…

English Toy Spaniel Toy Spaniels have existed for centuries and were favorites in royal courts. In the British Isles in the late 1600s, King Charles S…

The French Bulldog was originally called the "Boule dogue Francias," and was created to be a toy-sized version of the English Bulldog. They are truly an internation…

As their name suggests, the German Shepherd originated in the country of Germany. They were originally bred to herd animals (thus the name shepherd.) In the 1900&rs…

The German Wirehair was developed quite recently in the 19th century in Germany. They were used to point, track, retrieve, and work as a gundog in both the field an…

The Giant Schnauzer was developed in the 17th century in southern Germany as a cattle herder. He was known as the Munchener Dog at one time, due to the area near Mu…

The Golden Retriever was developed in Scotland at the highland estate of Lord Tweedmouth. The Flat-Coated Retriever, the Tweed Water Spaniel, and the Irish Setter w…

Known as the "Apollo of all dogs," dogs resembling the Great Dane date back to 36 B.C. It is thought that Wolfhounds were mixed with Old English Mastiffs to create …

The ancestors of the Great Pyrenees date back to sometime around 3000 B.C., and hail from the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural border between France and Spa…

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is considered one of Switzerland’s oldest and largest of the four Swiss variety dog breeds. It is thought that they are descend…

The name “Havanese” probably is derived from the city of Havana, the capital of Cuba. The first Havanese ancestors (Bichon Frises family of dogs) were b…

The exact breeds that the Irish Terrier descended from are unknown but many believe their ancestors were the now-extinct black and tan Terrier and a larger wheaten-…

The Italian Greyhound, or IG or Iggy as they are often called, is an old breed. Miniature greyhounds have been found in 2,000 year-old digs from Turkey and Greece. …

The Jack Russell Terrier was developed in Devonshire by a 19th Century English clergyman named Parson John Russell, “Jack” to his friends. He wanted an …

Despite the name "Japanese," the breed originated from China and were given as gifts to the emperor of Japan. They were originally called Japanese Spaniel, and thei…

The Keeshond (pronounded KAYZ-hawnd) has an arctic origin and has Samoyed, Chow Chow, Finnish Spitz, Norweigian Elkhound and Pomeranian blood in its veins. However,…

The Kerry Blue Terrier is the national terrier of Ireland, having been developed in County Kerry, and is known as the Irish Blue Terrier. There is little literary r…

Labrador Retrievers were originally bred between the Newfoundland dog and the St. John’s Water dog. They were allegedly used by Newfoundland fishermen to help…

The Lakeland Terrier dates back to the 1800s and gets its name from its home of origin, the Lakeland District in England. They are one of the oldest terrier breeds …

The Lhasa Apso comes from the country of Tibet. The name Lhasa comes from the holy city of Lhasa in Tibet, while “Apso” means “bearded” in t…

The tiny, silky-haired Maltese is the oldest of the toy breeds, dating back more than 28 centuries, and is one of the earliest recognized of all dog breeds. Charles…

Originally a war dog used in battles and fighting competitions, the Mastiff dates back more than 2,500 years ago. They descended from an ancient type of dog called …

The Miniature Pinscher, in spite of its looks, is not a miniature version of the Doberman Pinscher; however, it is believed that both breeds originated from the&nbs…

Miniature Schnauzers were originally developed in the 19th century in Germany where they were used to guard livestock and chase vermin. Their name is derived from t…

Neopolitans are direct descendants of the Molossus, a type of Mastiff used in Roman Colosseums. They were used as war, police, and guard dogs. Although this breed e…

The “Newfie”, as they are affectionately called, arose in the Newfoundland region of Canada, the product of matings between various working breeds, whic…

The Norwegian Elkhound can be traced back roughly a thousand years and originated from the beautiful country of Norway. The Vikings used them to guard and hunt. It&…

The Norwich Terrier shares its history with the Norfolk Terrier, and they are one of the youngest breeds in existence today. They were originally bred in East Angli…

The Old English Sheepdog originated from the western counties of England somewhere in the early 19th century. The history of this dog has one of the most unclear or…

Since as early as the 13th century, there are paintings of the Papillon sitting on the laps of French and Spanish noblewomen. Rubens, Van Dyke and Rembrandt are jus…

Pekingese hail from the ancient city of Peking, China, now known as Beijing. They were originally bred as a lap dog, watch dog, and companion dog. They are regarded…

The present day Pembroke Welsh Corgi is thought to have descended from the Keeshond, Pomeranian, Schipperke, and the Swedish Vallhund and has a lot of the Cardigan …

The Pomeranian is thought to be descended from the German Spitz. The forerunners of this little dog actually came from large working dogs from the Arctic regions. I…

The poodle was first called Pudelhund, a German word, which translates into English as “puddle dog.” They were first bred in northern Europe and were us…

The Pug is one of the oldest breeds known today, believed to have originated from the Orient before 400 BC. They were brought from China to Europe in the sixteenth …

The Puli is one of the most ancient breeds known to man. The breed name is derived from the Puli Hou, the “Destroyer Huns” of Asia. The Puli is very muc…

Rottweilers descended from the Molossus, a mastiff-type dog and probably from the Italian Mastiff. Their ancestors accompanied the Romans over the Alps by herding t…

The Saint Bernard originated in Switzerland. They probably are descendents of farm dogs of the Swiss Alps and a Mastiff-type dog called the Molosser, that the Roman…

The Samoyed is an ancient working breed that originated from herding dogs of the North. They were used by the Siberian Samoyede people for pulling sleds, guarding p…

The Schipperke was developed in Flanders, Belgium, as a watchdog and is descended from the Leauvenaar, a 40-pound black sheepdog. They were eventually bred smaller …

The Scottish Terrier was developed in Scotland in the 1700s. They are believed to be from The Old Scotch Terrier, one of the oldest breeds from Scotland, and the fo…

Shelties, as they are affectionately called, hail from the rugged Shetland Islands, which lie between Scotland and Norway. These islands are also home to the Shetla…

The Shiba Inu (pronounced She-ba E-nu) is Japan’s smallest native spitz dog. Their history dates back to the Samurai period, where they were bred to flush bir…

No one knows for sure the true origins of this little Chinese lapdog; however, they were originally sent to the Chinese emperor as a gift during the Byzantine Empir…

The Siberian Husky was originally used in Siberia to herd reindeer and pull sleds. Even though they have a wolf-like appearance, there is no wolf in this breed. The…

The Silky Terrier was developed in Australia in the 1890s when breeders crossed Yorkshire Terriers with their native Australian Terriers. Breeders wanted to improve…

The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier hails from Ireland, and much of their early history wasn’t recorded. They probably share their ancestors with the Kerry Blue T…

Tibetan Spaniels, commonly called Tibbies, originated in, well, Tibet. Like the Tibetan Terrier, who isn’t a terrier, the Tibetan Spaniel isn’t a true s…

The Tibetan Terrier is an old breed developed from ancient breeds called the North KunLun Mountain Dog and the Inner Mongolian Dog, which resembled a Poodle. The Ti…

The Toy Fox Terrier was bred directly from the Smooth Fox Terrier, which was crossed with various toy breeds such as the Miniature Pincher, Italian Greyhound, Chihu…

The Weimaraner dates back to the early 19th century where they were developed in Weimar, Germany. The noblemen who bred them loved to hunt and wanted a dog with cou…

The Welsh Terrier was developed in Wales and was bred to hunt, especially fox, badger and otter. They were perfect for getting in the dens to drive out prey. The We…

The West Highland White Terrier’s ancestors come from Scotland, and they were originally used for killing vermin and hunting badger, fox, and otter. Many beli…

This breed is one of the oldest terrier type dogs, originating in the British Isles in the 17th century. They were bred to help get rid of animals that preyed on fa…

Yorkshire Terriers were originally called Broken Haired Scotch Terriers. They were renamed Yorkshire Terriers to reflect where they originated from in Yorkshire, En…