Do you know the origins of your breed of choice?

Question

The purebred dogs of today were created by selectively breeding mixes of other breeds. The Golden Retriver, for example, was initally created by mixed a yellow mutt with a now-obsolete water spaniel. What are the origins of your purebreed of choice?

Answer 1

The Basset Hound was developed from a French breed called the Basset Artesien Normand. A number of BAN were imported to England, then crossed with a few other breeds to emphasize certain characteristics (most noteable the Bloodhound to increase bone and loose skin).

For a more detailed account of the early history of the Basset Hound, see here http://basset.net/balogh2.html

Answer 2

Ok- I can understand that paying $800 and up for a mixed breed dog is just plain ridiculous. BUT- mixed breeds have been around longer than any purebred dog and were used to create purebreds.Labradoodles to the dismay of some are now recognised in Australia. The Havanese was just recognised. New breeds are recognized every year. Labradoodles- the name is funny- but they were bred because service dogs were needed that didn't shed. This is a very legitimate reason to breed a mix and their popularity has now taken off. Cockapoos and Maltipoos are not a new name or a new idea. They are not just a fad. The whole term 'desinger dog' and that breeding two purebreds together produces a 'hybrid' and not a mutt is new but mixed breeds have been loved by people for a very long time and for good reason. Some people enjoy not knowing what the temperment etc will be. As far as health problems- with purebreds the only benefit is knowing that your dog will be more prone to inheriting certain problems. Mutts benefit from the proven hybrid vigor that happens when two very different gene pools are combined. True- they could inherit the risk of developing all problems of the two different breeds but this is extremely unlikely. I can't help but feel that there are some purebred breeders who are just plain jealous of the hype and popularity designer dogs are getting. If these breeders had truely good stock themselves then they shouldn't be so deffensive. And I've said it before- just because someone breeds purebreds does not mean they are instantly a good breeder. Far from it! People should not be paying crazy prices for mixed breeds but in my opinion there isn't anything wrong with hybrids at all. And by the way- there are almost never small designer breeds in the shelter where I live. All pit bulls, shepherds and shepherd mixes.Big dogs have always and still do dominate the shelters here in Canada at least.

Answer 3

I think most origins have a measure of folklore in them. For my breeds, the stories are:

German Shepherd Dog: once any dog in German-speaking areas that herded sheep were called German shepherd dogs. Then along came a Prussian Cavalry Officer that decided they should be a recognized breed (late 1800s), decided what they should look like, decided that they should be military/police/service animals since there was no future for herding dogs, and did so. Most if not all can be traced back to four canines.

Catahoula Cur (Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog): origin uncertain but Natchez-speaking Indians had them when the French arrived in Louisiana. Their oral histories say that "war dogs" Greyhounds and Mastiffs) left from the de Soto campaign were bred with indigenous dogs (Curs) and Red Wolves. Finally the French added a herding breed, the "Bas Rouge" (Beauceron). Most believe there are some English breeds in there too.

Answer 4

Chihuahua--exact origins unknown; many theorize the Chihuahua is a very ancient breed. It is thought to have been bred down from larger dogs that traveled over the bering straights and into North America with the first Americans, millennia ago. The name comes from Chihuahua, Mexico, where many of these tiny dogs were reported in the preliminary days of dog fancying (early 1800's).

What is known is that since the first recordings of dog fancying (almost 200 years now), there were reports of teeny tiny 2lb. Chihuahuas--the smallest dogs anyone had ever seen, so we know this breed was shrunk down quite some time ago, unlike a lot of modern tiny toys that have only recently been miniaturized--like the Yorkshire terrier (that weighed 15 lb. on average 100 years ago), or the toy poodle (which was non-existent 150 years ago), or the maltese (which weighed 10 lbs on average 100 years ago).

Answer 5

In ancient Egypt, there were smooth coated Sighthounds and they didn't distinct between sizes like we do now and would breed different sizes together. Later in England they bred in whatever they thought would make them better coursing Hounds, sometimes using Terriers, but mostly other Sighthound type dogs. There is plenty of disagreement about the Whippet origins.

Whippets were bred to be poachers dogs in England, which is why they are sprinters and not long distance runners. They were originally supposed to be able to be hidden in a pocket. They are much bigger now, even in the country of origin.

They were also raced by the 'common' people (it was illegal for anyone but the rich to own Greyhounds) and used to be called rag dogs and snap dogs.

They were probably appreciated for their great footwarming capabilities too!!!

Answer 6

hahahha huntindawg, it seems u r wrong my friend!! do u honestly think that all of the registered breeds or pure bred dogs just appreared out of thin air?? like one day, some high and mystical being went "poof, here's 1000 pure bred dogs of all sorts that will be registered from now on as 'pure'!!"
i am not sure the origin of my dog, but what an interesting question! dont listen 2 huntindawg, he has stupid, abusive answers for everyone and preeches about knowing "fact" and "truth" when he hardly speaks any himself... =)

Answer 7

I have French Bulldogs. They were created by crossing English Bulldogs with small terriers and Pugs (but their is a lot of dispute over which country they were actually created in). France originally claimed them, but then when they started to get popular England wanted the credit for the breed.

Answer 8

The chihuahuas were always thought to be an original dog from Mexico. Now there is a lot of controversy as to where it actually originated from and maybe several mixes went into the breed. Me, I like to believe that it did originate in Mexico, and is an original breed, not mixed with other dogs. They are the only breed that was not bred down from other larger dogs.

Answer 9

i am the proud owner of a four year old pit bull. the pit bull was origanally bred for entertainment in england. the king of england would send his best soldiers to battle a bull that was tied to a post to the death. unfortunately, the bull won more times than not.it then dawned on him to create a breed of dog to fight in these bull fights. therefore you have the name pit bull.

Answer 10

The Pomeranian was bred from the Finnish Spitz as a lap dog