Pedigree Breeds

Historically, the German Spitz was primarily used as a working dog on farms. He is usually stubborn and independent, so you will have to establish yourself as a dominant leader through persistent obedience training. Mittelspitz is often curious and will definitely try to explore the surroundings whenever he gets a chance. This is a very agile breed, kept as companions or family pets, known to be good watchdogs with bold and fiery personalities.

All German Spitz dogs share some common characteristics, such as intelligence, agility, cheerfulness, playfulness, alertness, loyalty, resourcefulness, boldness, independence, and curiosity.

Source: Compiled from Primitive Dogs

Added April 22, 20196 yr

Last Updated April 23, 20223 yr

The Briard is an ancient breed of large herding dog, originally from France.

Source: Wikipedia

Added June 17, 20159 yr

Last Updated December 28, 20177 yr

The Canaan Dog is a Pariah Dog of Israel and is the national dog of Israel. Nobody really knows the exact truth about their origins. These dogs are native  to the Land of Canaan that made themselves useful to Bedouin and Hebrew tribes over thousands of years by herding and guarding their flocks. It is understood that the Canaan Dog is an ancient breed. Pre-biblical drawings and carvings depict dogs very similar to the Canaan Dog we know today.  This breed existed solely as a free-living pariah until the end of the 1930s. The breed is a survivor, a sound and hardy animal that is capable of surviving in the very harsh environment of its natural home.  A Canaan is a dog with all the traits that make them a good service dog — an alert and agile dog, being territorial and with highly developed senses.  The Canaan Dog is still classified as a rare breed by The Kennel Club.
 Sources: http://canaandog.co.uk/history-of-the-canaan-dog/ and http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Education/273g05-PRE-en.pdf
 

Added June 5, 20186 yr

Last Updated July 13, 20231 yr

The Greyhound is a very old European breed of dog, a sighthound which has been historically bred for coursing game and latterly Greyhound racing.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyhound

Added June 29, 20159 yr

Last Updated September 3, 20222 yr

There is no real evidence of the ancestry of the Irish Water Spaniel except in its most peculiar feature-the rat tail. This feature appears in no similar dog and makes it very likely that the modern breed had an indigenous Irish ancestor. The tail has given rise to the names “ Whip Tail” and “ Rat Tail”.

(Source: Irish Kennel Club)

Added September 11, 20177 yr

Last Updated September 11, 20177 yr

A Dutch breed which works with hunters as a decoy to attract ducks by waving its white plumed tail and lures them along streams where they are eventually trapped in nets. The orange/red of its parti-coloured coat is thought by some to be associated with the Royal House of Orange and Dutch historians tell of the ‘Kooiker’ which saved Prince William of Orange by barking loudly when intruders entered the royal chambers.
Source: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=2170

Added May 30, 20195 yr

Last Updated November 4, 20195 yr

The Dogue de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Mastiff, French Mastiff or Bordeauxdog is a large French Mastiff breed—and one of the most ancient French dog breeds.

Source: Wikipedia

Added December 24, 20159 yr

Last Updated August 17, 20213 yr

A British breed evolved from the Old English Mastiff and the Bulldog. Primarily used as a guard dog and, in olden times, to help the gamekeeper in the apprehension of poachers.

Source: The Kennel Club

Added December 2, 201410 yr

Last Updated December 28, 20177 yr

The Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. There is also a miniature version of this breed which is officially known as the Miniature Bull Terrier.

Source: Wikipedia

Added June 29, 20159 yr

Last Updated December 28, 20177 yr

The breed is large and heavy-boned with great physical strength, but is still agile enough to perform the all-purpose farm duties it was originally used for. Its breed standard calls for a black, white, and rust colored coat. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is sociable, active, calm, and dignified, and loves being part of the family. It is relatively healthy for its size and tends to have far fewer problems than more popular breeds in its size range. Among the four Sennenhunde, or Swiss mountain dogs, this breed is considered the oldest, and is also the largest.
Source: Wikipedia

Added October 11, 20195 yr

Last Updated October 17, 20195 yr

At one time known as the Belgian street urchin, this breed originated in Belgium and has traces of Affenpinscher in its ancestry. A variety of this little dog appeared in a painting by the Flemish artist Jan van Eyck as long ago as 1434 and the breed was already standard in type by the 1600s. He used to earn his keep as a stable dog where horses for hansom cabs were kept. He arrived in Britain in the late 1800s.

Source: The Kennel Club

Added May 15, 20168 yr

Last Updated July 24, 20195 yr

The Canadian Eskimo Dog's temperament reflects its original work and environment. It is loyal, tough, brave, intelligent, and alert. Owing to their original environment, they take pure delight in cold weather, often preferring to sleep outside in winter. Like most spitz breeds they can be very vocal. Canadian Eskimo Dogs need a very large amount of exercise. They cannot just be walked, they need higher intensity work, requiring more exercise than many dog owners can give. This need for work and stimulation makes them well-suited for dog sports, such as carting, mushing, and skijoring. The Canadian Eskimo Dog is best kept in a cold climate, and is prone to heatstroke.

Source: Wikipedia

Added March 18, 20196 yr

Last Updated January 24, 20223 yr

The Black Norwegian Elkhound, a native breed of Norway, is a typical spitz-type dog and the smallest of the elkhounds. It is a calm, devoted dog that forms close bonds with family members.

Source: http://web2.nkk.no/en/about_nkk/norwegian_breeds/ (Internet Archives)

Added August 12, 20177 yr

Last Updated November 16, 20213 yr

The Gotlandsstövare is rectangular in body, noble but with an impression of strength and endurance.  Gotlandsstövaren is a driving hunting dog for hunting hare and fox. The race also serves as a companion provided that you take into account its strong hunting instinct and big business needs.

Source: http://www.skk.se/sv/hundraser/gotlandsstovare/?breed=Gotlandsstövare

Added January 17, 20178 yr

Last Updated April 24, 20222 yr

Added December 29, 20159 yr

Last Updated March 12, 20223 yr

They are one of 4 tri-coloured Swiss Mountain Breeds, (Appenzeller, Entlebucher and Great Swiss Mountain Dog being the other), but are the only one with longer coat. The Bernese is still popular in Switzerland generally but especially in the hills of the Bernese Oberland.

Source: Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Great Britain

Added February 1, 201510 yr

Last Updated October 12, 20231 yr

The Dachshund, also called Dackel or Teckel, has been known since the Middle Ages. Low, short legged, elongated but compact build, very muscular with cheeky, challenging head carriage and alert facial expression. His general appearance is typical of his sex. In spite of his legs being short in relation to the long body, he is very mobile and lithe. For decades the Dachshund has been bred in three sizes (Teckel, Miniature Teckel and Rabbit Teckel) and in three different kinds of coat (Smooth-haired, Wire-haired and Long-haired).

Source: FCI

Added December 3, 201410 yr

Last Updated August 7, 20213 yr

In the 11th century, monks founded a hospice as a refuge for travellers and pilgrims on the 2469 metre - high Great Saint Bernard Pass. Large mountain dogs have been kept at the hospice since the mid 17th century to guard and protect those staying there. The first photographic evidence of the presence of mountain dogs dates back to 1695, and the first written document is a hospice memo from the year 1707. The dogs were rapidly adopted as companion dogs and above all as rescue dogs for travellers who lost their way in the snow and mist. The dogs from the Great Saint Bernard Pass saved the lives of a great number of people, averting many deaths in the snow. The reputation of the Saint Bernards (then called "Barry dogs") grew throughout Europe in the 19th century thanks to chronicles published in many languages and to reports passed on by word of mouth by the soldiers who had crossed the pass with Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800. The legendary Barry became the archetype of the rescue dog.
Source: Fondation Barry: http://fondation-barry.ch/sites/default/files/mediennews/Medienmappe_FB_E.pdf?54

Added September 19, 20168 yr

Last Updated October 5, 20213 yr

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed developed in Southern Africa. Its European forebears can be traced to the early pioneers of the Cape Colony of southern Africa, who crossed their dogs with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the Khoikhoi.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesian_Ridgeback

Added October 8, 201410 yr

Last Updated July 4, 20231 yr

The Parson Russell Terrier was bred to go to ground and was often used as the earth dog for badger or fox. It is said that he had to be a handy size to go to ground, but also had to possess stamina and be sufficiently racy to keep up with hounds...The Breed was formally recognised by the Kennel Club in 1990 as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier. However, in 1999, the breed name was changed to the Parson Russell Terrier to differentiate the two breeds. The Parson Russell is now well established in the show ring and retains its working abilities as a ‘fox’ terrier.
Source: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/terrier/parson-russell-terrier/

Added July 17, 20177 yr

Last Updated May 19, 20213 yr

The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the ancient Northern Spitz-type breed of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender.

Source: Wikipedia

Added February 23, 20169 yr

Last Updated March 20, 20223 yr

Jack Russell terriers are tough, tenacious, athletic, and super friendly. This energetic dog was bred to be a working dog and still displays the cleverness that made it a highly-sought after hunting dog back in the early 19th century.
Source: https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-breeds/5-Things-You-Didnt-Know-About-Jack-Russell-Terriers.aspx

Added June 30, 20159 yr

Last Updated May 19, 20213 yr

The Jämthund derives from a large hunting spitz found in the Forest region of the North barrier of Scandinavia and Russia. These spitzs’ probably came with the hunting tribes that migrated to Sweden thousands of years ago. Two types of wolf coloured spitz have been recognised in Scandinavia. The Norwegians decided in 1877 that the smaller was to be called Norwegian Elkhound. The large variety that was mainly known in the Swedish county of Jämtland did not match the standard for Elkhound on several points, especially not for size.

Source: SKK

Added November 29, 20168 yr

Last Updated March 20, 20223 yr

The Cane Corso [ˈkaːne ˈkɔrso] is a large Italian breed of dog, for years valued highly in Italy as a companion, Guard dog and hunter.

Source: Wikipedia

Added June 28, 20159 yr

Last Updated August 6, 20213 yr

The Hovawart is a powerful, medium size, slightly elongated, long-haired working dog. Difference between sexes is clearly recognizable, specially in shape of head and build of body. Recognized working dog with versatile usage. Kind and even disposition. Has protective instinct, self-confidence and ability to take stress; of medium temperament; combined with a very good nose. His balanced body proportions and special devotion to his family make him an outstanding companion, watch, guard, tracking and rescue-dog.

Source: http://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/HOVAWART-190.html

Added August 25, 20159 yr

Last Updated June 19, 20222 yr