Why So Many Different Dog Breeds?
Yorkie, Mastiff, Pug, Collie, Mexican Hairless, Malamute
May 20, 2008
It is believed that all dogs originate from wolves; however we have tiny dogs, huge dogs, long haired dogs, hairless dogs, long nosed dogs, short nosed dogs, and a rainbow of colors of dogs. Dogs can vary from the tiniest teacup Chihuahua of 3 pounds to the largest Mastiff of over 200 pounds. How can that be?
Place of Origin
The place of origin influences the characteristics of various groups of dogs.
Northern breeds with thick coats such as the Akita, Siberian Husky, and Malamute developed all that hair to keep them warm in their bitterly cold environment. These dogs don’t seem to mind sleeping in the snow. On the other hand, Chihuahuas, who originated in the warm climates of Mexico, developed the ability to dissipate heat quickly. That’s why they shiver so easily and love to doze in the sun or burrow under blankets.
Terriers developed mostly in England in forested areas and rocky hills inhabited by rodents and varmints. They needed to be small, wiry and agile to catch food from ground burrows and to hide from predators. The word ‘terrier’ is from the Latin term ‘terra’ meaning ground, or of the earth, or terrain.
Breeds such as the Pharaoh Hound or Saluki that originated in desert regions developed long slender bodies. Their lean physiques withstood hot climates better and, with no place to hide from enemies in a barren desert, these dogs needed to be built for speed.
Selective Breeding
In addition to these locale differences, many of the breeds we see today have been developed through selective breeding programs. Many of them were bred with the goal of certain qualities for specific jobs. Dogs have been used throughout history for herding livestock, pulling loads, guarding property, helping with the hunt, and getting rid of vermin.
Bulldogs, with their muscular bodies and wide mouths were favored for handling large livestock. The tightly curled coat of a Poodle tends to be somewhat water resistant and aided them in retrieving fowl in the cold waters of Germany. The pendulous ears and wrinkles of a Bloodhound help ‘scoop up’ the scents they track. Even the Beagle and Basset Hound were bred for the white tip on the tail, a seemingly trivial characteristic, so they could be more easily followed through tall grasses in the hunt. The Dachshund is of the hound group, with its name meaning ‘badger hound’ but also hunts underground like the terrier. These tough little dogs have large feet for digging and short legs for burrowing into a badger hole.
In more recent history, some breeding programs have aimed for better assistance dogs and companion dogs. Some breeds like the German Shepherd, a herding breed, have been adapted to other jobs such as police work and assistance work. Dark colored German Shepherds are preferred for police work because they can not be seen easily at night.
Identifying Dog Breeds
Physical characteristics can reveal information which may help to identify a dog’s origin, talents and temperament. A double coat and floppy ears can indicate a sporting or hound breed origin while pricked ears, tail curled over the back and a thick coat may indicate a working breed origin. A smaller dog with a stiff or wiry coat may be of terrier origin.
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