For dog fanciers who prefer the terrier breeds, the Affenpinscher seems made-to-order. A little breed of German origin whose likeness appears in works of art dating back to the 15th century, his name means "monkey terrier".
An ancient member of the greyhound family, the Afghan was believed to have been brought from Arabia and Persia to Afghanistan where the breed’s long coat developed in response to the harsh climate.
Called the King of Terriers, the Airedale was developed in the county of Yorkshire, England, in the area between the Aire and Wharfe rivers.
Honoured in its native land as a national treasure, the Akita is the largest of the Japanese breeds belonging to the Spitz family of dogs.
This breed had its beginnings with an Inuit tribe known as the Mahlemuts. A powerful freighting dog, the Mal was the choice of many polar explorers.
Ancestry of this breed is identical to that of the English Cocker, which was first imported to this continent during the 1880s.
The lineage of the American Foxhound goes back to English packhounds imported to Virginia and Maryland.
The American Staffordshire Terrier’s roots date back to the 1800s, when dog fighting was a popular spectator sport in the United States It was from the fighting Bulldog-and-terrier crosses that dedicated breeders produced a more peaceable animal..
Charming and clever, the American Water Spaniel has the typical friendly spaniel character. His desire to please makes him easy to train and in addition, he learns quickly.
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog may have come from the Himalayas when the Turks migrated from central Asia to what is now Turkey.
The Appenzeller Sennenhunde originates in the Appenzell region of north-eastern Switzerland and is one of four regional breeds of Sennenhund or Swiss mountain dog, all of which are characterised by a distinctive tricolour coat.
This intelligent cattle dog was developed in Australia by stockmen who needed a steady, silent worker able to control livestock in wide-open spaces as well as in the stockyard.
‘Kelpie’ was the name bestowed on a pup from the mating of two black-and-tan Smooth Collies imported to Australia.
Spain and Andorra are where this popular herding dog had its beginning. But many of the Basque herders left that land to seek fortunes elsewhere, and took their dogs with them.
The Stumpy Tail shares its early history with the Australian Cattle Dog – both were developed by 19th-century Australian farmers to protect, herd and drive livestock over long distances.
When the Australians wanted a particular type of dog to do a particular job, they created it by crossbreeding dogs that were available to them.
The Azawakh is a sighthound originating in Africa’s Azawagh Valley for which the breed is named. It was bred by nomadic tribes for guarding livestock and hunting.
The Barbet’s propensity for water, plus their ability to point and retrieve, led to their selective breeding as a waterfowl gun dog over the ensuing centuries.
Recognized as a ‘sighthound,’ the Basenji is the barkless dog of central Africa.
The short-legged hound with the long, sweeping ears – whose expression is most perfect when it resembles that of the mournful Bloodhound – comes from France, where his name Basset means low-set.
This small popular trail hound, used chiefly to hunt rabbit and hare, was developed in England.
Records dating back to the 16th century show that Polish Lowland Sheepdogs were brought into Scotland, and it’s believed that they were crossed with local farm collies to create the breed now known as the Bearded Collie.
The Berger de Beauce or Beauceron was originally used for hunting wild boar but turned to herding and livestock guarding. In more recent times, the breed has been employed for military and police work.
Once known as the Rothbury Terrier, this energetic and courageous breed was developed in the north of England during the 1870s by coal miners who wanted a terrier-of-all-work – a dog that could swim down an otter, course a rabbit and fight in the pit.
The breed name Belgian Shepherd Dog, in Canada, includes four varieties that are similar in size and body outline, differing only in length and type of coat.
The Bergamasco Shepherd is a medium-sized rustic breed that originated in the northern Italian and Swiss Alpine regions characterized by its flocked coat, which looks like felts of sheep wool.
The Berger des Pyrenees, also known as the Pyrenean Shepherd Dog, is the smallest of the French herding breeds and possesses great vigour and alertness as well as speed.
“A coated breed without coat problems” is a description often applied to this ancient French herding breed, also called the Picardy Shepherd.
The Bernese is the only one of the four breeds of Swiss Mountain Dogs with a long coat.
Known originally as the Bichon Teneriffe, this animated powder puff was brought to the European continent from the Canary Islands during the 14th century.
The Biewer Terrier’s (pronounced “beaver” like the animal) heritage is a much-discussed topic.
A specialist in night trailing the raccoon, the Black and Tan Coonhound is a direct descendant of the Bloodhounds that were imported to the English colony of Virginia.
The Black Russian Terrier (BRT) was created in the former Soviet Union’s State Military Kennel “Red Star” through selective cross-breeding.
Most famous of the scent hounds, the mournful-looking Bloodhound with the wrinkled brow and long, low-set ears descends from hounds bred by St.
A long-legged spaniel with setter characteristics, the Blue Picardy is a versatile sporting dog with a reputation for locating and retrieving any type of game under the most adverse conditions.
The Border Collie has a long history of usefulness to man.
Developed in the north of England, the Border Terrier was once known as the Coquetdale Terrier and was used to hunt the fox that preyed on farmers’ livestock.
Sporting hound of the Russian nobility, the Borzoi was once called the Russian Wolfhound in this country.
Along with his playful character and his desired markings, the Boston Terrier has been nick named the “Tuxedo Dog”.
The Bouvier, of Franco-Belgian origin, is a big, intelligent dog measuring upwards of 27-1/2 inches (70 cm) at the shoulder.
Developed in Germany as a medium-sized security dog, the Boxer combines the blood of a mastiff-type breed, which was used for hunting, herding and protection, with the British Bulldog.
The Braque d’Auvergne (or Auvergne Pointer) is a very ancient breed originating in the mountain area of Cantal over two centuries ago.
A shaggy-coated French sheepdog of ancient lineage, the Briard served his country with valour during World War I as a Red Cross dog and ammunition carrier.
This is the Breton peasant’s hunting dog, known since the mid-19th century in the French province of Brittany and thought to represent a cross between the English Setter and small French land spaniels.
Starting out as a rat catcher in stables, this gamin-faced charmer’s endearing ways soon won him a place beside the coachman, where he assumed the role of guardian as they drove about town together.
Originally billed as the Bull and Terrier, this British breed represents a cross mainly between the old-time Bulldog, the now-extinct White English Terrier, and the Dalmatian.
The Bulldog, as British as the Union Jack, descends from Mastiff breeding and was formerly exploited in the now-outlawed sports of bull baiting and pit fighting.
Developed in England as the gamekeeper’s night dog, the Bullmastiff represents a cross between the Mastiff and the Bulldog – the percentage of each breed specified as 60 and 40, respectively.
A small, active terrier native to the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland, the Cairn was used in packs to control fur-bearing vermin.
The Canaan Dog, an indigenous breed of Israel, is thought to have descended from the ownerless, freeroaming pariah dogs often found in the Mediterranean regions.
A strong hunting, sled and pack dog of the Canadian Arctic, the Canadian Eskimo Dog has a history dating back about 2,000 years.
The Cane Corso is a medium-sized mastiff whose ancestry dates back to AD 600.
Both the Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis are thought to descend from the Swedish Vallhund, a short-legged breed that was brought to Wales by the Vikings in the 9th century.
A small sporting spaniel once a great favourite of Charles II, and whose likeness appears in paintings dating to his time, the breed fell from grace after William of Orange came to the throne – snub-nosed, oriental-looking breeds were more in favour.
Sometimes known as the Bohemian or Czech Terrier, the Cesky (chess-key) is of rather recent origin, having been developed by Czechoslovakian geneticist Frantisek Horak around 1949.
A British brig was shipwrecked off the coast of Maryland in 1807, and among the survivors were two Newfoundland dogs – ‘Sailor’ and ‘Canton,’ a male and a female who grew up to become excellent water retrievers.
Up to the time of its development as a pure breed in the United States, the origin of the long-coated version of this tiny breed is identical to that of the short-coated variety.
There are several theories concerning the country of origin of the world’s smallest dog.
Small, hairless and coated dogs of this type have been known to exist in Central and South America and the West Indies for centuries, though many historians believe them to be of African origin.
Once known as the rarest breed in the world, the ancient Chinese Shar-Pei was virtually on the brink of extinction back in the early 1970s when a Hong Kong fancier appealed to Americans for help in saving the breed.
A member of the Spitz family of dogs, the Chow Chow is an ancient breed of Chinese origin.
Slowest, heaviest and considered by many to be the most aristocratic of the spaniels, the Clumber’s ancestors are presumed to be the Basset Hound and a spaniel of continental origin.
Developed in Madagascar, there are at least two accounts of how the Coton arrived there.
The first of the waterfowl-retrieving breeds, the Curly is of British origin.
It is the only breed of dog with spots, a characteristic reflected in the nicknames Plum Pudding Dog, Spotted Dick and Bengal Harrier.
A sturdy, low-slung terrier measuring about 10 inches (25 cm) at the shoulder, the breed began life as an efficient killer of fur-bearing vermin in the border country between England and Scotland.
This medium-sized German working breed is named for Louis Dobermann, its creator.
North Americans were alerted to the rather massive charms of the Dogue de Bordeaux when he appeared in the hit movie Turner and Hooch.
When a small German hound called the Westphalian Dachsbracke was imported to Sweden in 1910, word about this industrious, short-legged game-tracker spread among hunters.
Spaniels in various shapes and sizes have been known in Britain and throughout Europe since the 14th century.
A rare breed in Canadian show circles, the English Foxhound boasts an ancestry that dates back to the late 1600's.
Dogs descended from Spanish land spaniels that ‘set’ game birds for the sportsmen’s nets had been known in Britain since the 14th century – hence the name ‘setter.
Named for Spain, their country of origin, spaniels comprise a subgroup of sporting breeds.
The English Toy Spaniel is believed to have originated in Japan, and to have been brought to Britain via Spain prior to the 16th century.
Also known as the Entlebucher Sennenhund, this breed is believed to have descended from cattle dogs brought by the Romans to Helvetia over 2000 years ago.
Originally created as a sled dog, the Eurasier is robust enough to live outdoors but much prefers to be an indoor companion.
Both known as Field Spaniels at one time, the English Cocker and the Field Spaniel were classified according to their weights.
Also known as Lapinkoira (Lapland dog), the Finnish Lapphund traces back to the historic hunting, and later herding dog of the Sami people who lived in regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia above the Arctic Circle.
Called the Suomenpystykorva, which means the Finnish cock-eared hunting dog in its homeland, this foxy-looking member of the Spitz family is dubbed the ‘Finkie’ in Britain.
Credit for development of the Flat-coated Retriever is given to a sportsman, S.
Hallmark of this close relative of the Bulldog is the ‘bat’ ear, which gives an inquiring look to the quaint, short-nosed face of the Frenchie.
One of the oldest pointing dogs, the stately French Spaniel first gained fame in the Middle Ages.
The Braque Français (French Pointer) is believed to have derived from dogs used to point game in the Mediterranean region as early as the 1300s.
Rarest of the German pointers, the German Long-haired is closely related to three other long-coated sporting breeds of German extraction: the Large Münsterländer, the Small Münsterländer and the Wachtelhund.
The German Pinscher is often mistaken for a young Doberman because of the physical resemblance.
He’s valued around the world as sentry, police dog, tracker, drug dog, search-and-rescue dog and guide dog for the blind.
This handsome, all-purpose gun dog was developed in Germany for the sportsman who wanted a hunting companion.
Toward the end of the 19th century, when European sportsmen wanted a particular type of hunting dog, they ‘created’ it.
Believed to have originated in the area around Munich, Germany, the Giant, tallest of the three breeds of Schnauzer, was once called the Munich Schnauzer.
North American terrier lovers are finally discovering the ragtag charms of the Glen of Imaal but, truth to tell, it’s an old breed that, until recently, had remained a well-kept secret.
Developed in the mid-19th century by a Scotsman, Sir Dudley Majoribanks, later Lord Tweedmouth, this British breed is the glamour dog of the retriever family.
Heaviest of the setter breeds, the Gordon is the only Scottish setter and was developed by the Duke of Gordon as a working setter early in the 19th century.
The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a rough-coated French scent hound. This breed is one of the four Vendéen French Hounds who are thought to have been bred down from King Louis’ white hounds who hunted different size game.
The name implies Danish origin, but this giant breed was developed in Germany, where it has been known since the Middle Ages.
The Pyr is a beautiful descendant of the Molossian hounds that were brought to Spain by the Romans and became established in the Pyrenean Mountains on the Franco-Spanish border.
Recently admitted into the American Kennel Club’s Working Group, this is the largest – and perhaps the oldest – of the Swiss mountain breeds descended from mastiffs that accompanied Caesar’s invading legions.
Since the Inuit people of Canada’s Arctic were known to have emigrated from Greenland many centuries ago, bringing their sled dogs with them, it’s possible this breed is the forerunner of our native Canadian Eskimo Dog.
One of the world’s swiftest dogs – capable of speeds in excess of 40 m.
Used for hunting in North America as early as the 17th century, the Harrier was developed in England to hunt hare in packs.
A Cuban member of the Bichon family, which originated in the Mediterranean and includes more popular breeds such as the Maltese and the Bichon Frise, it seems likely that the Havanese’s ancestors might have travelled to Cuba at the time that the Spanish were exploring the Caribbean.
The Hovawart takes its name from a German word that has been variously translated as guardian of the farm, the estate or the court.
This tall, slender sporting hound has erect, mobile ears and most closely resembles Anubis, the Egyptian dog god.
This lively, affectionate Nordic Spitz breed is a descendant of the small herding dogs that accompanied the Vikings in AD 880 when they colonized Iceland.
It is probable that the Irish Red and White is the original Irish Setter, bred as a ‘setting’ dog for netting birds and popular with English and Irish sportsmen until the 1870s.
Long before Big Red starred in the movie of that name, the Irish Setter was a headliner both in the field and on the bench.
Once called the Irish Sporting Terrier, this breed was used as ratter and guard dog as well as to flush game and retrieve it.
A member of the ancient family of water dogs found in many parts of Europe, it is probably a close relative of the Poodle.
One of the world’s tallest dogs, the Irish Wolfhound is believed to be directly descended from the ‘cu,’ a large, rough-coated greyhound that had been known in Ireland from pre-Christian times.
Smallest of the Greyhound breeds, the Italian Greyhound originated in Egypt over 2,000 years ago and is thought to have resulted from matings of small Greyhounds.
Descending from regional bear, boar and deer hunting dogs of the Akita region of Japan, the Japanese Akita was restored by fanciers following World War II.
A favourite of the Japanese Imperial court, it is thought that this breed shares ancestry with the Pug and the Pekingese.
Although there were white spitz-like dogs in Japan from about 1900 – probably descendants of the Samoyed – the breed didn’t become established in Japan until after World War II.
The Karelian Bear Dog is the big-game hunting canine of the Finnish people, although often it is mistakenly portrayed as a dog of Russian heritage.
Pronounced ‘Kays-hond,’ this breed is a member of the Spitz family of dogs.
The history of this native of the Emerald Isle is far from well established.
A native of Hungary, where the breed is known as the ‘King of the Working Dogs,’ the Komondor is the largest of the Hungarian breeds.
A breed of Hungarian development, fanciers claim it probably descends from the Tibetan Mastiff and has a history dating back 7,000 years.
Descended from dogs taken to Newfoundland by explorers, fishermen and settlers, the Labrador Retriever evolved by natural selection.
The appealing, curly-coated Lagotto is an ancient breed of water retriever from the lowlands of Comacchio and marshlands of Ravenna, Italy.
Originating in Britain, the Lakeland Terrier was developed in the border county of Cumberland in the early 19th century.
Herr Essig of Leonberg, Germany, set out in 1855 to create a large and powerful breed to use as a draught dog and as a guardian of livestock.
Said to have been in existence since 800 BC, the Lhasa Apso is one of the most ancient of breeds.
Cousin to such popular dogs as the Maltese and Bichon Frise, the Lowchen (or Little Lion Dog) is an ancient breed.
Art objects dating back 3,000 years depict the beautiful little Maltese, whose breed name may derive from the Island of Malta or the Sicilian town of Melita.
This is a descendant of Britain’s Black and Tan Terrier, which was renowned for its prowess as a working terrier that kept the farm rabbit and rat population under control.
Sometimes known as the Old English Mastiff, this breed is thought to descend from large mastiff-type dogs brought to Britain by the Phoenician traders in the 6th century BC.
The miniature variety of the American Eskimo has all the attractive qualities of the breed in a more diminutive package.
The Miniature American Shepherd is the result of a breeding program that began in the 1960s to produce a scaled-down version of the Australian Shepherd.
This breed dates back to the early 19th century when the Bulldog and the now-extinct White English Terrier were interbred to produce the ‘Bull and Terrier,’ later known as the Bull Terrier.
Affectionate, companionable and full of fun, the Mini Dachshund is a busy family pet and entertaining companion.
Contrary to popular belief, this is not the miniaturized version of the Doberman Pinscher but a much older native German breed that has been known in that country for at least 300 years.
Created in response to popular demand, the between-size Poodle, the Miniature, is probably the best known and most numerous.
One of the most popular of the terrier breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is of German origin and was developed in the 1890s by crossing small specimens of the Standard Schnauzer with the Miniature Pinscher and/or the Affenpinscher.
This smaller version of the original Dachshund, the Standard Smooth, was developed in Germany to control the rabbit population.
Over the past few years the miniature version of the Wire-haired Dachshund has grown tremendously in popularity on this continent.
One of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds, the Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eets-queent-lee) can be called the first dog of the Americas.
Before the middle of the 19th century, Hungarian sheepdogs were simply divided into two categories: large and small.
This massive and fearsome-looking canine is an ancient breed believed to be descendants of the mighty Mastiffs that went to war with the Romans, fought in their circuses and protected their homes.
Folklore claims that the Newfoundland descends from Tibetan Mastiffs that had migrated to and become established in the island province.
Drop ears give this breed a gentle and inquisitive expression.
This small Swedish hunting dog that closely resembles the Finnish Spitz and Norwegian Lundehund has a spitz’s typical small erect ears, wedge-shaped head and squarely built body.
While its exact origin has not been pinpointed, this member of the Spitz family of Nordic dogs has been known in Scandinavia even prior to the days of the Vikings.
Honoured as the national dog of Norway, the Norwegian Elkhound descends from Spitz-type dogs that have been known in Scandinavia since Viking times (AD 800-1000).
First impressions might lead one to think the Lundehund is a rather ordinary dog of the Spitz family.
The working terrier of East Anglia, which was originated during the 19th century, is presumed to have been developed by crossing small specimens of the Irish Terrier with other short-legged terrier breeds.
Once called the Little River Duck Dog, the Toller was developed in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia.
Known in its native Britain for over 200 years, the ‘bobtail’ is thought to descend from a variety of European herding breeds and was developed by sheep farmers in the English West country to herd and drive sheep to market.
Used in Britain to swim down the otter, this breed has been known there since the early 13th century.
Generally regarded as being of Franco-Belgian development, this one-time favourite of the courts of Spain and France is thought to have originated in Italy.
The Parson Russell’s heritage goes back to the Rev. John Russell, who bred a predominantly white terrier, long in the leg, rangy and racy, with the stamina required to run with hounds in pursuit of fox.
For centuries, ownership of the Pekingese was restricted to members of the Chinese Imperial Court and were not seen outside their country of origin until after 1860.
The Pembroke Corgi is thought to be a further development of the Cardigan variety.
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has long been a popular sporting hound in France, its country of origin.
This is a lightly built, elegant member of the Greyhound family whose country of origin was Egypt but whose area of development was the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo.
Among the most efficient of the sporting breeds, the Pointer is named for the work at which he excels – pointing feathered game.
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog or Polish Owczarek Nizinny (the latter, affectionately abbreviated as PON) is an ancient herding breed of Poland that has changed little over the centuries.
Smallest member of the Spitz family of dogs, the Pomeranian has little prick ears, a pointed muzzle and a plumed tail carried over the back.
The history of the Portuguese Sheepdog is not entirely known.
A strong swimmer and diver, the Portuguese Water Dog, known as Cão de Água in its homeland, is said to be able to shinny up a rope in traditional seaman fashion.
Sigismund Freiherr von Zedlitz und Neukirch was convinced that a cross between a Pointer and a Poodle was the only road to an ideal German pointing dog.
Known in Britain since the time of William of Orange (1689-1704), the Pug was first thought to have originated in Holland.
Believed to have originated in central Asia, the Puli was brought to Hungary by the Magyars about 1,000 years ago.
Rat Terriers originated in America as a cross between Fox Terriers and a long list of European Terriers, including Manchester Terriers and Bull Terriers. To stop a rabbit epidemic that threatened crops in the 1920s.
This is the only breed originating in South Africa and was developed to hunt lion.
Some of the descendants of the powerful dogs that drove and guarded the cattle that accompanied the Roman army in its march across Europe were left behind to guard outposts along the route.
The ‘Lassie’ dog is a native of Scotland believed to have descended from herding dogs brought to Britain at the time of the Roman invasion.
The Russell Terrier originated in England in the 19th century. Rev. John Russell, an avid fox hunter, wanted a feisty working dog that could hunt fox and go to ground to flush out fox and other prey.
The Russkiy Toy was originally bred from the English Toy Terrier. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Russkiy Toy was one of the most popular dogs in the country.
Credited with saving more than 2,500 travellers lost in the snow, this breed was named for the Hospice du Grand St. Bernard in Switzerland, where the monks ave bred these large dogs since the 17th century.
One of the world’s oldest breeds, it is thought to have developed in ancient Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC.
The breed ‘with Christmas in its face’ is a member of the Spitz family.
The Schapendoes was established in the 1800s and could be found in the heathlands of the Netherlands wherever there were flocks of sheep.
Known for over four hundred years in Belgium, the Schipperke (pronounced skipper-key) is most likely a descendant of the black sheepdog that was also the predecessor of the later Belgian Sheepdog variety known as the Groenendael.
Once known as the Royal Dog of Scotland, the Scottish Deerhound is thought to descend from hounds brought to Britain by the Phoenician traders circa 1000 BC.
A working terrier of the highlands of Scotland, it was once a member of a variety of terrier types collectively called ‘the Scotch Terriers.
A Welsh breed, the Sealyham was named after the family estate of its creator, Captain John Edwardes, whose goal was to breed the ultimate working terrier – one that was fearless and tough, fast enough to work with his Otterhounds as a hunt terrier, and agile enough to slip down a badger hole in pursuit of quarry.
This breed was the farm dog whose work place was the unfriendly terrain of the Shetland Islands that lie off the north-east coast of Scotland.
The Shiba Inu is an ancient breed that originated in Japan. A small Spitz-type breed, the Shiba is agile and intelligent. Not recommended for a first-time dog owner.
Descended from the temple dogs of Tibet, which had been bred in that country for 2,000 years, the Shih Tzu was presented to the Chinese as gifts.
Bred as a hunting dog, the Shikoku – which was used mainly for hunting boar in the mountainous districts of the Kochi Prefecture of Japan – harks back to the medium-sized dogs of ancient times.
Descended from the great coastal Chukchi of North Eastern Siberia, the Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working dog, quick and light on his feet and able to carry a light load at a moderate speed over great distances.
For the most part, the Silky is a cross between the Australian and the Yorkshire Terriers.
Long, low, and lank with a level back are the words used to describe this Scottish native considered to be the oldest known breed of terrier.
Identical in all respects except coat length, the Smooth Collie is of the same lineage as the Rough variety.
Hailing from Britain, the original Fox Terrier, the smooth-coated, was developed in the hunt kennels according to the preferences of the hunt masters.
The Vizsla, or Hungarian Pointer, may be of ancient lineage or a product of this century, depending on which dog historian one chooses to believe.
A tousled-looking dog-of-all-work that has been known in Ireland for more than 200 years, the Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier is thought to share the same ancestry as the Kerry Blue Terrier.
Likely of the same origin as other European water dogs, this rustic multi-purpose breed has been used for centuries in the Andalusian region of southern Spain to assist in herding, hunting and fishing.
A favourite of Italian sportsmen, the coarse-haired Spinone was developed as an all-around gun dog whose specialty is working in marshy and wooded areas.
From its past, the Staffie draws his character of indomitable courage, intelligence and tenacity. This, coupled with his affection for friends and children in particular, makes him a wonderful family pet.
With their thick, outstanding snowy white coat, erect ears and plumed tail, the American Eskimo is a most striking dog.
Developed from the original Smooth Dachshund, or ‘teckel,’ as the breed is known in Germany, the country of origin, the Long-haired was achieved by a cross to the Field Spaniel.
Oldest of the three breeds of Poodle, the Standard is the original from which the Miniature and Toy were developed.
This is the oldest member of the Schnauzer family from which the other two sizes, the Giant and the Miniature, were developed.
Since the 16th century, short-legged dogs of the Dachshund type have been used on the continent to hunt badger and fox as well as larger game such as deer.
Like the long-haired variety, the Wire-haired is a development based on the original short-coated Dachshund.
Among the rarest of purebreds, the dignified Sussex takes its name from the county of Sussex in England, where it was created to be a rugged sporting dog that the hunter could follow comfortably on foot.
Although one of the most recent breeds to gain full Canadian Kennel Club accreditation (June 13, 1995), the Vallhund has long been treasured in its homeland for its cattle-herding ability, strength and stamina.
As early as the 13th century, Marco Polo told of seeing these Mastiffs in his Far East wanderings.
Originating in Tibet, the Tibetan Spaniel is probably one of the oldest breeds in the world.
Said to have originated in the Lost Valley of Tibet, this breed was regarded as a holy dog by the lamas and a symbol of good luck.
The smallest member of the Eskie family, the Toy American Eskimo measures from 9 to 12 inches (23-30 cm), while maintaining all the qualities of the larger breed sizes.
The Toy Fox Terrier is truly a toy and a terrier. Athletic, graceful, and agile he is a fun-loving, house-trainable, small dog who easily adapts to the activity level of his owner.
Like the Manchester Terrier, the Toy version was developed from a breed known in Britain for at least 400 years: the old English Black and Tan Terrier.
Tiniest member of the Poodle trio, the Toy Poodle measures 10 inches (25 cm) or under at the shoulder.
One of several hairless breeds found throughout the world, the Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eats-queent-lee) is believed to be the first dog of the Americas, dating back over 3,000 years.
Sometimes called the ‘grey ghost,’ this steel-grey sporting breed was developed in Germany at the court of the Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar as an all-purpose gun dog for the nobility.
The Welsh Springer is thought to descend from red and white dogs that were brought into Wales by the Gauls in pre-Roman times; similar dogs are also believed to be the ancestors of the Brittany Spaniel, since the Brit and the Welshman have many characteristics in common.
The Welsh is a descendant of the old English Black and Tan Terrier and has been known in Wales, its country of origin, since 1737.
Part of the family of terriers once known collectively as the ‘terriers of Scotland,’ the Westie is close kin to the Cairn Terrier.
A descendant of hounds brought to Britain at the time of the Roman invasion, the Whippet is a member of the ancient Greyhound family.
The more recently developed variety of the Fox Terrier, the wire-haired was created by crossing the smooth variety with the rough-coated Black and Tan Terrier.
This breed came into existence between 1864 and 1885, a time when there was much experimental breeding going in Europe
Recognized but rare. That’s the Wire-haired Vizsla. The breed is fairly young, having only been accepted in Hungary (its country of origin) since 1950..
The Yakutian Laika is an ancient native dog breed from the Yakutia region of Russian Siberia.
Developed in the north of England about the mid-19th century, chiefly for the job of controlling the rat population in the coal pits and cotton mills, the Yorkshire Terrier was also a featured combatant in rat-killing contests.
