During a recent Sunday visit to the Flea Market I heard an
interesting conversation about different dog breeds. Several
local
”
experts
”
were talking about their dog’s unique features. Some of the
pooches they described were purebreds, some mutts. Some of the
stories were good ones. Some were dogs.
During a recent Sunday visit to the Flea Market I heard an interesting conversation about different dog breeds. Several local “experts” were talking about their dog’s unique features. Some of the pooches they described were purebreds, some mutts. Some of the stories were good ones. Some were dogs.
But truth is, different dogs have different personalities and different abilities bred into them. There’s some really neat – and sometimes surprising – history behind each of the dog breeds of the world. Here’s some information about a few different, and perhaps even unique, canines of the world.
Probably the oldest of all breeds is the Saluki. Have you ever seen one? Quite a few of these pretty dogs reside right here in South County.
Pictures of Salukis are seen on the walls of some Egyptian tombs. These dogs were popular for hunting gazelle because of their speed. And the Saluki is the only dog mentioned with honor in the Quran. These are interesting, beautiful dogs, but their shyness sometimes makes them seem aloof to strangers.
Poodles originated in Europe, maybe in Germany (their name comes from the German “pudel” which means “to splash in the water”). These dogs instinctively love water and are good swimmers. For many years, they were used as water retrievers.
Originally, poodles were trimmed around their hindquarters to allow better swimming ability. The fur on their head and legs was left unclipped to give them better buoyancy and thermal protection in cold water. Today, the fancy trimming seen on show dogs mimics this original practical trimmed appearance. Poodles are popular family dogs.
Did you know that some terriers were bred as working dogs? It’s true: Scotties, Westies, Dandy Dinmonts and Cairns are a few of the very hard-working terriers.
Most people think the Cairn terrier’s only claim to fame is one’s performance as Toto, Dorothy’s faithful companion in “The Wizard of Oz.” But Cairns were well-known as working dogs, helping to clear otter along the coastline of Europe and to route foxes and vermin from their inland hiding places. Like a lot of terriers, Cairns have no fear – they’ll stand up to almost any larger dog. But they make wonderful pets, and are very dedicated to their owner.
Scotties, Westies and Dandy Dinmonts are all from in or around Scotland. The Scotties are the oldest of these breeds. Like Cairns, all these terriers were workers. Today, they are known for their strong loyalty as family dogs.
And what about those cute little Cocker Spaniels? Not too long ago they were known as America’s most popular family dog for their sweet disposition. Do you have any idea what their ancestors did?
The word “Spaniells” was first used in the 1300’s in Spain where the roots of all Spaniels start. In the 1800’s, “Cocking” Spaniels were workers, used for hunting woodchuck. “Cockers” were the smallest of all the different Spaniels. Their small size made them seem inefficient in the field and their popularity as hunters waned in the middle of the 20th century. Their beauty and popularity as a pet took over. Today, they remain one of the more popular breeds.
Finally, let’s shift gears and talk about a big dog, the Newfoundland. This is a breed with a proud history dating back to the early Viking settlements on the Canadian island province of the same name. Newfs are large, weighing anywhere from 110 to 180 pounds. But there size belies their ability as a rescue dog. Starting back in the 18th century, they were used as lifeguards. And even today, Newfies are trained as water dogs, able to come to the rescue of someone in trouble in the water.
I recently went to the “Fall Water Test” for Newfoundland dogs held at Del Valle reservoir in Livermore. Here, these gorgeous black beasts were tested for their ability to rescue a swimmer in distress and to tow a stranded boat to safety. That’s right! Newfs are powerful swimmers, strong enough to tow a small boat ashore! No wonder they were found on so many ships in the 18th century!
If you and your family are thinking of getting a purebred dog, take time to read the history of several different breeds. There’s loads of information on each breed that might help you decide exactly which type of dog you’d want as a member of your family.
Whether it’s a working dog or a couch potato, the more you get to know about your dog, the more fun you’ll have with your companion.
