The Shetland Sheepdog is probably a descendant from the Rough Collies brought to Shetland (a Scottish island) and mixed with the Icelandic Yakkin, a small dog that is no longer recognized. By 1700, the breed was totally developed and was used to herd and guard sheep. The Sheltie was first recognized in 1909 in England … Read more
The German Shepherd, also known as the Alsatian, was developed in the late 1800's. It was originally bred to help herd and guard sheep flocks, and characteristics thought best for its line of work were preferred, such as intelligence and keen sense of smell. One breeder, Max von Stephanitz, established a registry that espoused this … Read more
The German Pinscher comes from a mix of the Miniature Pinscher and the Schnauzer. That's why, at the beginning, it had both smooth and wirehaired puppies. The German Pinscher was used as a vermin hunter, a family pet, a herder and a watchdog. The breed was officially recognized in 1879. The Pinscher-Schnauzer Club was then … Read more
The Giant Schnauzer is also known as the Russian Bear Schnauzer, the Munich Schnauzer and the Riesenschnauzer. It comes from a cross between the Standard Schnauzer, Bouvier des Flandres and the Great Dane. The Giant Schnauzer was first used to drive livestock in Bavaria, but later was used as a guard dog for the police … Read more
The Great Pyrenees comes from the Kuvasz and the Maremmano-Abruzzese. This dog is native from France and was used as a guard dog for sheep and cattle. Back in 1800 B.C., a dog similar to the Great Pyrenees had been discovered in Europe. The breed probably first came from Asia or Siberia, but when established … Read more
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is probably the oldest Swiss dog and has made a contribution in the development of the St-Bernard and the Rottweiler breeds. There are a few theories about the origins of the Swiss Sennenhund breeds, the most popular one states that they are descendant from the Mollasian, a dog that invaded … Read more
The Glen of Imaal Terrier originated in Ireland and was bred to hunt badgers, foxes, and rodents. They are related to the Irish Terrier, Wheaten Terrier, and Kerry Blue Terrier. Their name comes from the region in Ireland from which they began to be bred. These dogs were used in pit fights that owners and … Read more
The Gordon Setter originated in Scotland and was bred to hunt/retrieve game for their owners. They are thought to be a mixture of the English Spaniel, Land Spaniel and the Spanish Pointer. These dogs originally were bred and used for working alongside their masters on a hunt, but today are more used as either show … Read more
The Finnish Spitz originated in Finland and was bred to hunt small game, elk and even bear! They are notorious for their incredibly fast barking and statistically they can bark up to 160 times in one minute. Despite their small size, this breed has mastered their hunting abilities and are so prized that historically their … Read more
The Dachshund is a long bodied dog with undersized limbs. Originally bred in Germany, this breed's name translates to 'badger dog'. Despite their small size, the Dachshund is a tough little fighter! Their body is the perfect size to chase their prey into small underground burrows. This breed comes in 3 varieties which are standard, … Read more
