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
What were beagles bred for? The hunting job behind the breed
Learn what beagles were originally bred to hunt, how their body and pack instincts formed around that job, and how it still shows up in your dog today.
What were Bernese mountain dogs bred for?
Learn what Bernese mountain dogs were originally bred to do on Swiss farms, from pulling carts to guarding the farmyard, and how that history shapes them today.
What were border collies bred for?
Learn what border collies were originally bred for, from Old Hemp and sheepdog trials to the traits that shape your dog's instincts today.
What were Boston Terriers bred for? Their original purpose explained
Learn what Boston Terriers were originally bred to do, how the breed changed from a pit-fighting dog into a companion, and what shapes it today.
What were boxers bred for?
Learn what boxers were originally bred for, from bull-baiting and butcher's yards in Germany to messenger dogs, police work, and today's family companions.
What were Cavalier King Charles Spaniels bred for?
Learn how Cavalier King Charles Spaniels became royal companion dogs and how breeders later revived their longer-nosed look.
What were corgis bred for? The cattle-herding job behind the breed
Learn what corgis were originally bred to do, how their short legs helped them herd cattle, and why Pembroke and Cardigan corgis have separate histories.
What were dachshunds bred for?
Dachshunds were bred in Germany to hunt badgers underground. Learn how their body and bark evolved for that job and what it means for your dog today.
What were German shepherds bred for?
Learn what German shepherds were originally bred to do, from herding and guarding sheep in Germany to their later work in the military and police.
What were goldendoodles bred for? The purpose behind the mix
Learn why breeders first crossed golden retrievers with poodles, what problem the mix aimed to solve, and how goldendoodles are used today.
What were poodles bred for? The water retriever origin story
Learn what poodles were originally bred for, from retrieving waterfowl in Germany to their functional coat clip and later life as companions.
What were Saint Bernards bred for? The original job explained
Learn why Saint Bernards were bred to help monks find lost travelers on an alpine pass, and how that rescue work shaped the breed you know today.
What were Shih Tzus bred for?
Learn why Shih Tzus were bred as companion dogs for Chinese royal courts, how they got their lion-dog nickname, and how the breed nearly disappeared.
What were whippets bred for? The history behind the breed
Learn what whippets were originally bred for, from rabbit coursing in northern England to straight-line racing and the modern companion dog.
Where do Akitas come from? The breed's Japanese origins explained
Learn where Akitas originated in Japan, how the breed nearly vanished, and why Japanese and American Akitas differ in size and coat colour.
Where do great Danes come from? Breed origin explained
Learn where the great Dane breed really comes from, how it was standardized in Germany, and why English speakers call it a great Dane at all.
Where do huskies come from? The Siberian origin of the breed
Learn where huskies originally come from, who first bred them, how they reached Alaska, and what the name husky actually means.
Where do labradoodles come from? The breed's real origin story
Learn how the labradoodle began as a 1989 guide-dog project in Australia, why its creator later regretted it, and what that history means for owners today.
Where do Labrador retrievers come from? The breed's real origin
Learn where Labrador retrievers really come from, why the name is a geographic mix-up, and how a Newfoundland working dog became England's Labrador retriever.
Where do Pomeranians come from? The real origin story
Learn how the Pomeranian breed got its name from a Baltic coast region and how selective breeding turned a large spitz-type dog into today's toy breed.
Where do Yorkshire terriers come from? The breed's origin story
Yorkshire terriers began as ratters bred by Yorkshire mill workers from Scottish terriers in the 1800s, later refined into today's lapdog by Huddersfield Ben.
Why is Scooby-Doo a Great Dane?
Learn why animator Iwao Takamoto made Scooby-Doo a Great Dane on purpose, and meet some real record-holding Great Danes from history.