Encyclopedia

It is thought that the borzoi could have appeared in the XVI century, from the crossing of the saluki and a Russian shepherd. This breed was the Russian nobility’s favorite during a long time, who engaged in spreading it towards other European countries, such as England. Towards the end of the XIX century it also reached the United States and there the breeding was promoted and along with the breeding conducted in Europe, it was kept from extinction.

The borzoi is considered the most noble of greyhounds due to its physical elegance and distinct movements.

In Scotland, its native land, it is called deerhound due to its use in deer hunting, in which it is a true expert. It is a very ancient breed, which was protected by the clan lords, until the deer became scarce and the breeding was almost abandoned. But in England several breeders engaged in keeping it and selecting it with strict criterion that resulted in a dog with great purity.

With this afghan greyhound is the same as other breeds of ancient origin, which are surrounded by legends. It is said, that Noah himself put a couple of Afghans into his ark, which would make them the oldest dogs on earth. It probably is a descendent of the ancient Egyptian greyhound which was used in hunting large game. From 1888, in which a British Army Official took a couple of Afghans to England, is development began in Europe and its spread throughout the world.

Immortalized in Renaissance paintings, the Italian greyhound belongs to a breed that was already known, at least five centuries before our era. This dog comes from the ancient Egypt, from there it spread to Greece and later to Italy, presences proven by several period objects that represent it. But the Renaissance was without a question its golden era. Nowadays, it is a much procured animal as a company dog.

This African greyhound comes from the vicinities of the Azawakh valley, in the border with Mali. The nomad tribes of the Sahara, such as the Tuareg, bred and formed it as an excellent gazelle hunter, feeling so proud of it that they never allowed its sale. However, during the middle of the XX century a Yugoslavian doctor acquired a couple which originated new families in Europe and North America.

Despite the fact that is origins are placed in the Far East, its sponsorship is due to English breeder, for being in England, where this breed has most been developed. In the XVI century, a couple of Dutch sailors brought it to Europe, reaching land in England where it developed and naming the pug, which emanated from the pugonese vocal, which means snub nose.

This ancient breed (probably a descendant of the lullu), is dated back more than 4.000 years. It was worshiped in China as a sacred animal it was attributed powers and direct intervention in the world of the gods, it was an Imperial family favorite, being it the favorite of several dynasties. During centuries, its sale was banned as well as it leaving the country, until in 1860 a few British soldiers, after the Peking raids, took it to Europe where it spread and was quickly popular.

This breed is native to the mountain areas in Tibet, with such an ancient origin that there are no reliable data about its ascendants or about its age, although it is said that it is over 800 years before our time. It was thought to be a sacred dog, able to attract prosperity and happiness to its owners, for which it couldn’t be sold or exchanged for any material good, but it could be given as a present as a token of friendship, which the Dalai Lama did by giving it to the Chinese Emperors.

It is a very ancient English breed, which reached great popularity since the XVII century, as recorded in several period paintings, in which this spaniel sits beside several monarchy personalities, as the portrait of Charles II of England painted by the Flemish Van Dyck, in which a breed’s specimen appeared, whereof its name. There was a period, in which its extinction was feared, in favor of the most recent Cavalier King Charles, another spaniel of similar characteristics, generated with the blood contribution of the King.

In some ancient documents it is recorded that the dogs that originated the current Japanese chin were a present of the Korean Silla Emperor to the Japanese court in the year 732. Other documents prove that some dogs were taken to china, after developing the breed in Japan. From 1680 to 1709, it was bred and selected in the Edo castle as a toy dog. During that period a British Capitan, named Searles, took a specimen to England and, later, commodore Perry, American, also took a few chins back to its country, sending a couple to Queen Victoria of England, a big fan of dogs.

The poodle’s existence in Europe is known since de end of the XVII century. It emerged in France and Germany, where it is used as a duck hunting dog due to its great ability to collect specimens in the water. In Russia it was the “engine” of the milk delivery wheel burrows. During a long time, the miniature poodle was one of the preferred pets in the European aristocracy.

Towards 1870, American breeders developed this breed for dog fights, which reached great popularity in the United States, especially in Boston, whereof its name. Breeding and selection was conducted from the crossings of the bulldog and the bull terrier, intending that the resulting dog was more combative than its separate antecessors.

This dog’s origin, descendant of the Bolognese, is the coast of the western Mediterranean coast, especially the Spanish and Italian coast, although it is erroneously thought to be Cuban. In reality, it developed in the Caribbean island since it arrived there from the harbors in the South for Europe. After crossing with small poodles some havanese bloodlines completely disappeared that, however, exist in the United States, being a very popular breed then. It seems that the name “havanese” was given to it because its color is similar to dry tobacco leafs.

This breed, relatively new, emerged from the crossings of the spaniel and bloodhounds in the Sussex area in England, and was close to extinction after World War II. Despite the fact that its breeding was restarted with much devotion and effort, today this dog is less popular than the spaniel and everything indicates that there are not many, not even in its native area.

In the XVII century, this English breed and the cocker were classified as a single breed, which were told apart only by their size. In 1880, the American Spaniel Club selected the breeds for their size, and any specimen over 12.7 kg was classified as a springer. From 1902, the English Kennel Club acknowledged the springer spaniel as a different breed.

It is an American breed, native to the Maryland coast and more precisely the Chesapeake Bay, whereof its name. It seems to have emerged during the early XIX century in the most natural way, without anyone intervening in its breeding. An English ship, in which some Terranova dogs traveled, ran aground at the shore, the dogs crossed with the retrievers living there and this new breed emerged. Its popularity in Europe is very limited, with very few specimens, which appear every now and then in canine shows.

This breed has a very ancient water breed. According to some old documents, it could have lived in the VII century B.C., it is thought that its antecessor was a steppe shepherd from Central Asia that spread towards Turkey and the North Africa, arriving to the Iberian Peninsula with the Arabs. In Portugal, it established throughout the coast, with greater incidence in the Algarve area, where fishers used it to guide the fish banks into the nets and as a messenger between the ships and from the ships to the beach.

Its origin is one of the oldest in the canine world. It is said that it reach Spain by the hand of the Arabs, towards the year 711, maybe that is why it was known as the “Turkish” during a long time, especially in Andalucía, area where they are most abundant. It is also very popular in Asturias and Cantabria, where it is called the “wool dog”, in Extremadura it is the “churro” or more affectionately “churrito” and in the Basque country it is “txo”. It can be said that, as a working dog, it is polyvalent, as a shepherd, a hunter or help for the fisherman in the sea.

Its origin is placed in Great Britain towards 1920. Its development, respecting the breed’s purity, was due to official breeders of the IV Gordon Duque, in honor of who it receives its name. In 1842 a couple of the Gordon setter was taken to the United States, and there they were crossed with other English and Scandinavian dogs, achieving the breed we know today.

This breed was raised in the United States from the cocker spaniel, selected for hunting, especially to find nests inside thick vegetations. It was originally acknowledged in 1946.

PHYSICAL TRAITS
This cocker’s complexion is more slender than its English predecessor, never surpassing 39.30 cm in height, the muzzle is shorter and the fur is wavier, shiny, silky and long. It may have a mixed or homogenous color, admitting a great shade variety. It has dark eyes with a sweet, intelligent and lively expression; the ears are long, droopy and covered in long and wavy bristles.

The clumber is the most recent spaniel. Although it is allocated to England, it seems its real origin is French. During the French Revolution, and facing the fear of these dogs disappearing, the Duque of Noailles sent them to England. There, the nobility took on its breeding and development and the breed took the name clumber, as a property of the Duque of Nottingham. If its genetic ascendance we could mention the alpine spaniel, who in turn is descendent of Spanish breeds and the basset hound.

Its origin is very ancient, judging by the work of some Middle Ages famous painters. It is also described in the manual “The Perfect Hunter”, by Selicourt, published in 1683; for this, it is known that the spinone is an exclusively Italian breed, which comes from the Piamonte and Lombary areas. It was much appreciated by the period’s nobility and was spread, under their sponsorship, during the Renaissance, but currently it is unknown outside its native country.

It shares its genetic origin with the English setter although it appeared more recently, reaching its great popularity in the XVIII century in Ireland, where breeding began and developed. Currently, the Irish setter is bred in many European countries and the United States, mainly due to its esthetics than its hunting use. Hunters continue to appreciate it as an excellent field worker.

There is a generalized opinion about the English Pointer that considers it as the best hunting pointer dog. It was originated from the Spanish braco, taken by the British soldiers to their country after the Spanish war. Much later, selective crosses were made with the foxhound, English greyhounds and the French braco. Although this breeds ancestors are quite accepted, there is a complete biography in which its author, William Arkwnght, defends that, as many other pointing dogs, the English pointer descends from the Italian braco.

German breed, developed since the XVII century with the objective of achieving a dog that was a good hunter, of feathered animals as well as furred, in land and in water and, mostly, which was very fast. This was achieved very satisfactorily and elevated this pretty dog to the court’s favorites. Its predecessors are other types of pointers, foxhounds, Italian bracos and some Spanish hunting dogs. In 1920, it was taken to the United States and its breeding began successfully amongst the hunters that now take care of its selection and development with genuine commitment.

This Burgos pointing dog is rarely known beyond the limits of the Castilian plateau where it is native from, although it is probable that it was the main antecessor of many other pointing dogs.

The Italian braco’s existence goes back to an age difficult to establish, but it seems to go back five centuries before our era. In its origins, intervened the Mesopotamia mastiffs and, more agile and fast, Egyptian dogs. During the Middle Ages, the breed developed with the genetic contribution of the pointer, to achieve a dog that was a real specialist in net hunting.

Original from the central Bourbonnais area in France and it is known, since at least the XVI century, this dog was and is still bred for hunting partridge. During its life many mistakes have been made, inappropriate crossings, poor selection and, in summary, lack of interest, which has seriously harmed the breed’s purity. In the 1960 and 1970, a new and rigid selection genetic criterion was set to regain that purity, until a good Bourbonnais specimen was achieved.

Unlike many other hunting breeds, the pointer dog is trained to indicate the exact location of the prey. This task is performed with the aid of its exceptional sense of smell and its voice tone. During hunting, the dog needs to remain close to its master, until he orders it do advance, which it does tracking in only a certain area. In this group, all breeds are after the same objective, which is not to catch the prey until the hunter has it in view, but differ in their way of performing.

One could say that it is the Norwegian corresponding of the Finnish dog, with which it shares its origins and is also not known outside its native land. They are two similar dogs in several aspects. The Norwegian hound is a robust and strong dog, able to adapt to every kind of weather and terrain. It is an exceptional hunter with the ability to run after a prey for an entire day without wearing out. It can be said that it is more a marathon runner than a sprinter.

Finnish hound breeding begun towards the XVIII century with the crossing of Swiss, Scandinavian, German and British hounds. Later, and seeing that there were a considerable amount of similar dogs, a breeding was developed and the selecting was more regulated, until the breed was purified and achieve the first standard, set in 1932.

It seems this breed was already around during the roman period and that its spread was due to the conquering army expansion. In Switzerland, where its origin is place, it was known in the XV century and from there it was exported to other European countries, essentially to Italy and France. In 1882 a common standard was set establishing the small differences amongst the five breed varieties that coexisted then: Thurgau, Berna, Jura, Lucerna and Schwyz.

This bloodhound, also called a German braco, it is an all purpose dog at work. Bred since 1897, or maybe before since in a German site about the braco’s origin edited in that year it was already mentioned.

This dog comes from meridional Africa, most likely Ethiopia, where it appeared around 500 A.C. It is respected and cared for by the towns it lives in due to its excellent contribution to economy, thanks to their impressive hunting skills. The English and Ditch colonist that emigrated in the XVI and XVII century spread them outside the African continent.

Its origin, in the French department of Vendee, was due to the fact that the great griffon breeders wished for the same dog, but in smaller proportions. So, they crossed this dog with the San Huberto dog and the tawny Italian and, after successive selections, this variety was born.

Its origin is placed to the south of England, after continuous crossings of the greyhound, fox terrier and bulldog, selecting it with the purpose of gaining a good rabbit hunter. The first pack formed in which these harrier dogs were included seems to date back to the year 1260.

It is a short legged dog, with an elongated structure, developed muscles and flexible walk. It is lively and calm, it shouldn’t be aggressive or nervous and should never come across as afraid.

TEMPERAMENT AND ADAPTATION
It is a serene, calm, lively dog, not aggressive or cowardly at all, it accepts training well as it adapts to a family life.

This dog was selected and bred in the Ancient Dalmatia, now a territory in Croatia. During its origins it was called a “relay dog”: for its great resistance, it walked ahead or behind its master’s carriages to protect them during journeys. The Disney movie, 101 Dalmatians, made it a fashionable dog, which had already been the pet of some firemen corporations in the United States, after the publishing of Dodie Smith’s site in 1956.

This breed was originated in France, from the extinct Artois basset, which was taken to England in 1874 and there, from artificial crossings with the San Huberto blood hound, was selected as a hunting breed.

This is a French breed, descending from some basset varieties already extinct, whose controlled breeding began in 1870. From then the Artois was selected, now extinct and the Normand variety. In 1924 the Normand basset was defined, in which there was no trace of the Artois.

It is able to penetrate thickly vegetated areas, but we must prevent it from entering very rugged terrains since its limbs are too short to resist them.

Since immemorial times, the hunter has developed his activity with the aid of the dog, depending on its acute sense of hearing, sight and mostly its sense of smell, to collect difficult game. The breeds in this group are those who continually chase and with a sustained race, the preys its sense of smell points toward.

Japanese breed, descendent from the white and large German spitz, through the Siberian areas and the north of china, it reached Japan toward the early XX century. In 1921, it was entered in a show for the first time in Tokyo, when this breed’s standard was first set. After World War II, white spitz were imported from Canada, United States, China and Australia which contributed new blood to the breeding, almost nonexistent during the conflict, and its unique and definitive standard was set.

In Japan, its native country, it is called kochi-ken. Kochi, because that is the name of the mountain it is bred in, and ken, which means dog in Japanese. It is classified in three different ways, awa, hongawa and nata, and the only reason of this difference is the birth location of these dogs, they were forefathers of the famous tosa inu. As other Japanese breeds, this was also officially declared a Natural Monument in 1937.

It is a sled dog whose name comes from a Siberian tribe, the Samoyeds, from where it was taken to Norway and, towards the XIX century, to England also, the country where it was selected and began the linage they are known today. This breed was one of the best supports in polar expeditions.

It lives in the Balearic Islands, where it is named the Ca Eivissec, although it is also bred in the four larger areas, from there it spread to Catalonia and Valencia too. In all these areas it is a very common dog, but which keeps its purity due to the breeder’s good criteria. Its ancestors are the ancient Egyptian dogs, which originated so many millenarian breeds, transported by Phoenician merchants.

This breed’s origin is still a mystery: it is known as ancient and there are those who think that it comes from the extinct African Hottentot, taken by the merchants that traveled from Africa to Asia, a relationship supported in its trait that reminds of the crested Rhodesia dog. Although it is not known for sure, except for the age, assumptions are made but there is no supporting proof. What is true is that the breed is kept unchanged, due to its scarce or nonexistent natural reproduction.

This breed’s origin is still a mystery that on one hand places it in a distant Pre Inca period, which seems to be demonstrated by some ceramic pieces found, and on the other, it is said it arrived in Peru by the hand of the Chinese that emigrated after the slavery abolition. Those who defend the first hypothesis assure that it had the same magical symbolic importance than the hawk, the mountain lion or the snake. Nowadays there is great concern about the survival of this breed.

It is called bear dog because of its great bear and moose hunting skills, without overlooking any animal large enough to stimulate it in its stalking. Very helpful to the hunter because of its courage, it was one of the dogs most appreciated by the hunters. It is a Finnish breed, proceeding from the native area of Karelia, to the North East of Russia, used in large game for its excellent sense of direction. The organized breeding of the Karelian Bear Dog began in the year 1936 and its first standard was established in 1945, after World War II, which led it to the verge of extinction.

It originates in the Malta Island, perhaps while the Phoenician took the first dogs from Egypt, 2,000 years ago. It was bred as a rabbit hunter, activity in which it demonstrates a noticeable skill. In the older times, this dog was respected during its entire life, and to their death it was honored burying it with a ritual similar to the one performed with nobility.

This native breed of the arctic areas, created by the mahlemut nomad tribe, and one of the oldest in sled pulling, acknowledged as one of the most resistant for its natural selection in very extreme weather conditions. The Alaskan Malhamut has a recent history of strenuous work at the service of man. During World War II, this breed was used as sled animals and wounded rescue. It was also essential in the two most important expeditions to Antarctica, under the command of the American explorer Richard Evelyn Bird.

This Dutch breed receives the name of the rebel nicknamed Kees that fought against the house of Orange, and shares the background and age of the German Spitz. From Holland, it spread toward the North of Germany and, currently, it is very appreciated in several European countries and in the United States.

This is a pure breed dog, bred many centuries ago as a sled animal by the chickchi, a town in the North East of Asia. From the late XIX century, it was spread to other countries of the world, especially in North America, when it was introduced to long distance races celebrated in Alaska. Since then it has become one of the main competitors in sled pulling.

It is a very ancient breed which has maintained inalterable, judging by its representation in VI century A.C. Sicilian coins. Traditionally bred for hunting rabbits, survived due to countrymen that, in the course of the centuries, have achieved in keeping it pure, using it mostly in the inaccessible mountainsides due to the Etna’s solidified lava. Currently there are breeders in Sicily as in other Italian provinces that select it with enthusiasm and export it outside of Italy very successfully.

The basenji, which means “thing of the bushes”, proceeds from Central Africa, where it was used in small game hunting. It is said that it was already known in pharaoh Egypt. In 1895 it reached England, where the breed was acknowledged, extending to the United States in the year 1941.

In this dogs bred to perform not only a determinate job are included in this group. There are sled dogs towing loads or transporting people, sometimes in very harsh atmospheric conditions and uneven terrains; those that guard and protect homes and those that gather herds, obeying their masters with unconditional loyalty. There are also those that fought against other dogs or against other much larger and stronger animals, such as bears or bulls; all these dogs were later used in collaboration tasks with the military and police.

There is no clear evidence about this dog’s origin, as with many others. There are those that defend that in 1924, when the crossing of the breed with the Cairn terrier was allowed, the origin would be the same. The theory that this is a native breed that has suffered some morphological alterations through time seems closer to reality. What is proved is that this is a Scottish breed that proceeds from the Argyllshire and its origin ancient.

In order to achieve a small but resistant and solid dog, the terrier Skye and Yorkshire were crossed in Australia. The result was this silky variety, also known as the Silky Terrier. It was acknowledged in1962 and soon later the standard was set. It has currently spread as a small breed, but its strong hunting instinct, a loyal genetic heir of its ancestors.

It has a lock between the eyes that should not cover them. In the expositions, it is considered a fault if any part of the face is covered by the hair.

This dog was bred in Japan towards the XVII century, when it crossed with a European straight haired terrier, with small, native dogs, but the organized breed and selection was done toward 1920, and ten years later the breed standard was established.

Descendent of the ancient Scottish terrier from whom it keeps the name is some places; it was crossed with other terriers, with the goal of gaining a good burrow hunter. From Scotland, is spread quickly and effectively to America and Australia, countries where it is very popular.

Its name comes from its color and the Kerry area, to the south of Ireland, where the breeding began and selection from some terrier varieties and an ancient dog, as the terrier, which lived in the area fields for centuries. In the 1940 decade the breed was officially acknowledged and it began spreading. Since it was an unbeatable mice hunter, it gained great popularity in England and the United States.

In the early XX century, several terrier varieties were crossed, such as the Dandie Dinmont, the cairn and the Yorkshire, taken by the English emigrants to Australia to gain a different breed, although no careful selection criteria has been observed. Later that criteria was imposed and the official definition was set in 1903, although currently, according to the opinion of many federations, that definition doesn’t seem to be done with due rigor.

It originates in Great Britain towards the XVIII, from a bulldog and a terrier, with the intention of getting a smaller and more agile dog fro bull fights and, later, for dog fights, so common in that period. In 1935, a Little after the fight ban, the breed was acknowledged as a company dog in England, quality for which it stands out if appropriately trained. In Great Britain it is affectionately called staffi and still has things in common with the old English bulldog and the terrier, the dogs that gave birth to it.

It is original to the Lake area, Like district, it is bred in the Cumberland and Westmorland counties in Great Britain. Presumably, its origins are in other terriers, such as the bedlington, the border or even the, now extinct, old English terrier. It is a working dog, dedicated to protect the herds mostly from fox attacks, task it fulfills excellently. The first club for this breed was founded in 1912, it was acknowledged by the reowned Kennel Club in 1921

This breed is original to Great Britain, developed in the English and Scottish border. Its curious name is due to Guy Mannering, title of a Walter Scott novel in which the main character, Dandie Dinmont, bred these dogs. In the past, it was only used to hunt foxes and other similar animals; nowadays it’s an appreciated company dog and, even, an assistant in therapy for physical and mentally challenged.

This English terrier breed was selected from bulldog and white English terrier, now extinct, crossings, and later with the pointer, which gave it a larger size, to achieve a good fighting dog, a very popular activity in the XIX century. When dog fighting was banned in 1850, the bullterrier was recovered for other activities such as guarding and defense. There are two other varieties, so similar they share the same standard, although they go into shows separately since 1936: the color bullterrier and the miniature bullterrier.

The Bedlington has its origin in the Northumberland, in the North of England. There it developed to hunt small game, especially in water, where it performs its task with great ability due its distinct and excellent sense of smell. It was known by the name Rolhbuiy Terrier during a long time, but took its current name when the standard was elaborated in 1825, date in which a whippet blood contribution was added, due to which its then straight spine, got a more curved line.

In the terrier group there are breeds that have large size, activity and behavior differences. There are ones that are engaged in hunting on land and water, those who serve to guard assets, for herding, for bull fighting or with other dogs. Others are, simply, what we call pets nowadays: kind company dogs that socialize with man at their homes, forming part of the family.

The Yorkshire’s fur shine and softness is a product of chance: textile industry workers used to pet the dogs that rid them from mice and rats with lanolin stained hands.

There are many sides to the origin of the Terranova, but the most reliable seems the one that places its appearance in the Canadian areas that name it. It seems that the breed was selected in order to adapt it to the water, because of its fur, the webbed shape of its feet and, mostly, because it is an excellent swimmer that loves the aquatic environment. In the XIX century it crossed with the Saint Bernard, from which it inherited its altruistic qualities.

The schnauzer is an ancient breed of the Württemberg area in Germany, selected from the Flanders sheepdogs and other shepherds, probably Tyrolese, where it is used as a guardian dog although it was a skilled mice hunter in the past.

This noble giant of the canine world descends from the mastiffs that went with the roman legions that, in turn, descended from the Tibetan mastiff. It received its Monastere Saint Bernard, in the Swiss Alps, where it was carefully bred by the monks from the VI century. In the XIX century, it crossed with the Terranova.

It is the smallest of pinschers. It is a miniature breed but has no vestige of dwarfism, whose origin is only known to be ancient. From 1900, when it was first included in a show, American breeders imported some specimens to develop the breed in North America. During some time it was very popular amongst the ladies in the European courts and in European and United State’s gentry.

The big, always shining and somewhat bulging eyes, of the miniature pinscher, give it a very tender expression: as if it was asking for love.

This oriental dog lives and was bred in the mountain area of Kras, in former Yugoslavia, not being well known outside its natural environment. It is a tireless shepherd, whose breed was officially acknowledged in 1939, although there are documents dated back to 2689 that make reference to their work qualities and morphological traits.

The Karst sheepdog has rounded feet with hard pads, in order to walk through the rocky lands of Karst.

This breed could have originated in the Naples towards the I century of our age, from the molossers bred by the Romans. Alternating periods in which it was almost extinct with others in which it was attempted to regenerate, it reached our times due to the great labor of the dog expert and writer Piero Scanziani, who was successful in selecting specimens that, in turn, originated the beautiful Neapolitan mastiff that currently enjoys a well deserved popularity and appreciation amongst those who know it.

This Spanish breed is different from the French Pyrenees mountain dog and from any other Spanish mastiff. This dog, also called the lioness mastiff and Navarre’s mastiff, was bred in the Pyrenean areas of Navarra and Aragon for centuries, the same centuries that it has walked by the shepherds and being essential when defending the herds, facing wolves with notable courage.

The Pyrenean mastiff must not be confused with the Pyrenean mountain dog, which is a French breed.

In the XIX century, an animal draftsman named Edwin Landseer selected and named this work and defense Canadian breed, a variety of Terranova. In the beginning of the XX century it was nearly extinct when a group of German breeders took it upon themselves to keep it from disappearing, performing different crossings with other dogs, such as the Pyrenean Mountain dog and the Saint Bernard.

It is known in Europe since the XVI century. It receives its name, mostly among the Anglo-Saxon, from its careful breeding in Denmark, but is also known as the German dogge, because that was the country several types of dogs where gathered under a single classification under the term Dogge, applied to exceptionally large and strong breeds. This dogge once was the most preferred dog amongst the central European nobility. As an acknowledgement if its qualities, Otto von Bismarck named it “The Empire Dog”.

This breed was originated in the Tibet more than 2,000 years ago and kept unchanged with time. The Assyrian used it as a war animal and to keep a watch in prisoners after the battle. Bas- reliefs found in ancient Babylon, Egypt and Greece prove this dog’s great popularity after the invasions, first the Asian and then the Roman, which took it across the Mediterranean basin. This is why it’s easy to assume that this ancient dogge let do the molossers we know nowadays.

It is believed that this breed already existed from the time of the Celts, who used it as a guardian. During the Middle Ages two varieties were known, the butcher dog and Turkish dog, both were trained to fight larger animals and other dogs. In 1863, Paris celebrated the first show in which these dogs appeared under their current name. After two world wars, they seemed to have disappeared, but in the Bordeaux, France, the breed was retrieved from the few that were saved from the extinction, recovering its development in the 1960s.

This dog was created toward 1890 by Louis Doberman in Apolda, Germany, from Rottweiler and pinscher crosses. Doberman worked as a guard and bred this new breed to get a dog to help him at his job: a good guardian, obedient and trainable in self defense.

From the XVIII century, the bulldog was bred in England as a fight dog, although it is believed that it dates long before that. It was close to disappearing when it was no longer used in fights, but due to its noble temperament, it began winning adepts that made it the appreciated company dog it is today.

The bulldog has droopy lips, that when the mouth is closed, join in a very pronounced curve around the edges.

Currently, the bulldog is considered the national English dog due to its popularity in England.

This shepherd Swiss dog, native to Appenzell and probably a descendant of the Tibetan molosser and Nordic dogs, it was first described in an 1852 treatise titled Life of the Alpine World. But it was known a long time before that for its excellent presentations as a guide and cattle guard. Towards the end of the XIX it was defined as an individual breed and the first standard was set.

It is possible that this Swiss breed, also known as the Bernese mountain dog, descends from ancient dogs led to the area by the Roman army, or by direct selection, through other dogs that emerged from them as the Rottweiler or the Saint Bernard. It is a farm dog, bred in the prairie area close to Bern and close to the alpine, being extremely popular in its native land. Its first standard was set in 1910 and, from then, it was known in other countries with wide acceptance.

This group og dogs includes a series of breeds with different qualities and a common objective: to guard. They are destined to guard defending, guard vigilant, guard attacking if necessary, be it in a ranch, in houses or in the mountains, performing its job in sometimes adverse and even dangerous conditions.

The Old English Shepherd breed was presented in 1873, whose original name is Old English Sheep Dog also known as a bobtail. It was developed in Great Britain to take care sheep as well as cattle, for which it gained great popularity in the rural areas. 

The Schapendoes breed is native to Holland that has recently gained popularity throughout almost every rural area in the Netherlands for its excellent sheepdog performance. Dutch schapendoes breeding begun during the 40s in the XX century from the few individuals that survived its almost complete extinction. Genetically familiar to other long haired shepherds, currently only dogs with registered parenthoods are bred.

The Hungarian Puli dog belongs to a very ancient breed that descends from the long haired oriental dogs, probably the Tibetan terrier, and has developed mainly in Hungary, where it is very useful in guiding and cattle care. It is also called Hungarian water dogs for its swimming abilities. It is very popular in its original area, but it is not well known outside of it.

There are many theories about the origin of the Long-haired Pyrenean Shepherd breed. Some place it over 2,000 years ago in the Low French Pyrenees, descending from dogs that accompanied the roman armies, others say it is the result from crossings with the Bric shepherd and the most popular opinion is that it is a very ancient native breed, although it was during the early XX century when the first standard was established.

The Shetland Sheepdog comes from Northeastern Scotland, from the Shetland Islands, where it emerges from possible crosses between collies and dogs in Northern Europe, like the Iceland shepherd. The breed was acknowledged in 1919, and from this official acknowledgement, breeders have procured it comes closer to the collie, because it looks like a miniature collie.

Ascribed to Italian shepherds, the maremman, or Maremma shepherd, is a descendant, as many other dogs in its group, from ancient Asian dogs that arrived in Europe with the Mongolian invasions. Some dogs probably entered Italy through the Adriatic proceeding from Greece, while others established in Central Europe and, after natural selection, contribute different TRAITS to their origin.

The Croatian Sheepdog is an ancient dog, bred in rural Croatian farms and little known outside that natural environment. Its origin is in other shepherd dogs, from the north of the country, producing other breeds in ancient Yugoslavia. The Croatian shepherd has also intervened in the appearance of a later variety within the group it belongs to.

The BERGUM SHEPHERD breed of shepherds is very ancient, although the period in which it developed has not been defined. It was spread from Bergum, in the Lombardy area, toward the North Mountains of Italy for its excellent and intense performance as a guide and guardian of the cattle in the mountains.

Despite its denomination and many theories about its origin, the Australian Shepherd Dog breed, just as it is currently known, has developed in the United States. Its ancestors were shepherd dogs, probably Basque bred in Australia, although there are some who confer paternity to Dalmatians and Collies.

The Mudi is a cattle dog breed emerged in Hungary during the turning of the XIX century, from spontaneous crossings amongst Hungarian or German shepherds with erect ears.

The Komondor is a Hungarian guardian and herding dog, Tibetan mastiff descendant, its settling in Hungary is probably due t

 It was originated in the Catalan Pyrenees, from other shepherds in the area, and its development and popularity was boosted through rural and farmer Catalonia since it is a hard working, resistant and an excellent herd guide and guardian.

Even though the standard in this collie defines it as a separate breed, it is true that its ancestors are the same as the long haired collie’s (Rouge Collie) and both have their origins in Scotland, where they have been used as shepherds for centuries. 

From some domestic breed crossings, such as collie with dingo, the Australian dog was bred, named the Australian Cattle dog, for its use in the care of bovine cattle, especially in herding. This selective breeding went on for more than 60 years, until a dog that Australian farmers define as essential was achieved.

The origin of the BEARDED COLLIES goes back to ancient Scotland; there are who those who defend that it was known since the roman times – raised as a shepherd, currently it still performs the same function, even though it has also become an appreciated pet, especially in England, being less popular in other countries. It is possible that the creation of the bearded was originated from the bobtail, and the Border terrier, contributed its agility.

In order for a dog to develop healthily, its diet can be controlled with caloric and nutritive contributions: it’s necessary to balance sugars, fat, protein, minerals, vitamins and, naturally, water. The size and weight of the animal determine food amounts and frequency, as well as nutrient value corresponding to each age, because a young puppy, for example, it needs more protein contribution than an older one.

They will be internally washed with 10% hydrogen peroxide periodically, pouring it inside while massaging its introduction. Dental cleaning is more delicate, since we need to use a special sharp instrument to eliminate plaque and keep the dog immobilized, for which a professional is recommended. However, in order to help the teeth to be as healthy and clean as possible, we need to feed the dog pieces of stale bread that will serve as massage and retrieve accumulations between teeth and gums.

 The veterinarian will take care of fixing the vaccination calendar as well as its management, providing the owner with an immunization record, compulsory by law, as information about the type of vaccine that has been used and repeating dates. If we acquire a puppy over eight weeks, it is the seller’s responsibility to provide with the corresponding immunization record, because at this age, the puppy should have already begun its vaccination.

 We should no spare well deserved praise and complacent gestures, when it can walk side by side, falling into its master’s step. Once the animal is completely accustomed to the orders above, it will be time to begin the exercises that will teach it to march, adapting to the rhythm, and will of its trainer. Because these exercises require patience, time and experience, the best is to leave it to the hands of a professional.

Teaching a dog postures is reinforcement to hierarchic authority, besides being very useful to calm a nervous attitude, and prevent danger or make it understand what is expected from it at every moment. When ordering “sit” we intend that the animal, besides yielding, waits in a resting position. To get it to understand we will pull the leash upwards while its back is pressed downwards with our hand. This exercise should be done during a few minutes, several times a day.

 In order to make the dog used to collar use, this must be done little by little. No animal is comfortable with a completely foreign object around the neck. It will try to get it off and will protest, but since its use is vital, we will need to force it to accept it in the least traumatic way possible. At first it will be placed during times in which the dog will associate it to something it likes, such as eating and playing. Day after day the collar time will be prolonged until it represents no discomfort.

The sense of smell is, without a question, the dog’s most direct means to know and made themselves known to other animals in their species. When they mark their territory when they do it over other dogs’ urine it means to indicate their superiority.

The dog’s age was easy to identify, as in humans: during the first 15 days of life, during the neonatal stage, their primary activities are reduced to eating and sleeping. During the transition age, that lasts up to 25 days of life, the sensorial organs have matures, which allows the dog to perceive external stimulus. At this age it begins to withdraw from the mother and recognizes its siblings, even though it doesn’t play with them yet.

The approx. de Bou is one of the FCI Spanish dog race recognized. During the British crew Menorcas (1708-1802) were dog fights in the port areas of the Balearen a popular people sport. Since the approx. de Bou guarded and for the bull biting was used otherwise bulls, it was usually the champion. When bull biting the task of the dog consists of tearing an full-grown bull to ground. After the prohibition of the dog fights and the bull biting the number of representatives of this race decreased/went back strongly.