All Dog Breeds and where they originated

There are several different dog breeds in the world…about 400 of them.  The most fascinating thing about all the dog breeds is that it’s only been within the last few century’s that they have been breed for aspects other than their usefulness to humans.

I caught a show on PBS last week (Nature) that outlined a cutting edge theory about recent dog breeds and their 15,000 year trek from wolf to our most beloved companion today.  In the distant past, dogs were bred primarily to help us complete tasks that we could not have performed on our own.

For instance, Husky’s were bred to help humans inhabit the cold arctic and without their help, we probably would not have stayed up there because their enhanced senses helped us survive.  At the same time, herding dogs, such as Border Collies, helped us settle on land that would be impossible for us to have kept and gathered sheep because the terrain is too harsh for humans to maneuver.

It was only in the Victorian Age when humans started breeding for purposes other than the need for help on the farm that we starting seeing small dog breeds that served primarily as companions.  Unfortunately, this also introduced breeds that have lots of health issues and breeds that seem caught between their wild instincts and their desire to be with humans.

It’s necessary that we understand the importance of choosing which particular dogs are bred together and really thinking about the consequences of what such a union will result.  Dogs are being used less and less as their originally intended purposes and being used more as just house pets and companions.  People are looking more for breeds that are good with children, or dogs that work well in apartments, rather than dogs that can herd and guard sheep.

Whatever their purpose, dogs are definately the only animal on this planet that has a clear desire to be with us and to be included in our daily lives.  They are truly our companions and we owe it to them to practice good breeding techniques and to really work toward a healthy, happy companion.