The afghan hound is a sighthound that locates and brings down prey by sight. It's known for it's long silky coat and lean, elegant build. Traditionally it was used to hunt rabbits and gazelles....read more.

The Airedale was originally bred as a large terrier that would go in the water if needed. Their original purpose was to hunt small vermin in the Valley of Aire in Yorkshire, England. More recently,...read more.

The Akita originated on the island of Honshu in the Akita region of Japan. The breed has been used in a large variety of jobs such as police and military work, guard dog, fighting dog, and as ...read more.

The Alaskan Malamute originated in Alaska as a sled dog. The dogs were originally domesticated 2000-3000 years ago in a native tribe of Alaska known as the "Mahlemut" tribe. They are descended...read more.

The original bulldog was not only used for bullbating but was also used as an all-around working dog by small farmers and ranchers. Towards the end of World War II the American ...read more.

Despite the name, the American Eskimo Dog had nothing to do with the eskimos or eskimo culture. The American Eskimo originated in Germany and was originally called the "German Spitz". Recently they...read more.

The American Pitbull Terrier originated from an experiment of crossing bulldogs and terriers. Early breeders were looking to combine the game dog personality of the terrier with the athletic, ...read more.

The American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit-Bull Terrier both came from a common line starting in the nineteenth century from the breeding of bulldogs and terriers. The two strains spl...read more.

Although the exact origins of the American Water Spaniel are unknown, it is believed to have been developed in the United States around the great lakes area. It's ancestors include the Irish Water ...read more.

The Anatolian Shepherd originated in Turkey. The dog was bred as a flock guardian and shepherd's companion and were bred to be the same size and color as the flocks they guarded so that predators w...read more.

The Australian Cattle dog was bred in the 1800s by Australians to create a working cattle dog that could handle the harsh climate of Australia. The Cattle dog was bred from a cross between dingo-bl...read more.

The Australian Shepherd was developed from Spanish dogs to create a sheep herder on the ranches. They were transported to the United States with the colonies and most likely crossed ...read more.

The Australian Terrier was bred from many different breeds including the Yorkshire, Skye, Cairn, and many other terriers. They were originally bred to be short, stocky dogs that could withstand the...read more.

The Basenji is an ancient breed native to Central Africa. It was developed naturally and has remained relatively unchanged in appearance. The Basenji first appeared in ancient Egypt as a gift to th...read more.

Basset hounds were first bred in France from the dwarf dogs of bloodhounds and other various hound breeds in order to create a low to the ground hunting dog that could easily tr...read more.

The beagle dates back as far as the 1500s in England as pack hounds used to hunt small game such as rabbits, pheasant, quail and many others. The dogs were bred to be efficient small game hunters w...read more.

The bearded collie emerged from the cross of Polish Lowland Sheepdogs and Scottish herding dogs. The dogs were used as sheep herders in scotland around 1514. Today, the bearded collie is ...read more.

Used in the early 1800s in England as a hunting dog, the Bedlington likely had ancestry in the Otterhound and Dandie Dinmont Terrier. The breed got its name from the Bedlington Mining Shire in Nort...read more.

This breed's name comes from the French word Mechlinian which means shepherd. They are also known as the Belgian Shepherd Dog. This sporting breed originates from Belgium and is a relative to the G...read more.

The Belgian Sheepdog, known as the Belgian Groenendael in other parts of the world, originated in the late 1800s by a group of people who gathered stock dogs from around several areas of Belgi...read more.

The Belgian Tervuran shares the same stock as the three other Belgian breeds, the belgian Groenendael, Malinois, and Leakenois, and was developed in the late 1800s. The breed was originated fr...read more.

The Bernese Mountain Dog was bred to be an all purpose farm dog. Their jobs included companionship, drafting, herding, and guarding. The breed originated in the Swiss Mountains of Switzerland ...read more.

The Bichon Frise gets it's name from the Middle-French word meaning "small long-haired dog". The bichon can be traced back as far as the 13th century and was likely developed from the Poodle and th...read more.

The Black and Tan Coonhound was bred to drive game up trees and is descended from the Talbot hound and the Bloodhound. The black and tan coonhound was the first to be recognized as a...read more.

Bloodhounds were perfected by the monks of St. Hubert(Belgium). They however were not created by them specificly. Bloodhounds were brought to England by the Normans, and from England to the United ...read more.

The Bluetick Coon hound is a dog that has been created through many other breeds. At first, these dogs were classified as English Coonhounds until the breed was given a name to call its own. The B...read more.

The Border Collie was named after the borderlands of Scotland where they were used to heard sheep during the late 19th century. Many Border Collies today can be traced back to "Old Hemp",...read more.

Possibly the oldest breed of terrier in Great Britain, the Border Terrier originated in the Cheviot Hills near the Border of England and Scotland. The breed was developed not as a pet, but pur...read more.

Borzoi's are tall, thin dogs who decended in the lands of Russia. Because of its orgin, they have also been called Russian wolfhounds as a secondary name in America until 1936. Created by mixing Ar...read more.

The Boston Terrier was bred in Boston, Massachusetts from an English Bulldog and White English Terrier. The breed was originally bred as a vicious fighting dog that weighed up to 44 pound...read more.

A Franco-Belgian breed, Bouvier des Flandres was originally bred in Belgium as a working dog. Farmers and butchers used the dogs daily for cow herding and cart towing. Monks at the Ter Duinen ...read more.

The boxer was developed in Germany during the 19th century. The breed was bred from powerful mastiff dogs to create a breed that would excel as a fighter and hunter. The Germans used the dogs to hu...read more.

This breed is an ancient breed. The Briard has been around for several centuries. They were drawn on Tapestries in the 8th century and mentioned in records during the 12th century. In the Midd...read more.

The Brittany is a breed whom orgin in the French province in the time period circled around somewhere 150 AD. Its development is noted as having somewhat unclear r...read more.

The Cairn Terrier, originally from the Highlands of Scotland, is one of the smallest and oldest terriers in the world. Also originating from the Isle of Skye, they were grouped in the "Skye Te...read more.

The Canaan Dog originated from the Land of Canaan in Israel. It has been around since Biblical times. It was originally a guarder and herder for the Israelites. More than 400 of the best Canaa...read more.

The Cane Corso originated from Italy. The breed would hunt boar and watch over its owner's property. However, before 1988, the Cane Corso was only known in Southern Italy. It was considered very ra...read more.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is one of the two Corgi breeds that originated from Wales. Both Corgis are thought to be descendents of breeds such as the Pomeranian, Keeshond, Schipperkes, and Swedi...read more.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named after King Charles II, has been featured throughout history in paintings and tapestries. These paintings and tapestries were of the dog with their family, a...read more.

In 1807, two Newfoundlands were bred to local dogs in Maryland. 

They were bred from the English Otter Hound, Flat-Coat and Curly-Coated Retriever.

The breed was...read more.

The Chihuahua's history is still relatively unknown but it is believed the the breed is one of the oldest on the continent of North America. The breed likely originated in Mexico as a companion dog...read more.

The Chinese crested were believed to have evolved from hairless African dogs while on board with Chinese mariners. These dogs were used to remove the vermin that lived on ships in times of sicknes...read more.

The Shar-Pei's ancestory is uncertain, though art suggests they could date back as far as 206 BC. They were used by the Chinese for farming, guarding, herding, and hunting. They also had advantages...read more.

The Chow Chow is possibly one of the very first primitive dogs to develop from the wolf. Although exactly where they originated is unknown, it is believed that the dog developed somewhere arou...read more.

The history of the Clumber Spaniel is cloudy. It is believed to have originated in 18th century France alongside the Basset Hound and Alpine Spaniel. The breed was prized for his ability to hu...read more.

The Cockapoo is an "old" hybrid; it has been popular since the 1960's. Though the breeding was accidental, the outcome was joyous. The pups were smart, odorless and had a low shedding rate. They ar...read more.

Spaniels can be traced back as far as the 14th century where dogs were being bred to be either water or land spaniels based on their characteristics. The word "cocker" came from the woodcock that t...read more.

Although just how far back they go is unknown, the breed has been used an all around farm dog in Scotland and England for centuries. The Collie originated from several different herding breeds from...read more.

The Coton de Tulear is descendant of the extinct Coton de Reunion. Coton de Tulear appeared on pirate and slave-trading ships and ports in Madagascar in the 17th century. The breed was adopted by t...read more.

Although rumored to have origins as far back as the Egyptians, the Dachshund is known to have been bred in Germany in the early 1600s. The breed was developed from several German, French, and ...read more.

No one is entirely certian of where the Dalmation's specific origns lie, but there have been records from many different countries across the world of spotted dogs like the Dalmation. The Dalmaton ...read more.

The breed was first recorded in the 1700's and was popular amongst gypsies and the wealthy. Originally bred to go to ground, he had magnificent otter and badger catching skills. Sir Walter Scott ma...read more.

The Doberman Pinscher was developed by a German tax collector named Louis Dobermann around 1900 to protect him when he was out collecting taxes in bandit-infested areas. Louis likely cros...read more.

Thought to be related to the Bullmastiff, Bulldog and Tibetan Mastiff. It has always been used as a hunter and guardian. They were trained to bait bulls, bears and jaguars. They hunted boars a...read more.

Originated in the British Isles. It's a descendent of the Asiatic mastiff. It was a bull baiting dog. They were fighters in the arena but the practice was banned in the 1800's. ...read more.

The Cocker Spaniel is one of the oldest spaniels known. It descended from the original spaniels of Spain and were used to hunt in dense cover. The breed was divided into seven spaniel breeds; Engli...read more.

The breed was developed in England in the 1600's, though it is believed that it has its roots in France in 1500. It was originally bred from the French and Spanish Pointer, getting it the name Sett...read more.

The English Springer was considered to be the perfect companion for hunters during the European Renaissance. The English Springer and Cocker Spaniels were born in the same litter but the smaller do...read more.

The breed was developed in the early 19th century for the sole purpose to fetch game that had been shot down. It was bred from the Lesser Newfoundland and developed into a land and water retriever....read more.

The German Shepherd orgin happens to be given away in its name, Germany. Brought up in 1899, the breed was not recognized until 1908. They are herding dogs used for rounding up livestock and protec...read more.

The origins of the Great Dane are somewhat controversial and are not known for certain. Some say that the breed originates as far back as Egypt based on Great Dane like drawings. However, the earli...read more.

Although previously believed to have originated in Egypt, recent DNA tests show that the breed was actually a celtic breed that is more closely related to herding breeds. The breed is believed to h...read more.

Setters have been recorded as early as the 1500s, but the Irish Setter began to develop in Ireland in the early 18th century. The Irish setter started out white with red spots and shorter legs due ...read more.

Persian manuscripts dating back to 4000 BC refer to water dogs, this does not definitely pinpoint the ancestry of the Irish Water Spaniel. It is believed that many breeds were brought over to Irela...read more.

The Irish Wolfhound is a very large bred of dog that have been noted to have Roman records dating to the 391 AD period. These dogs were warriors who fought alongside their owners i...read more.

Italian Greyhounds are an ancient dog breed. 6,000 year old Egyptian tombs shows evidence of dogs similar to the Italian Greyhound. They are illustrated in Medditerranean art, that is 2,000 years o...read more.

The breed was named after clergyman Reveran John Russell. They were used as small game hunting dogs, mainly for the red fox, digging the creatures out of their dens, back in the 1800s. Breeders had...read more.

The Japanese Chin developed in China and was a royal pet. They were the companions of the ladies of the Imperial Palace and of Chinese aristocracy. The breed is centuries old and have been dep...read more.

This breed served on small boats, called rijnaken, that were usually  found on the Rhine River. The origin of the Keeshond is most likely Arctic or Sub-Arctic and it shares ancestry with the S...read more.

The breed originated in Tibet but developed into the breed it is today in Hungary. The name originally came from the Turkish word "kawasz" which means "armed guard of the nobility."

Th...read more.

The Labrador is a decendant of the St. Johns Water Dog and were first bred in the islands of Newfoundland. They are said to have setters and mastiff ancestors which account for their strong hunter ...read more.

The Lakeland Terrier is a dog which originated from England in the area Known as Lake District. The breed was bred to hunt with farmers to catch vermin and foxes  that threatened livestock. Th...read more.

The Lhasa Apso was only bred in Tibet, by the holy men and the nobles, for at least two thousand years. They were used as watchdogs in the temples and monasteries. The people of Tibet greatly respe...read more.

The Maltese was a breed owned by royalty and royalty only for about 28 centuries. They have always been about the same size as the breed is today. It is believed to have been developed in Ital...read more.

Originating in England and evolving from the Black and Tan Terrier, it is the oldest know terrier breed. They were bred to hunt rats and vermin and are still used today to hunt down pests in y...read more.

Egyptian monuments from 3,000 B.C are believed to represent the Mastiff breed. In 55 B.C, Caesar brought some Mastiffs back to Rome from Britain and used them for bull, lion and gladiator figh...read more.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, breedings between the smallest Australian Shepherds resulted in the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Constant breedings to the smallest puppy in the litter p...read more.

In the early 1600's, the Dachshund originated in Germany. They were bred to hunt badgers and rabbits and other small game. They have small legs so that they can follow game into their burrows....read more.

The Miniature Pinscher was developed from the Dachshund, German Pinscher, and Italian Greyhound to create a lively and affective rat hunter. The name "Pinscher" means "terrier" in german, giving th...read more.

The Standard Schnauzer is of German origin and the Miniature Schnauzer was bred from the Standard Schnauzer.  It is said to have come from the mixing of Affenpinschers and Poodles with small S...read more.

They were believed to be dogs of wars for the Roman Army and possibly even for the Egyptians, Persians, Mesopotamians and Mongols in 3000 B.C.E. For the last two millennia they were dogs on fa...read more.

It is believed that the breed did not actually originate in Newfoundland. It seems almost certain that the Newfie did not originally inhabit Newfoundland. The island originally had a race of p...read more.

The Novia Scotia was bred by skilled Canadian hunters, and originates in Canada. They were bred to hunt ducks similar to the way a fox would do so. They were bred by crossing retrievers and working...read more.

The Olde English Sheepdog's origin can be traced to the early 19th century and was originally bred in west England. Devon, Somerset, and Duchy of Cornwall are believed to have been the first counti...read more.

Believed to originate in France, the breed was developed by crossbreeding Bloodhounds with Terriers.

They were used to hunt otters who were eating the local fish supply.  read more.

The papillon is a very old breed of dog that can be dated back more than 700 years in Europe. They were shown in paintings to sit upon the laps of French and Spanish noblewomen. Before they were na...read more.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi originated in Wales, Pembrokeshire- Hence its name. They are highly active herding dogs that need to be exercised to stay healthy and happy. They are very old known breeds ...read more.

Most likely originating as far back as 3000 B.C., the breed is often depicted in Egyptian artifacts. The breed was used as a small game hunter but also served the purpose of being a loyal and lovin...read more.

Originally bred as herding dogs, the Pomeranian's ancestors were much larger and weighed somewhere around 30 pounds. The breed got its name from Pomerania, now modern day Germany and Poland. The br...read more.

The Poodle originated in Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries as a water retriever. It is likely that the breed has origins in the French Water Dog, the Barbet, and the Hungarian Water Hound. The...read more.

Perhaps one of the oldest breeds of dogs in the world, the pug originated before 400 BC as a companion lap dog. It is most commonly believed that the pug came from Asia. However the oldest known re...read more.

They were an ancient herding breed in Hungary, and have been for the past 1000 years. Their ancestors were brought into the country by Magyars. The breed was almost wiped out in its early year...read more.

The Rat Terrier is a combination of multiple of terrier breeds including (but not limited to) the Fox Terrier, Old English White Terrier, Manchester Terrier and Bull Terrier. It is an American bree...read more.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated in South Africa where it was used as an all purpose hunting, companion, and protection dog by the native tribes of Africa. It is said to have been created from cr...read more.

A German breed that is known for intelligence, herding instincts, loyalty and obedience to it's family. Their creation goes all the way back to the Roman Legion in the middle ages who bought dogs i...read more.

The saint bernard is a large heavy built breed of dog that was developed in 980 AD by monks who mixed multiple large dogs to create a seperate breed all of its own. the saint bernard was to be used...read more.

The Saluki is a breed that has originated from Aisa, and travelled through out far lands in the Middle east. These dogs were bred to hunt by sight- Rabbits, foxes, jackals and gazelles. Because thi...read more.

The Samoyed is an ancient Working dog breed. Samoyeds originated in Siberia where they lived alongside a tribe of hunters and fishermen called the "Samoyeds". The breed was used by the tribe&n...read more.

It is unclear if the Scottish Deerhound was once identical with the Irish Wolfdog. Many names were used to describe the purpose of the dog instead of the species. Those names included, but were not...read more.

The Shetland Sheepdog, commonly called the "Sheltie", can be traced back to the Border Collies that were brought to the island of Shetland and crossed with the native dogs there. The crosses were t...read more.

The shiba inu is a breed which origninated from Japan. Not to be confused with the Akita, they are much smaller in size. They are also the smallest of the 6 breeds that have originated directly fro...read more.

The Shiloh Shepherd dog began development in 1974 and is still in development today. The breed was brought into existence by a German Shepherd breeder, Tina M. Barber, who wished to recreate t...read more.

This breed originated in eastern Siberia. It is one of the oldest dogs in history and decendant of Eskimo dogs which lived in the northern hemisphere of the world. They are know as having a think, ...read more.

They are an Australian breed, but their exact origins are unknown. They are believed to be a cross between the Skye  Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. The breed was introduced to America duri...read more.

In the 1600's, a ship that had Maltese dogs crashed on the shore of the island Skye and bred with the indigenous dogs, resulting in the Skye Terrier. The breed became exceedingly popular among...read more.

It is a very old breed, mentioned all the way back in the 13th century. It originated in the area in which Morocco, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria now stands. The breed was thought to be related t...read more.

The Smooth fox Terrier is a breed that was brought up in the 17th century in the British Isles. The breed was created by mixing various breeds such as Beagles, Fox hounds and Dachunds. These dogs w...read more.

The Wheaten is related with the Kerry Blue and the Irish Terrier. Over the last two hundred years, the breed has been flourishing not only in its home country of Ireland, but all over the world. Th...read more.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed originated in England when the Bulldog and Mastiff were closely linked. Bullbaiting and bearbaiting in the Elizabethan era produced large dogs for the sports wh...read more.

The Standard Schnauzer originated in Germany where it was bred from Black German Poodles and German Pinschers. The puppies created could be classified as either German Pinschers or Schnauzers depen...read more.

The Swedish Vallhunds are a short, stocky and fearless Spitz breed of dog, believed to have originated more than 1,000 years ago during the age of the Vikings in Sweden. However, they were brought ...read more.

Though the origins of the Tibetan Mastiff are unclear, there are written accounts in 1100 BC China that may be it. It was isolated in the Himalayan mountains and evolved into the breed we know...read more.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound was bred from the Walker Foxhound which is descended from the English Foxhound. It still closely resembles the English Foxhound, but its hunting style is different as i...read more.

The Vizsla can be traced back to ancient Hungary in the 10th century. They were bred by the native tribe known as the Magyar who developed the dog with superior hunting abilities suited to the Hung...read more.

The Weimaraner was bred in Germany in the late 18th and early 19th century from the same stock as other German Pointer breeds. They are said to have been bred from the old Bloodhound breed and...read more.

The Welsh Springer Spaniel was originated from the English springer/cocker speniel. Eventually, Renaissance hunters began to seperate the water spaniels from the land spaniels and by...read more.

The Welsh Terrier originated in North Wales during the 1760's and were primarily used to hunt foxes, otters, badgers, and small rodents. They are descended from the Black and Tan Rough Terrier and ...read more.

Said to have originated in Poltalloch, Scotland, the West Highland Terrier came from the same stock as Scottish Terriers, Cairn Terriers, and Dandie Dinmont Terriers. Although White Terriers have b...read more.

Whippets are a breed dog dogs that were bred to hunt game at high speeds up to 35 MPH. They are a evolved cross between the Greyhound and the italian greyhound, with its creation just dating back t...read more.

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was originally bred by a Dutch breeder (Eduard K. Korthals) in the 1870's. His goal was to breed the perfect hunting breed. He crossbred the German Griffon with...read more.

The Yorskhire Terrier is a breed that was developed in the 19th century in the land of Yorkshire, England. The "Yorkie" was bred to remove the pesky rodents that were located in clothing mills. Upo...read more.