What is the oldest known type of dog?

Linus_337

A Google around puts the case for the Saluki, the Greyhound, the English Mastiff, the Tibetan Mastiff and the Pharoah Hound(!) among others. The Saluki gets more nods than the others though, and timescales generally suggest that the breed is around 9,000 years old. May 01 04, 12:54 PM

mahimahi1

This is a complicated question, but there are helpful clues. It appears that two semi-domestic dogs -- the Dingo of Australia and the New Guinea Singing Dog -- are considered the last existing representatives of early dogs developed in southern Asia. These dogs are thought to have traveled with their human companions all the way to Australia and New Guinea. Another candidate is the Basenji, whose ancestor is also thought to have developed in southern Asia; it then moved with people into Africa, starting in Egypt. [See below for new confirmation from the latest dog genetic research]. The Canaan Dog of Israel traces to ancient pariah dog stock of the Middle East. One influential new theory is that dogs were first domesticated in East Asia, possibly China, and the first peoples to enter North America took dogs with them from Asia. Now, new genetic research published in May 2004 has identified 14 ancient dog breeds, with the oldest being the Chow Chow, Shar Pei, Akita, Shiba Inu and Basenji. Because many of the 14 breeds are associated with China and Japan, the theory that the dog originated in Asia seems to be likely. http://www.workingdogweb.com/DogFacts.htm May 23 07, 3:11 PM