Sign inDog breeds and their history
Where does your dog's breed come from? These guides trace each breed's roots, the work it was bred for, and the people who loved it.
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Contents
122 guides
Akita history: from Japanese mountain hunter to national icon
Learn how the akita began as a Japanese hunting dog, nearly vanished twice, and became linked to Hachikō, Helen Keller, and two separate modern breed lines.
Akita in art: how Hachikō's statues shaped the breed's image
Learn how the Akita appears in art, from the Hachikō statues in Tokyo to a mosaic mural and museum display, and how closely they capture the breed.
Australian shepherd history: from ranch dog to American icon
Learn how the Australian shepherd grew from a western ranch dog into a rodeo star, a club-registered breed, and a family and sport companion.
Australian shepherd origin: the surprising history behind the name
Learn why the Australian shepherd's name is misleading, how Basque shepherds shaped the breed, and what its ranch history reveals.
Barry the Saint Bernard: the true history of the Alpine rescue dog
Learn the real story of Barry, the Saint Bernard rescue dog from the Great St Bernard Hospice, and which famous legends about him are myths.
Basset hound history: from French hunting packs to family favorite
Learn where the basset hound's low body and long ears came from, how the breed reached Britain and America, and how show breeding changed its look.
Beagle renaissance portrait: why small hounds appear in old paintings
Discover the Talbot Hound, an extinct breed brought to England in 1066, believed to be an ancestor of today's beagle and bloodhound.
Bernese mountain dog origin: how this Swiss farm dog began
Learn where the Bernese mountain dog comes from, how it links to Roman-era mastiffs, why it nearly vanished, and how it got its name and worldwide following.
Bernese Mountain Dog: history, appearance, and health
Learn where the Bernese Mountain Dog comes from, what it looks like, its common health issues, and what daily life with one is like for you and your dog.
Border collie origin: where the breed's name and lines began
Learn where the term border collie comes from, how Old Hemp shaped the breed's working line, and when the name border collie became official.
Boston terrier in art: the story behind the American gentleman
Discover why the Boston terrier earned its American gentleman nickname and how its tuxedo coat made it a familiar face in early advertising and film.
Boxer origin: where the boxer breed really comes from
Learn where the boxer breed originated, from the German bullenbeisser hunting dog to the Munich breeders who shaped the modern boxer in the late 1800s.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel history: the royal story of Charles II
Learn how King Charles II's love of small spaniels shaped a breed's name, and how a 1920s prize brought back their original long-nosed look.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in art: from royal portraits to today
Learn how toy spaniels appeared in royal portraits from the 1500s onward, and how breeders later used those paintings to shape the modern Cavalier.
Chihuahua history: from ancient Mexico to modern icon
Learn how the chihuahua descends from the ancient Techichi dog of Mexico, how it got its name, and how it became a recognized breed in the United States.
Corgi 1920s flapper/Gatsby portrait: what the real history shows
Learn when corgis actually became fashionable and why a 1920s flapper or Gatsby-style corgi portrait is a playful anachronism rather than history.
Corgi explorer portrait: the real history behind the look
Learn why corgi explorer portraits are a costume theme, not real history, and discover which dogs actually took part in polar expeditions.
Corgi origin: where the Welsh corgi breed really began
Learn where corgis originated in Wales, how the Pembroke and Cardigan lines diverged, and why the breed was built to herd cattle rather than sheep.
Corgi renaissance portrait: are corgis really in old European art?
Learn why Renaissance paintings do not show corgis, which small dog appears in the Arnolfini Portrait instead, and when corgis became a recognized breed.
Corgi royal history: how the breed became linked to the British crown
Learn how corgis became linked to the British royal family, from their Welsh herding past to Queen Elizabeth II's decades of corgi ownership.
Corgi royal portrait: the history behind Queen Elizabeth II's corgis
Learn how Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, starting with Susan in 1944, became linked to royal photographs, public appearances, and spikes in breed popularity.
Dachshund history: from German badger hunters to global icon
Learn what the name dachshund means, how the breed changed shape over centuries, and how it survived the world wars to become an Olympic mascot.
Dachshund WWII pilot portrait: the history behind this wartime art
Learn where the dachshund WWII pilot portrait style comes from, how it connects to real nose art, and why dachshunds are tied to Germany.
Dachshunds in World War History: From Mascots to Enemy Symbols
See how dachshunds served in World War I and II, why they were renamed liberty hounds, and how anti-German feeling hurt the breed's popularity.
Dogs in ancient Egypt: history, breeds, and mummies
Learn how ancient Egyptians kept, hunted with, and mourned their dogs, from tomb paintings and mummies to the breeds they favored.
Dogs in Yokohama-e: Japan's 19th-century foreigner prints
Learn about Yokohama-e, Japanese woodblock prints of foreigners in the port city of Yokohama, which opened to foreigners in 1859.
Famous Akitas: real dogs behind the breed's legend
Learn about famous Akitas in history, including Hachiko's long wait at Shibuya Station and the two Akitas Helen Keller kept as companions.
Famous basset hounds: real dogs behind the droopy-eared icon
Meet the famous basset hounds behind a British comic strip, a shoe brand mascot, and real dogs owned by royals, with sources for every claim.
Famous Cavalier King Charles Spaniels: real dogs behind the breed
Learn which real dogs made Cavalier King Charles Spaniels famous, from King Charles II's court spaniels to modern pets like Ronald Reagan's Rex.
Famous chihuahuas: real dogs that shaped the breed's fame
Meet the real chihuahuas behind the breed's fame, from the Taco Bell mascot Gidget to the record-holding dogs Guinness World Records has certified.
Famous Dobermans: real dogs behind the breed's reputation
Learn about Kurt, the WWII Marine war dog, the Always Faithful memorial, and the true story behind the choking Doberman legend.
Famous French bulldogs: real dogs that shaped the breed's history
Meet the French bulldogs behind the breed's history, from Toulouse-Lautrec's Bouboule to the Titanic's Gamin de Pycombe and today's celebrity dogs.
Famous German shepherds: Rin Tin Tin, Strongheart, and their legacy
Learn the true stories of Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart, the German shepherds whose film careers shaped the breed's popularity in America.
Famous goldendoodles: real dogs behind the breed's rise
Learn about real famous goldendoodles, including a social media star, their working roles, and how this young crossbreed became so popular.
Famous huskies: the real dogs behind the legend
Meet the huskies history remembers, from Balto and Togo in the 1925 serum run to Nome to the working and on-screen huskies that followed them.
Famous labradoodles: the real dogs behind the crossbreed's rise
Learn about Sultan, the first labradoodle, and the real story of Wally Conron, guide dogs, and how the crossbreed became famous.
Famous Labrador retrievers: real dogs behind the breed's legend
Learn about real famous Labrador retrievers, including Bill Clinton's Buddy and George H. W. Bush's service dog Sully, and how each dog made headlines.
Famous Pomeranians: notable dogs in history and pop culture
Learn about famous Pomeranians from Queen Victoria's Marco to Titanic survivors, and see what their stories reveal about this alert, compact breed.
Famous poodles: real dogs behind the elegant breed's history
Learn about Boy, Prince Rupert's poodle from the English Civil War, accused of having supernatural powers and killed at Marston Moor in 1644.
Famous shih tzus: real dogs behind the palace lapdog legend
Learn how shih tzus lived in the Chinese imperial court, nearly vanished in the 20th century, and which royals and celebrities later owned the breed.
Famous whippets: real dogs that shaped the breed's story
See how whippets earned fame through racing speed, aristocratic owners, and early paintings, and learn how to check dog history claims.
Famous Yorkshire terriers: real dogs behind the tiny icon
Meet Smoky, the WWII Yorkshire terrier, and Huddersfield Ben, the breed's foundation sire, and see how their stories shaped the breed.
French bulldog baroque portrait: the real history explained
Discover how French bulldogs really began in Paris in the mid-1800s, from English Toy Bulldogs to a beloved modern breed.
French bulldog explorer portrait: the history behind this art style
Learn what a french bulldog explorer portrait style really shows, how the breed's true history unfolds, and how to turn your dog's photo into one.
French bulldog history: from Nottingham lace workers to Paris
Learn how French bulldogs evolved from Nottingham lace workers' toy bulldogs into a Paris fashion favorite and one of today's most popular dog breeds.
French bulldog medieval knight portrait: the history behind the look
Learn why a French Bulldog medieval knight portrait is a modern art style, when the breed actually began, and what real medieval dog art looked like.
French bulldog Napoleon portrait: the history behind the trend
Learn why French bulldogs never met Napoleon, what dog his household actually owned, and why artists now pair the two in portraits.
French bulldog Roman emperor portrait: the history behind the trend
Learn what a french bulldog Roman emperor portrait really is, and how it compares to the breed's true 19th century origins and Rome's real dogs.
French bulldog royal portrait: how the breed charmed European courts
Learn which royals really owned French bulldogs, why painters liked their bat ears, and where historic portraits of the breed survive today.
French bulldog Tudor portrait: fact, myth, and real breed history
Learn why French Bulldogs could not appear in Tudor portraits, which dogs really show up in Tudor paintings, and how to date an old dog portrait.