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We know, from the 1989 movie starring Burt Reynolds, that "All Dogs Go To Heaven," but the Tibetan Lhasa Apso may very well be first in line -- and for good reason:
The Lhasa Apso originated over two thousand years ago in Tibet, Bhutan and other countries bordering on Tibet. The Buddhist monks began to breed the Lhasa terrier (its original name) over eight hundred years ago in the sacred city of Lhasa, Tibet's traditional capital and home of the Dalai Lamas. The Dalai Lamas honored the Lhasa Apso as both as a good luck talisman and as a sacred animal in the Buddhist religion. The Buddhist monks believed that when the master of the Lhasa Apso died, the master's soul reincarnated into the body of the Lhasa Apso if he was not quite ready for Nirvana. Because of this, the Lhasa Apsos were virtually impossible to buy. Instead, the Buddhist monks breed them and trained them for exclusive ownership by the nobility. [...]
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All breeds of dogs are some convergence of evolutionary factors and breeding. Some breeds are more "man made" than "nature made," i.e., there is little influence on their form and function from the forces of natural selection. For example, the bulldog breed was bred 'backwards' to create a longer-legged, more energetic version of the original breed. The Tibetan breeds, the Lhasa Apso, the Tibetan terrier, on the other hand, is more a product of evolutionary rather than human forces and factors. Of the five recognized Tibetan breeds, the Tibetan Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Spaniel, Do-Khyi (Tibetan Mastiff), and the Shih Tzu, the Lhasa Apso is unarguably most strongly influenced by the harsh, demanding Himalayan Tibetan climate. [...]
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There are many interesting facts about the Coton de Tulear. Such a lively dog deserves to have great stories and tales in its past. One tall tale related to the Coton is that it swam ashore to Tulear along with the remaining crew members after their ship sank. Sure, this story is interesting, but it is more likely that the Coton was brought to Tulear by tradesmen. [...]
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The breed known today as the Norwich Terrier was recognized in England around the end of the 19th century. Its origin is still debated, with some experts claiming it descended from small red or Irish terriers, while others sustain that other breeds, such as the Trumpington, Yorkshire, Skye, English Smooth, Scotch, Dandie Dinmont, Bull and Crossed Scotch, probably contributed to varying degrees. When it was officially recognized by the Kennel Club in 1932, two varieties were registered, the Prick Ear and the Drop Ear. After recognition, a great deal of debate arose as to which type of ear carriage should be considered "superior" and awarded in the show ring; indeed, breeders were so attached to one or the other type of ear that there were very few crosses between the varieties. Finally, the British Kennel Club split the varieties into two officially recognized breeds, the Norwich and the Norfolk, in 1964, with the Canadian and American Kennel Clubs following suit in 1979. [...]
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The Norwich terrier is not among the oldest breeds, but it has a rich history at being good at what is was bred for. The original ancestors of the breed were present in England since the beginning of the 1800s, though they didn't have an official name or any type of recognition at this point. They were essentially common farm mixed breeds, owned mainly by gypsies and used to keep a check on the rat, fox, and general vermin population. Someone got the bright idea to breed these little terriers and sell them as efficient and useful ratters.
The group that most enthusiastically took to this little wiry red-haired canine were Cambridge University undergraduates. Around the 1880s, undergrads were looking for a dog to keep their dorms free of rats; they needed a hardy, fearless dog that did not require a great deal of maintenance, was not a bothersome animal and was nice and small so as to not suffer in small spaces for limited amounts of time. [...]
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The German Longhaired Pointer is a dog that was developed in Germany, obviously, for use as a pointer or gundog. The original dog had slow speed, and to enhance its speed, it was crossed with English Pointers and setters in the 19th century. The first breed of the German Longhaired Pointer was introduced when it was first shown in Frankfurt, in 1878.
Since then breeders have worked at producing dogs that were competent enough to work in the field and show ring. Once it was decided that the German Longhaired Pointer would be only brown and white in color, the black and white Large Munsterlander developed from the German Longhaired Pointer was declared ancestors of the Large Munsterlander. [...]
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The German Wirehaired Pointer is a dog that was developed in Germany in the 1800s for the main purpose of hunting. Being a griffon type breed of dog, the German Wirehaired Pointer developed into a leading gun dog for Germany in the late 20th century. This is a dog that was developed through careful crosses between the German pointer and other breeds.
The exact lineage of the German Wirehaired Pointer is not known. However, its possible contributors are the Wirehaired Griffon, Poodle-Pointer mixes, Bloodhound, and Foxhound. And with a lineage of so many dogs, the resulting German Wirehaired Pointer proves to conform to the characteristics of a hunter dog. [...]
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The English Toy Spaniel, or Charlie, has distinct and exclusive tastes in people. To be loved by such a dog is an experience that is intimate. This dog is more likely to choose their owner than to love everyone. It will always have a loved one whom it prefers. Once you have the confidence of this dog, it will be your friend for life! [...]
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There are may interesting facts about the English Toy Spaniel. This dog is commonly referred to as the "Charlie".
It is believed through evidence that the Charlie was a favorite of Mary Queen of Scots. It is said that her favorite English Toy Spaniel refused to leave her when she was executed. The executioner is said to have found the blood stained dog within the folds of her skirt. [...]
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There are several theories about how the Portuguese Water Dog came to be, but despite all the theoretical reasoning, the Portuguese Water Dog was definitely a large part of the Portuguese sea faring trade for generations. The dog was a working dog, and a hard working one at that. He was used for all types of dangerous water-related jobs on fishing boats, and was only replaced by mechanical technologies in the last 150 years.
Whether it was the Visigoths who brought the descendants of today's Portuguese Water Dog to the shores of Portugal in BC 400, or the Moors who brought them in the 8th century AD, from the time they were introduced to Portugal, the Portuguese Water Dog - also known as the Portuguese Fishing Dog or the Lion Dog - took over the hearts and minds of the men in the fishing industry. [...]
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Did you know that apartment living is actually detrimental to the health of your Flat Coated Retriever? It's true. This dog breed remains quite inactive indoors; its energy level remains so low that it hardly moves from its chosen spot. It needs to romp "wildly" outdoors to remain healthy. Without proper exercise and a lot of mental stimulation, the Flat Coated Retriever can become destructive. [...]
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Originally bred as bird-hunting dogs, the Gordon Setter has a long history of spending time in the outdoors. Often restless indoors, the Gordon Setter is still very much a dog that needs plenty of time outdoors as well as plenty of room to roam about. Despite its history spent hunting down birds, the Gordon Setter is actually a calm and very affectionate dog. Now that you know how to best care for your Setter, here are some interesting facts that you probably didn't know about the Gordon Setter. [...]
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The Alaskan Klee Kai is a new version of an old arctic favorite. Still a very young and rare dog breed, the Alaskan Klee Kai has proven to be everything its originators wanted it to be.
[h]On You Tiny Huskies[/h]
The Alaskan Klee Kai breed was initiated in the mid 1970's by Linda Spurlin after chancing upon a miniature Alaskan Husky at the home of relatives in Oklahoma. [...]
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As a breed, the Alaskan Klee Kai has not been around for long-only about 30 years. The developer of this breed (and devoted breeders) has worked tirelessly to develop the best physical and temperament characteristics into the dog, this miniaturized version of the Alaskan Husky. To maintain the breed that has been so meticulously created, continued dedication and effort on the part of both breeders and owners is needed. [...]
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Part of the fun of owning a purebred dog is sharing in its history. Here are some fun and interesting facts for Alaskan Klee Kai owners to share. [...]
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