The Saint Bernard is often associated with the Swiss Mountain dog because his origin comes from the Swiss Alps where his reputation was that of a hospice dog. The Saint Bernard has the fine reputation worldwide as “the dog that rescues people”. This reputation came as a result of rescues at way-stations for travelers in … Read more
There are many different variations on the origin story of the Newfoundland. However, the most common story is that they came to North America with fishermen from Europe. The Newfoundland is an excellent swimmer and has historically spent a lot of time on ships. They are known for being great rescue dogs and strong animals … Read more
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is known for being a brave dog. This particular breed started in South Africa and can be traced all the way back to there, where it was used to hunt lions and other animals. Some of its other names included the African Lion Hound and the African Lion Dog. This breed of … Read more
The Pekingese is a toy dog that originated in China. These are an independent dog that many enjoy for their regal, lion look. They have compact bodies, bold personalities and plenty of energy to keep up with any owner. Understanding their history, their breed and their temperament allows anyone to know if this is the … Read more
Once referred to as the “Scottish Mountain Dog” or “Loch Collie”, early research has shown that there is much confusion as to where the Bearded Collie actually originated from. Some expert breeders feel that it is a descendant of the “Rough Collie”, just like the one who starred in the famous television series with John … Read more
The Cocker Spaniel got its name from its proficiency in flushing woodcock, which separated it from the Field and Springer Spaniels. It was first called the Cocking Spaniel, and is sometimes called the English Cocker Spaniel now, to distinguish it from the American Cocker Spaniel. Obo, the accepted foundation of the breed, was bred to … Read more
The Irish Wolfhound can be referenced back to 391 BC. They were documented by the Romans and were given as gifts to royalty. Their main function was to hunt wolves and Irish elk, but as the prey disappeared and the country suffered from famine, the breed became almost extinct. In 1869, an Englishman took the … Read more
The Old English Sheepdog was developed by farmers in the 1800s to drive livestock to market. In those days, the tails of herding dogs were commonly bobbed so they could be easily recognized for tax exemption. For this reason, sheepdogs were often called “bobtails.” Sometimes farmers would shear the dogs with their sheep at shearing … Read more
The Bull Terrier has a long breeding history, dating back to 1850 when Bull Dogs and a variety of Terriers were bred with The English White Terrier. In 1860 the all-white terrier became popular as a pet and companion and the popularity spread to America, establishing the Bull Terrier Club of America. In the early … Read more
The Samoyed dog breed originated in Siberia and is named after the Samoyedic people who began breeding them over 3000 years ago. Research has shown that they are among the 14 oldest dog breeds and are distantly related to wolves. Sometimes called Bjelkier, these furry pups were first tamed to help their people herd reindeer … Read more