The Standard Schnauzer is the oldest of the three Schnauzer breeds. It originally came from Germany. The word Schnauze itself comes from the German word muzzle. These brave dogs were used as messengers in World War I, as vermin hunters, as well guard dogs. It is now more commonly trained a herder and retriever.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier originated in Ireland and were bred to hunt rodents, to herd, and to guard farm animals. These dogs are believed to have blood relativity to the Kerry Blue Terrier and became popular in the mid 1940's when they were brought over to the United States. This breed has a shaggy … Read more
The Schipperke originated in Belgium and was bred to guard boats either docked or at sea and to hunt down vermin that live aboard the ships. They are descendants of the Belgium Sheepdog but were bred to become decreased in size until they reached their current weight which tops out at a whopping 18 lbs. … Read more
The Shiba Inu originated in Japan and was bred to hunt birds. They are related to the Akita Inu as both are fierce working dogs but differ greatly in size. These little dogs became very close to extinction in the 1930's but were specifically bred to become re-populated and are now known and owned all … Read more
The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated from Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe ) Africa. They are also called the African Lion hound and as the name suggests, were bred to hunt lions but could also hunt and retrieve game for the family. They are a cross between the Deerhound, Mastiff, and other African dogs that have the fur … Read more
For about 70 years, the Pembroke and the Cardigan Welsh Corgis are known as separate breeds. There are many theories concerning the Welsh Corgi. One states that both of the varieties descended from Swedish Vallhunds, brought in the 800's to Wales by the Vikings. Another theory says that the Cardigan variety is older and was … Read more
The Rottweiler is probably descended from the Italian Mastiff known for watching over the cattle the Roman legions needed for provisions. In the middle ages, the Rottweiler breed was developed in the German town of Rottweil in Wurttemberg as a guard and herd dog. Practically extinct in the 1800?s, he made a wonderful comeback in … Read more
Several thousand years ago, the Pulik were brought to Hungary by the Magyars and they were used as sheep dogs. During World War II, this breed almost disappeared, but a breeding program successfully brought the breed back to life. This is a dog breed that loves to please their owners and are determined to make … Read more
The Plott Hound is probably one of the least known hounds and has only recently been an AKC registered dog breed. Ancestors of today's Plott Hound were used to hunt boar in Germany, but were brought over to America to hunt bears. These dogs are known for their courage and for their stamina.
The Portuguese Water Dog (PWD) originated in Portugal and was bred to chase fish into the fisherman's netting and to collect the torn nets from the water! They used to be a very valuable asset to fishermen, but today there are more modern machines and devices that can do their job, so the breed itself … Read more
