Breed Origins?

[Erika]

Hey there. I am interested in knowing the background of your dog's breed. I think that it would be fun sharing what our dog's ancestors were up to!

The boxer was a German dog bred for fighting and such.

[DogLover9501]

You already said mine :p

So I'll do Piddle's....

The shih-tzu's don't have much Origin lol they suposibly resemble a small lion, and the chinese started to trade them or something?

I don't think they did much :o

Also this would be a fun game, people could name an origin and people could guess the breed!

[countrycowgirl]

here is the link to the info. for Rat Terriers they have a interesting history and a big family tree!:eek: ... http://www.ratterrierclub.com/standard/index.html
:D

[stacwase]

OK - well, you know about German Shepherds and Rottweilers, so Max is out of the way.

Shelties are from the Shetland Islands, where they herded sheep. It was necessary for them to develop a good, loud bark to be heard above the sounds of the wind and waves while they were watching the sheep.

Chihuahuas are descendants of the Techichi dog from Mexico. It was a sacred, mute dog which was held in such high esteem that the Tolcechs (sp?) thought that they had to be buried with one to increase their chances of going to heaven.

[FizzGiggs_Mommy]

Just some small facts about the Bichon Frise:

The Bichon frise has a L-O-N-G history ... They are decendants of the Water Spaniel or Barbet witch then became BarBichon ..They decended from Canary Islands (Medeteranian Irea).

Made a apperance in Italy in the 1300's Then France in the 1500's

In the 1800's they became street dogs and were seen preforming in circuses and fairs.

In 1972 The Bichon Frise was recognized by the AKC

Just some small facts about the Pug:

The pugs origins are chinese ther were prized posestions(sp) of the kings and queens and sometimes had there own gards

There were called the Lion dog or Foo Dog before the "Pug"

1885 is when they got AKC recognition.

[ParNone]

Cairn Terriers They originated from the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands. Named for the piles of small stones used to mark Scottish farm borders and graves, their job was to rout small animals from their lairs in these stone piles.

Smooth Collie Also originated from the Scottish Highlands. The Smooths were primarily used as drovers to drive cows or sheep to market. Supposedly somewhere along the line, Borzoi was crossed into the breed, which is where the long, lean head and nose came from.

I seem to be drawn to those Scottish breeds. I must have been from Scotland in a previous life or something.;)

Par...

[Albea]

The Golden Retriever

Here's another dog from Scotland.
There was an old tale that said the Goldens had some Russian tracking dogs in their lineage. Since I liked the story, my first two Goldens were called Natasha (the Red Menace) and Irina.
However, they are really from the Highlands. The most complete history of the development of the breed are included in the record books that were kept from 1835 until about 1890 by the gamekeepers at the Guisachan estate of Lord Tweedmouth in Inverness-Shire. These records were released to the public in "Country Life" in 1952. Unfortunately, the archives of "Country Life" on line don't go that far back.
Goldens were first shown in England at the Crystal Palace Show in 1908.
The first registration of a Golden by the American Kennel Club was in November 1925.
The first three dogs of any breed to achive AKC Obedience Champion title, first established in 1977, were Golden Retrievers.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

The chihuahua was already done, so I'll do my other two.

pomeranian
originated in Germany in the 1800's. They were bread down from the german spitz as a companion dog.

Miniature Pinscher
also originated in Germany, only in a bit earlier, the 1700's. They were bread to catch rats.

[binka_nugget]

Originally posted by stacwase
It was necessary for them to develop a good, loud bark to be heard above the sounds of the wind and waves while they were watching the sheep.

Oh jeez, I could vouch for you on that one. :p

Taken from here (http://users.tyenet.com/starswept/available.htm)
The SHETLAND SHEEPDOG used to be called the 'Toonie,' a name taken from 'tun,' the Norwegian word for the front yard of a farmhouse. Thus the Toonie was the farm dog whose place was the unfriendly terrain of the Shetland Islands that lie off the north-east coast of Scotland.

His job was to control small flocks of sheep and to watch over toddlers at their play. To this day the Sheltie displays a strong sense of boundary - a legacy no doubt from these early working days when to overstep the line meant a fall from a rocky cliff into the cruel sea.

It is thought the Sheltie's ancestors were the Yakkie, an Icelandic breed brought to the islands by whaling fleets, the Norwegian Buhund and the small collie. In appearance, the early specimans were far from being the elegant 'miniature Collie' of today. But after the end of the 19th century, when the breed reached the mainland, British breeders refined the type by means of various Toy breed crosses. In 1906, the Sheltie made its debut at Crufts Dog Show under the name Shetland Collie. But Collie breeders objected and the name was changed to sheepdog. The breed has become popular as a family pet suited to almost anyaccomodation.

[Erika]

Keep them coming. This is interesting to learn what our dogs were bred to do such a long time ago. Seems like a lot originated from Germany and Scotland. Thanks for posting!

[GiantSchnauzer]

Giant Schnauzer

*Developed in Germany to be used as a cattle drover and guard dog.

[Twisterdog]

The Smooth Fox Terrier was originally bred to go to ground for fox, their innate sense to dig comes out unless taught otherwise. The Smooth Fox Terrier was originally bred in England.

The Fox Terrier is an old English breed. For almost 100 years it was registered and shown in the United States as one breed with two varieties, Smooth and Wire. However, in 1984 the American Kennel Club approved separate standards for the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier; this ruling became effective on June 1, 1985.

The important ancestors of the Smooth are believed to include the smooth-coated black-and-tan terrier, the Bull Terrier, the Greyhound, and the Beagle.

One of the first records of the breed was made in 1790, when Colonel Thornton's "Pitch" - a smooth-coated white Fox Terrier - was immortalized in print and paintings.

Smooth Fox Terriers preceded the Wires in the show ring by 15 to 20 years. At first they were classified with sporting dogs, a tribute to their keen nose, remarkable eyesight, and stamina in driving foxes from their hole.

Early breeders liberally crossed Wire Fox Terriers with Smooths to give the former predominantly white pigmentation, a cleaner-cut head, and a more classical outline. However, interbreeding has been almost universally discontinued for many years.

The original breed standard was so well drawn in 1876 by the Fox Terrier Club in Great Britain that, with the exception of reducing the weight of a male dog in show condition from 20 pounds to 18 pounds, changes were unnecessary for many decades. The American Fox Terrier Club, the parent club of the breed in this country, adopted this standard when the club was founded in 1885.


http://akc.org/breeds/recbreeds/smfoxt.cfm

[tikeyas_mom]

The Asian Chukchi people of the extreme northeastern part of Siberia,once depended on Siberian Huskies to survive. The hearty dogs pulled sleds, herded reindeer and guarded property in a challenging, frigid environment. Their amazing stamina captured the attention of passing fur traders, who eventually brought the dogs to other parts of the world.

Huskies gained worldwide recognition when they rushed needed medicine to ill Alaskans. They still compete in sled races, but also delight pet owners with alert, gentle and independent spirits. Despite having developed in cold climates, Siberian Huskies adapt well to a variety of living conditions.


The does not have qualities of the guard dog.they are not overly suspicious of strangers or aggressive with other dogs. They are intelligent, tractability, and have an eager disposition
to be an agreeable companion and willing worker.
.

[tikeyas_mom]

The history of the Dane goes way back to the pre-Roman times where drawings of Dane-like dogs were found on Egyptian tombs and in illustration dating back to approximately 600 B.C. In 1880, Germany adopted the Great Dane as its national dog and called it Deutsche Dogge. The Great Dane was recognized by the kennel club in 1884 in England, as the Great Dane.

The Great Dane was originally developed to hunt wild boars. This is where the clipping of the ears started. The ears were cropped as to not have them torn off by the boars. There is still controversy over whether to crop or leave the ears natural.

[tikeyas_mom]

The Shih Tzu origin is steeped in mystery, legends and intrigue. At one time it was thought the breeding programs in the Far East were the propriety of the Tietan Monks. The Lhasa Apso, Pug, Pekinese,and Shih Tzu were all believed to be Tibetan, and came to China as royal tributes from the Monks.

The dogs were companions to the lions to keep them calm when they were not hunting.

.During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Shih Tzu type dog were favored by the royal families. Eunuchs were charged with duties of breeding and raising the beautiful royal pets.

[BCBlondie]

Originally posted by KBlaix
The chihuahua was already done, so I'll do my other two.

pomeranian
originated in Germany in the 1800's. They were bread down from the german spitz as a companion dog.
To add, Pomeranians were about 20 - 30lbs? back then and were used as herding dogs in Germany! :D

Border Collie
The development of the Border Collie as a dog breed is closely linked with the development of livestock farming and wool trading in the outlying "border" regions of the United Kingdom. There are several factors which helped to shape this breed to the dogs we know it today. Firstly, the climate in the border regions can be rather harsh therefore the Border Collie had to be a hardy dog. The terrain of the region is a blend of cliffs, crags, and small pastures. This rugged terrain necessitated a durable animal. The dog's function was that of a herder - the smaller swifter dogs were found to best better suited to perform this function, within this terrain. Even the white markings (around neck, on chest, legs and tip of tail) performed the function of helping the dogs to be more easily detected at night.
Border Collie owners, at this time were not concerned with pedigrees. They had something very useful, and looked to perpetuate or improve their dogs. The owners were very proud of their dog's abilities. This pride led to informal competitions between local herders and farmers. Eventually these competitions became formalized, with the first formal sheepdog trial taking place in 1873 in Wales. In 1955, the Border Collie was admitted to the Miscellaneous class by the American Kennel Club. The AKC granted full membership to the Border Collie as of October, 1995. In spite of the formalization of this breeds (pedigrees, club membership, official titles) the talents that developed this breed remain. The intelligence, stamina, herding instinct and versatility have survived through the years - thanks to the dedicated breeders of these animals who have insisted that the Border Collie must live up to all of its capabilities.

http://www.barkbytes.com/history/brdcol.htm