Origin The Irish Wolfhound, the world’s tallest breed of dog, is believed to have descended from the ‘cu,’ a giant, rough-coated type of Greyhound known in Ireland from pre-Christian times. The cu was renowned in story and legend as a ferocious dog in battle, a tenacious...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Hounds/Irish-Wolfhound
2/6/2014 1:19:27 PM
Origin With webbed feet and the ability to swim for hours, the Otterhound is definitely a water dog. Used in Britain to swim down the otter that robbed the streams of fish, the Otterhound has been known there since the 13th century. Though the breed’s ancestry is uncerta...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Hounds/Otterhound
2/6/2014 1:19:58 PM
Origin One of four members of the bichon family, this breed was first known as the Bichon Teneriffe. The Bichon’s cheerful disposition won him friends among the aristocracy until fashions in pampered lapdogs changed. But the Bichon continued to flourish as a dog of the s...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Non-Sporting-Dogs/Bichon-Frise
2/6/2014 1:22:03 PM
Origin Once known as the rarest breed in the world, the ancient Chinese Shar-Pei teetered on the brink of extinction in the early 1970s when a Hong Kong fancier appealed to Americans for help in saving the breed. North Americans responded, attracted by the unusual appear...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Non-Sporting-Dogs/Chinese-Shar-Pei
2/6/2014 1:23:19 PM
Origin The ancient Chinese Chow Chow dates back to the Han Dynasty about 150 BC, though some historians theorize that the breed may be even older. It was originally used as a hunting dog and one Chinese emperor about the 7th century AD was said to have had a kennel of 2,...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Non-Sporting-Dogs/Chow-Chow
2/6/2014 1:23:28 PM
Origin A comparative newcomer to this continent, the German Pinscher has been accepted for registration in Germany since 1879 though it was known in that country long before that time. Its roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages and the Biberhund of southern Germany, a ...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Non-Sporting-Dogs/German-Pinscher
2/6/2014 1:23:52 PM
Origin Bred in Tibetan monasteries for over 2,000 years, the Lhasa Apso is said to have been in existence since 800 BC. In Tibetan homes and monasteries, the giant Tibetan Mastiff was regarded as the outdoor guardian while the Lhasa guarded the indoors. Its name comes fr...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Non-Sporting-Dogs/Lhasa-Apso
2/6/2014 1:24:21 PM
Origin Considered the smallest and oldest of Japan’s canines, DNA research has shown the Shiba is one of the closest relatives to the Asian wolf. It originated in that country’s mountainous regions and was used to hunt game which included boar, rabbit, and bird. The hunt...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Non-Sporting-Dogs/Shiba-Inu
2/6/2014 1:25:15 PM
Origin The early origins of this French water dog have been lost in the mists of time but its roots have been traced back to the Middle Ages. The first references to the breed appeared in the 14th century and the Barbet’s propensity for water, plus its ability to point a...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Sporting-Dogs/Barbet
2/6/2014 1:26:14 PM
Origin Paintings and archaeological findings suggest that the Berger des Pyrenees or Pyrenean Shepherd Dog has been known in the Pyrenees Mountains for hundreds of years but they proved to be a well-kept secret. Smallest of the French herding breeds, the pixie-faced litt...
/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Herding-Dogs/Berger-des-Pyrenees
2/6/2014 1:26:22 PM
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