Dog Breeds
Dogs.info recommends finding out as much information as you can about the breed of dog you are thinking about buying. Remember all dogs are different, make a choice carefully and decide on the best breed which will suit you and your lifestyle.
Dog
Breeds - The History
Scientists
have debated over the history and evolution of the domestic dog
for hundreds of years. Dogs.info gives you a summary of the most
widespread and popular theories involed with the origin of the
domestic dog.
Dogs
today come in all shapes and sizes, this is believed to be a consequence
of a vital point in evolution, that happened over 15,000 years
ago - The Taming of the Grey Wolf. Scientists now believe that
every dog breed is a descendant of the "Canis Lupus"
- the "Grey Wolf".
It is believed that because humans and wolves were both hunters,
they would have known of each others existance. Humans could easily
have come across an abandoned wolf cub and taken it with them.
As this wolf grew older it would be less fearful of humans and
therefore be semi-tamed. A semi-tamed wolf would have been highly
valued by a group of humans, they would have benefited greatly
from the wolfs hunting senses, and warning defences.
As
the process of taming wolves was repeated the humans would have
started to unknowingly selectively breed. They would not keep
the wolves which showed aggressiveness towards them, they would
have kept and then breed from the wolves with the most loyal and
useful traits. Different groups of humans would have needed different
traits in their wolves for their specific needs; size, coat length,
hunting and retrieving ability of different animals, and guarding
ability would have been some traits involved with the selective
breeding process.
As
time passed and more civilisations developed, the trading of dogs
began, at this point the origins of many more dog breeds began.
Today
all regonized dog breeds are placed in one of seven dog
breed groups:
Hounds - Breeds originally used for hunting either by scent or by sight.
The scent hounds include the Beagle and Bloodhound and the sight
hounds such breeds as the Whippet and Greyhound.
Working
Dogs - Over the centuries these dogs were selectively bred to become
guards and search and rescue dogs.
Terrier -
Dogs originally bred and used for hunting vermin. 'Terrier' comes
from the Latin word Terra, meaning earth. This hardy collection
of dogs were selectively bred to be extremely brave and tough,
and to pursue fox, badger, rat and many more, above and below
ground.
Gundogs - Dogs that were originally trained to find live game and/or to
retrieve game that had been shot and wounded. This group is divided
into 4 categories - Retriever, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve and
Setters although many of the breeds are capable of doing the same
work as the other sub-groups.
Pastoral - Herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep,
reindeer and other cloven footed animals. Usually this type of
canine has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements
when working in severe conditions.
Utility - This group consists of miscellaneous breeds of dog mainly of
a non-sporting origin. The name "Utility" basically
means fitness for a purpose and this group consists of an extremely
mixed and varied bunch, most breeds having been selectively bred
to perform a specific function not included in the sporting and
working categories.
Toy - Small companion or lap dogs. Many of the Toy breeds were bred
for this capacity although some have been placed into this category
due to their size.
|
