Dog History

                                             

Near the end of the Tertiary Period, a mammal named Miacidae appeared. Miacidae was a small furry animal that first made its appearance in Asia and moved across the world when all continents were connected.  When the large continent broke up into the current set of continents as we know today, Miacidae wound up on six of the seven continents.  These mammals eventually  evolved into the Grey Wolf. The Grey wolf is the descendant of all Dogs. The oldest Grey Wolf fossils found to date is about 1 million years ago.  About 170,000 years ago some of the Grey Wolves split off into the Red Wolf and the Coyote.

   When mankind first started cities, they created dumps for trash.  Existing Canine species forged for food in the dumps.  This maybe the first time people came into contact with Canines on a consistent basis.  Dogs that learned to beg for food usually got more food than aggressive dogs.  Dogs that made their home in the ancient city dumps are called Pariah Dogs

 People started to crossbreed different Gray Wolfs, Red Wolfs, Coyotes and various breeds started to emerge. A majority of breeding was done for practical purposes. Dogs were bred to heard sheep and sound the alarm toward unwelcome stranger. After several thousand years, dozens of different species have been bread for various tasks.

A stiff upper Mastiff

    The Mastiff originated somewhere in Asia.  It is possibly a combination of three Tibetan Wolves.  Mastiffs are guard dogs that are very protective of their owners.  They are large heavy dogs, known to be courageous and territorial.  The breed usually weighs between 150 and 200 lbs and reaching up to 32 inches in height.

    Mastiffs usually are not a good combination with small children.  They are big, powerful and can injure small child without intention.  They are suitable for teenagers.   The breed does not get along with small animals.

         The history of Tibetan Monks includes stories of Lhasa Apso’s and Mastiff’s being used to guard the Buddhist monasteries.  The Lhasa Apso’s would sound the intruder alert and the priests would let the Mastiff’s off the leash and the burglar would face a rather formidable foe bent having an early lunch.

   In the twentieth century the Mastiff was taken to England and bred with the English bulldog to create the Bull Mastiff.  A Bull Mastiff is a well tempered, but a formidable guard dog.  It combines the throw weight of a Mastiff with the powerful jaws of a Bulldog. Consider it a bigger Pit Bull without the short fuse, and excessively bad reputation.

   There are twenty-three different types of Mastiffs. They are members of the working dog group.

Little more on standards

 There are ten standards the American Kennel Club (AKC) uses to determine eligibility for dog competition and breed standards.  The AKC requires a dog to be bred and tracked for several generations. The breed then moves into the miscellaneous category.  After a few years on probation, the dog is either put in an existing group or a new group is created. Currently the American Kennel Club is researching DNA analysis to define breeds.  In the future there may be a scientific way to determine a new breed classification.

     Presently dogs are judged by general appearance, proportion, symmetry, anatomical features, coat color range, coat texture, gait and temperament.  Some of these parameters have numerical ranges.  Items like color and texture differ in non-numerical range.

    Faults are also part of the AKC standards.  Faults are totally irrelevant to many Dog owners.  They are used during Dog shows as a way of judging the Canine appearance and expected behavior.  AKC decides by committee what a minor and major fault and subtracts a number from the overall competition score. The whole idea of faults is also used by breeders to pick dogs to breed. An unpopular color might be a minor fault. A dog that has a major structural deviation from the norm, or cannot perform a typical activity of the group it belongs to, would be considered to have a major fault (A hunting dog that can’t hunt)

Racing with the Wind

Basenji

   The Basenji is an energetic hound that usually bonds tightly to their owner. The Basenji breed was brought from the Lake Victoria area in Africa to Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. It became a very popular dog, sometimes immortalized in Egyptian hieroglyphics.

    Basenjis are unique in that they are considered bark less dogs. When excited they emit a large wine, as oppose to barking. They are principally sight hounds used for hunting vermin.

    Basenjis are very affectionate and high spirited.   The breed is very cocky and hard to train. Basenjis’ are typically bright colored dogs that are very muscular in nature. They are bred to kill vermin and as a result they are very fast. This is something a potential owner needs to know, before they run out of an open gate in the blink of an eye.

  Generally Basenjis do not get along with other breeds. They get along well with each other.  It is not a good idea to have a pair of Basenjis in close proximity to Toy Dogs. Occasionally Basenjis’ like to play Toy Dog toss, which usually overstress’ the poor Toy Dog involved.

   If you are thinking of getting a Basenji be prepared to walk the dog every day as they usually have a great deal of excess energy. You also need to be ready for a dog that will have a great deal of affection for its owner.  

On Watch

Guard Dogs

   Within the working dog group, there is a sub group of dogs known as Guard Dogs. These are dogs that have been bred specifically for guarding property which may include physical harm to intruders. Guard dogs are used to search for contraband, lost people and explosives. Guard dogs are different than watch dogs. Watch dogs will bark loudly at an intruder. Guard dogs are trained to bark and physically engage the intruder if necessary.

   Not all dogs have the temperament and the ability to be an effective Guard Dog.  Toy Dachshunds may have the temperament but lack the size.  Labrador Retrievers have the equipment but not the temperament.

     Dogs like the German Sheppard, Bullmastiff, Doberman Pincher, Rottweiler, Belgian Malinois and Bulldog are examples of dogs that are typically used in this role.

   Guard dogs are also used in military operations. A Belgian Malinois was used in operation Neptune Spear to keep Pakistan nationals at bay, while the Navy SEALs searched an Abottbad compound for Osama Bin Laden.

Transportation Safety Administration often uses guard dogs to search airports for bombs, illegal drugs and other contraband items.  The dogs are trained to react clearly to the smell of nitrates in explosives.  Some dogs are trained to sit on luggage that smell of illegal drugs.

 

Empress Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu

       The name Shih Tzu is Mandarin for lion dog. The Pedigree is shrouded in mystery.  It is suspected that Shih Tzu is a cross between a Lhasa Apso, Pekingese and possibly a Tibetan Mountain dog.   The first mention of this dog in history is 7^th century Ming Dynasty.  Empress Tzu Hsi took a great interest in their breeding.  Shih Tzu is a member of the toy group of dogs.  They range in height from 7.9 inches to 11 inches.  Their weight is around 8 to 16 lbs.

    They were imported from China to England in the 1930’s where they were nicked named “Chrysanthemum Dogs.”  They have long thick coats that come in a variety of colors.  Their lifespan ranges from 8-16 years.

Shih Tzu’s tends to be feisty, independent, warm and friendly dogs.  The can be a challenge to train.  They are very family oriented and make good lapdogs.  This breed is high maintenance in terms of the amount of care needed to keep the dogs coat clean and free of debris.

Breed Standards

 

                                    Mexican hairless

Afghan

American Kennel Club Breeding Standards

    American Kennel Club standards are not scientifically derived.  There is no blood work or genetic testing involved.  All the work is historical and visual.

    The reason for breeding standards is dog shows, breeders and people who want a particular type of dog.  For people who strictly enjoy the presence of the animal, this may be irrelevant.  Many people who select dogs from a pound are impartial to the breed.

    Professional dog breeders furnish the buyers papers which legally attest to the linage of the dog in question.  This gives a short history of the dog from birth to sale.

    For the dog show community, it is required to compare similar qualities. In order to have a meaningful comparison at a show, dogs with similar characteristics must be used.  This makes the results fair, repeatable and understandable to all involved.  Trying to compare a Mexican Hairless coat to an Afghan coat would be illogical.

    Some dog buyers have a particular task in mind for the dog they buy.  Hunters want dogs that are good at hunting.  Ranchers need dogs that are good at herding. The Military need guard dogs to help protect their facilities.  This requires that the buyers prime select a breed which optimizes their requirements

Unrecognized Breed laboring in Obscurity

Unrecognized Breeds

  There are a set of dogs that fall short of American Kennel Club standards.  Physically these dogs still exist. The American Kennel Club does not believe these lines of dogs are developed enough to be distinct breeds.  When these breeds get close to the standards held by American Kennel Club, they will move into the miscellaneous group of dogs.  When defined by the standards they will be moved into one of the American Kennel Club recognized groups.

   There are at least 35 species of dog that are not recognized by the American Kennel Club.  In the future one or more of these species may evolve to be recognized as a separate breed of dog, as opposed to a mixed breed.  There are no doubt many more unrecognized breeds in the world that are unknown outside the geographic area in which animal resided.

  

 Examples of dogs that are unrecognized are Havana Silk Dog, Shiloh Sheppard, Coton de Tulear, Estrela Mountain Dog, Alaskan Inuit Dog and Goldendoodle.

      

Miscellaneous Dogs

Miscellaneous dogs are new breeds of dogs that have yet to be classified by the American Kennel Club or its equivalent in Europe.  Both dog breeders and evolution occasionally create species that are significantly different from any current dog breed that may exist. Breeders constantly experiment with crossbreeding and an entirely new breed can emerge.

   When two dogs of different breeds are combined they are usually termed mixed-breed (Mutts).  Mixed-breeds that are moving towards a clearly defined set of behaviors, characteristics and origins are classified as miscellaneous dogs. They are not defined, but are evolving in a specific direction.

Most of the dogs in this group are hunting dogs or guard dogs.  Somewhere in the future these dogs will be recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Examples of miscellaneous dogs include Beauceron, Black Russian Terrier, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Neapolitan Mastiff, Plott and Redbone Coonhound.

Non-Sporting Dogs

Non-Sporting Dogs

       Non-Sporting dogs are purposely bred for domestication or show competition.  The breeds in the Non-Sporting group are a varied collection in terms of size, coat, personality and overall appearance.  These dogs are mainly descended from hounds or sporting dogs.

     Non-Sporting breeds make convenient house hold pets. They are small to medium size and make a good match with owner’s who have limited living space.

   There are seventeen Non-Sporting breeds.  Examples of the Non-Sporting dogs are American Eskimo, Bulldog, Dalmatian, Poodle, Bichon, Tibetan Terrier and Chow Chow.   

Toys R Dogs

Toys я Dogs

Dogs that have been bred to be very small are called Toys.  Some have been bred small to do a particular job, and some have been bred to make good house pets.  Toy Lhasa Apso was bred to be watch dogs in Tibet.  They were small enough not to harm people and had a very loud bark to alert the Buddhist priest that a stranger was on or near the property.  The priest could then decide on releasing their Mastiff Dogs.  The Mastiffs’ were aggressive and big enough to do serious damage.  This is an example of a Toy dog being downsized by breeding to perform a job.

     The Toy version of the King Charles Spaniel was bred to be a much smaller form from a Spanish Spaniel. King Charles Spaniel was bred to be an affectionate lapdog. This breed is known for companionship. This is an example of a dog being bred for form as opposed to function.

   The advantage of Toy dogs is that they fit into city life well.  This breed is ideal for people who have limited living space.  This group also has a range of personalities to fit owners’ idiosyncrasies.

    There are twenty-one breeds of Toy dogs.  

Terriers

     Terriers have the tendency to be the most aggressive dogs.  Terriers originally were bred to hunt and kill small rodents.  Terriers often dig up burrows of small varmints and kill them on the spot.

     Paradoxically, Terriers make good house pets.  They are affectionate, energetic and feisty.  This type of dog statistically bites more strangers than any other group of Dog.  It needs an owner to match or exceed its feistiness.  While the dog is not for the timid, Terrier owners report a high level of satisfaction.  

     There are twenty-nine breeds of terrier recognized by the American Kennel Club. Terriers vary in size from miniature to medium.

    The picture on this blog entry is of a Airdale Terrier. It is a very popular breed among Terrier owners

Hounds

     Another group of dogs that can assist the hunter is the hound.  Smell hounds have a very keen sense of smell.  Sight hounds hunt with very acute vision.  Hounds on the hunt operate differently from Sporting Dogs.  Sporting dogs retrieve the body of a bird that has been killed by a hunter.  Hound dogs physically chase, corner and sometimes kill the animal being persued.

    Hounds usually make good house pets.  They can be a challenge to train as they tend to be independent.  The hound family includes about ninety different breeds. Since the variety is so diverse, there is basically a hound for most living situations.  The temperament of the breed tends to be good.

   Hounds tend to have loud barks. This is something to think about if you are planning to bring home a hound to stay.

    Examples of hounds are Basset, Beagle, Bloodhound, Borzoi, Dachshund, Deerhound and Pharaoh hound.

     Any other Hound fans out there?

Sporting Dogs

     Sporting dogs have been mainly bred to assist hunters in finding, flushing and recovering of birds.  If you are a hunter, Sporting Dogs can be of great assistance in the success of your hunt. If you are not a hunter, Sporting dogs are bursting with friendly energy and get along well with children.  They are energetic dogs that require a lot of exercise.  These dogs are not suited for small living quarters.  They are more difficult to obedience train because of their exceptional sense of smell, which tends to distract them.  Their primal instincts revolve around recovering objects in the field.  This makes them excellent at the game of fetch.

      There are twenty seven types of Sporting dogs. Chesapeake Bay retriever, Golden Retriever, Labrador retriever, Irish setter, Cocker Spaniel are examples of Sporting dogs.  They tend to have water repellant coats and usually take to the water.

 

    

Working Dogs

   Some dogs were bred to certain specific jobs.  Working dogs are used for specific tasks or entertainment.  These breeds usually do a single job for their owner.  Rescue Dogs are used by law enforcement to find lost people in national parks.  Service Dogs are used by disabled people to perform some of the daily activities of life.  Service dogs for the blind become the eyes of people without sight.   Cadaver Dogs are used by the police to detect dead bodies.  Sled Dogs pull sleds in freezing environments.  Acting Dogs are used in circuses and television to entertain people.

        The common thread with working Dogs is their ability to efficiently perform a singular task, coupled with a strong innate need to work.  These are not sedentary dogs.  People who wish to own this type of Dogs should be prepared to either regularly exercise the Dog or give the dog a significant task to perform every day.  Working Dogs who do not have an assignment tend to get a little stir crazy.

Herding Dogs

  There are eight groups of dogs recognized as the American kennel club.  One of these groups is called heard or herding dogs.  Examples are Border Collies, Australian Sheppard, Shetland sheepdog, and Australian Sheepdogs.  

     Heard dogs are used to by farmers and ranchers to direct the movements of cattle and sheep.  They keep the animals in a group, which minimizes loss of said animals by carnivorous species and accidents.  It lessens the probability that the personnel in charge will have to search for lost sheep on the farm or ranch.  Heard dogs also can sound the alarm if any predators show up and try to eat members of the heard

  

Regal Afghans

Regal Afghans

  Afghan are aloof, regal looking and intelligent. Afghans are high maintenance animals.  They need to have there coats washed and there ears cleaned periodically.   Afghan hounds are also very independent and difficult to train.    These dogs were bred to hunt in one of the most desolate environments in the world.  They are sight hounds and are usually way ahead of the person the y is hunting for.   That means that the hound in the wild must often deal with its prey, without the benefit of the hunter (Who is about a half mile back trying to catch up).  A species that can survive harsh Circumstances is going to be hard to train, so please be patienceatince with your Afghan.

Some Dog History

    

    In 16^th century England, a dog was bred for British nobility from a Spanish Spaniel.  This dog was basically King Charles II’s lapdog.  It is still a popular breed because of its size, appearance and its ability to snuggle in a person’s lap.  During the reign of King Charles the dog was bred and presented to the monarch, who held court with the dog on his lap. 

   From what I’ve seen it’s a very easy dog to care for and handle.  It is small, well behaved and perfectly sized for an apartment dweller.  It has no special dietary requirements and is a lot of fun for people who like lapdogs.

     The author invites comments to this Blog.

Bear learning the hard way

    Bear was a wired hair terrier dog that liked to chase cats.  Neko was an orange tabby cat that hated to be chased.  My house porch consisted of a three by ten foot concrete slab.  One day while Bear was chasing Neko, the cat headed straight for the porch and hung a hard left. Since the cat had a much smaller turning radius, Bear got acquainted with concrete.  The dog was walking around like a drunken soldier.

     Bear had asked for it in spades.  It was a hard lesson. Later Bear’s owner took her pet to the veterinarian to be checked out.