Fun Trivia » Animals » Dogs » Dog Breeds

Urajiro, which means 'underside white', is a type of colour marking found on shiba inus. In order to be shown at a dog show, the shiba inu must have the urajiro (which means white shiba inus are disqualified under American Kennel Club and Japanese Kennel Club rules, though not under British ones). On all coat colours, the urajiro should be on the sides of the muzzle, the underjaw, the throat, the chest, the insides of the legs and ears, and under the tail. The colour distribution varies depending on the coat colour. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Karakuri, Murasaki, Yoshitsune

The Bernese mountain dog (in German called Berner Sennenhund) is quite large. A typical male will reach a height of 61 - 71 cm and weigh about 35 - 55 kg, while females are about five centimetres shorter and weigh about five kilograms less than the average male. The body is muscular, a bit longer than high. The eyes are black and the body is coloured black - red - white.

According to some sources, it is in the genes that a Bernese should be good-natured and placid towards strangers, not aggressive. In my opinion the dog's temperament is more influenced by training and socialization than by genetics.

In Switzerland they worked as farm dogs, guarding the cattle but also sometimes pulling carts with farm produce.
Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Dalmatian, Chihuahua, Afghan hound

The Chesapeake Bay retriever was favored among commercial waterfowl hunters around the Chesapeake Bay of Maryland and Virginia where the breed was developed. Its double coat, consisting of a dense, woolly under coat and harsh, oily outer coat, along with its water aptitude allow it to work in any weather conditions, often snow and ice. It has been said that these dogs can perform up to 100-200 retrieves in one day. It is one of few breeds in the AKC where "honorable scars" are permitted in conformation competition, due to the purpose for which they were bred.

Maryland recognized the Chesapeake Bay Retriever as its state dog in 1964, making it the first state in the nation to recognize a state dog. Difficulty: Average.

 

Labrador retriever, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Flat-coated retriever

Jacks were the main character in "My Dog Skip" and "Wishbone". A Jack Russell also played the dog Eddie in "Frasier". Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Fox Terrier, Bichon Frise, Chihuahua

Ch. Warren Remedy won three shows from 1907 to 1910. Ch. Sabine Rarebit won 1910. Ch Warren Remedy was the first dog to win three Best in Show awards at Westminster!

The smooth fox terrier was the first breed in the terrier family to be recognized by the Kennel Club. Its historic profession was "fox bolting". It would run with the foxhounds and riders and "bolt" the fox out of its hiding place into the sight of the foxhounds and hunters. Their average life span is twelve to fifteen years, not long enough for the people who own and love them.

Snitter, the protagonist of the absolutely wonderful book "The Plague Dogs" by Richard Adams, was a smooth fox terrier. Nipper, the RCA mascot, although portrayed often as a smooth fox terrier was actual a mixed-breed dog. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Welsh Terrier, Airedale Terrier, Boston Terrier

The Dalmatian is a white dog with either liver or black spots. A major health problem with this breed is deafness. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Alsatian, Hovawart, Jagdterrier

Cesky terriers were originally bred in Czechoslovakia by Frantisek Horak. The American Kennel Club places this breed in the Miscellaneous Class. Bred for hunting in the forest, they weigh about twenty pounds on average and stand about a foot high. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Miniature Schnauzer, Glen of Imaal Terrier, Border Terrier

Pembroke Corgis have a 'bob' tail which is not much more than a stump, while the Cardigan Corgi has a very long tail. It is obvious why this great dog breed was sometimes called 'Ci Llathaid' in Welsh which translates to 'the yard long dog'.
Corgis are tough strong dogs originally used for livestock droving. They have short legs which enabled them to nip between the hooves of cattle without being kicked.

'Droving' is an old English word, which has much the same meaning as 'driving' now. Men who moved cattle about the country were drovers and the routes they used were 'drove roads'. Difficulty: Average.

 

Caernarvon Corgi, Anglesey Corgi, Swansea Corgi

The Lagotto Romagnolo, also known as the Romagna Water Dog, hails from northern Italy, near the Swiss border. Its thick, woolly, water resistant coat comes in a variety of colors, from dirty white, to solid orange and solid brown, with or without white spotting. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Spinone Italiano, Bracco Italiano, Barbet

The Laekenois is the rarest of the Belgian Shepherds. It is distinguished by its rough shaggy coat, as compared to the long flowing coats of the Belgian Sheepdog and Tervueren, or the short harsh coat of the Malinois. The Laekenois was named after the Chateau de Laeken, a residence favored by Queen Henrietta of Belgium. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Malinios, Tervueren, Belgian Sheepdog

The collie originated in Scotland and was used as a sheep dog. Famous owners include Calvin Coolidge and Lyndon B Johnson. Difficulty: Hard.

This dog is exclusively a Soviet Union dog that has yet to be imported into the U.S. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Istrian Hound, Borzoi, Kishu

The coat can come in either a solid liver or liver and white ticked. Ticked is more common than solid. Difficulty: Hard.

 

only liver, only liver and white ticked, red, liver, golden, and fawn

The border terrier is known for his small, otter-like head. A rugged little terrier, he was mostly used for hunting small game and "going to ground." Difficulty: Hard.

 

Field Spaniel, Otterhound, Norwich/Norfolk Terrier

Jack is sometimes used as a diminutive of John. Leaves "rustle" in the wind. The Jack Russell Terrier is a wonderful little dog full of zest and character. It can be stubborn, but it generally loves life--and its owner. Jack Russells were named after their original breeder, Parson John Russell. Difficulty: Hard.

As their name implies, sighthounds rely on their keen vision to detect and pursue prey. These basic characteristics are reflected in their streamlined appearance. Sighthounds have long, lean bodies with long, narrow heads, long legs, flexible backs, and deep chests to allow for larger hearts and powerful lungs. These features enable them to pursue and overpower animals as fast and agile as themselves, such as deer and hares.

Probably the best-known of sighthounds, the greyhound is capable of reaching over 65 km/h (40 mph), and is thus most often used in races. Though it is the dog world's most important speed merchant, it is also a calm, relaxed, and affable companion. The greyhound's origins are unknown, but various archaeological findings point to its being one of the oldest dog breeds. The cover photo depicts a female blue greyhound named Tillee.

As in 19th-century the working class could not afford a greyhound, they had to make do with the whippet, a smaller though closely related breed, occasionally described as the poor man's greyhound. Because they also did not have a fancy oval track, they would race the dogs in the back alleys and empty lots, where the whippet became a straight-away sprinter. Their acceleration ability gives them fast starts, in which they can cover over 180 m (200 yds) in 12 seconds.

Bred in Russia to hunt wolves, the borzoi could easily outrun its wild adversaries - not surprisingly, its name means "swift" in Russian. The dogs would work in pairs, grabbing the wolf behind the ears and pinning it to the ground. But for almost a century, the borzoi has been bred for companionship. It is a handsome dog with a silky, wavy topcoat and soft undercoat that is shed in hot weather. Its temperament is calm and affectionate, though this dog breed needs regular exercise.

With its thick, silky coat and aristocratic appearance, the Afghan hound is one of the most beautiful of dog breeds. A dog of ancient origin, resembling other sighthound breeds from Central Asia, it is native to the mountains of Afghanistan, where it was protected from the harsh climate by its heavy coat. Introduced into the West in the 1920s, the breed became extremely popular as a show dog. Unlike other hounds, the Afghan hound is no longer used for hunting; if kept as a pet, it requires a lot of care and grooming.

Exceptionally fast, reaching speeds of up to 65 km/h (40 mph) over short distances, the Azawakh originated in the Sahel region of West Africa. These hounds are often seen sleeping on the low, straw roofs of their owners' homes, as they are used as guard dogs as well as hunters. If a night-time predator were to approach, the first Azawakh to see it would jump down from the roof, and then would be joined by others to chase away or kill the intruder.

Originally from the Arabian Peninsula, the saluki is one of the oldest sighthound breeds. It is a very graceful dog with silky fur and drop ears, which is thought to be even faster than the greyhound. The Bedouins of the Arabian Desert traditionally used it for hunting gazelles, hares, foxes and jackals. Its name, like that of the closely related sloughi, is likely derived from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Seleucia.

Also known as Spanish greyhound, the galgo Español resembles the greyhound both in appearance and temperament. It does, however, have longer hind legs, a longer tail, and a longer head, and is somewhat smaller in build. Its name probably means "dog from Gaul", as the breed is believed to be of Celtic origin. A calm, even-tempered dog, the galgo is still used for hunting and sports in its native Spain, and is also very popular as a pet.

By the mid-19th century, the iconic Irish wolfhound - a dog identified with warriors and royalty in ancient Ireland - had almost completely vanished from the island. Thankfully, before the end of the century the breed was revitalized by Captain George A. Graham, a British army officer. Today, this rough-coated giant is one of the tallest breeds of dogs, and one of the most loyal in the world. Like many large breeds, however, it has a short lifespan, rarely reaching 10 years of age.

The Scottish deerhound looks like a larger, heavier greyhound with a rough coat. It was bred to hunt red deer in the Highlands of Scotland, and was kept by both the nobility and the common folk. A famous deerhound (though not purebred) was Maida, Walter Scott's beloved dog, whose likeness appears on the Scott Monument in Edinburgh, as well as in a number of other statues and paintings.

When the American West was first being opened to settlers, wolves and coyotes were a great threat to both livestock and people. The settlers used coursing hounds which were big enough to catch and kill those dangerous predators (such as the borzoi or the Irish wolfhound) to create this increasingly popular breed, the American staghound - also known as American lurcher or longdog of the Prairie. It is a large, powerfully built dog with a rough coat, which - as its name suggests - is mainly used to hunt deer.

Of the breeds listed as wrong choices, the beagle is a scenthound, while the dachshund is associated with the scenthound group in the US and UK, but regarded as its own group in other countries. The Labrador retriever and the Gordon setter are gun dogs - hunting dogs that assist hunters in finding and retrieving game. On the other hand, the Dalmatian was originally bred as a carriage dog, and the border collie is a herding dog. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Beagle, Dalmatian, Border Collie, Gordon Setter, Labrador Retriever, Dachshund, ,

The Azawakh resembles a short-haired Saluki. Unlike most sighthounds, it is also used as a guard dog. The Aidi is a flock guardian breed from Morocco. The Appenzeller mountain dog is one of the Swiss mountain dogs, related to breeds like the Bernese mountain dog and the Greater Swiss mountain dog. The Anatolian Shepherd is a flock guardian breed from Turkey. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Aidi, Appenzeller Mountain Dog, Anatolian Shepherd

None of the other breeds exceed 130 lbs.
The Pyrenean is also described as patient, although it has taken some effort, on the part of the breeders, to curb territorial aggression.
Much more amenable than it was originally, the Pyrenean still requires experienced handling. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Pyrenean Sheepdog, Bloodhound, Gordon Setter

The Siberian Husky originated in Russia and was bred by the Chukchi people in ancient times. When Russia fell to Communist powers any signs of wealth were not permitted by the Communist govenment. This included the Siberian Husky. Most of the Siberians not taken from the Chukchi people were exported to Alaska, leading to the popular misconception that the Husky was native to Alaska, which is entirely false. To this day there are no pure bred Huskies in their native homeland of Russia. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Alaska, England, Texas

They were named after the Mahlemuts, an Inuit tribe from Alaska who used the Mal as a draught animal. He can weigh in at 150 lbs. Difficulty: Hard.

The Afghan hound is believed to be one of the oldest breeds in the world today. Daily grooming is needed to keep his coat in good condition. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Akbash Dog, Affenpinscher, Akita

The Chocolate Lab is one variety of the Labrador Retriever. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Bernese and the Greater Swiss were bred to do draft work like pulling carts. Difficulty: Hard.

Although the Boston Terrier, American Water Spaniel, American Pit Bull Terrier and Australian Shepherd (go figure!) are all American breeds, America has very few breeds we can call our own. Perhaps the Boston Terrier's black and white coloring contributed to his title as "gentleman." Difficulty: Hard.

 

American Water Spaniel, American Pit Bull Terrier, Australian Shepherd

The Saluki is the oldest dog breed, descended from the light desert wolves. Developed as a sighthound, the Saluki can run at speeds of nearly forty miles an hour. In more recent times, the breed was considered the only type of dog clean enough to be allowed into the home by the Muslims. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Ancient China, Ancient Greece, Ancient South America

It comes in two coats- short and rough. Unfortunately, this once-rare breed, due to movie popularity, is being churned out by puppymills. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Chihuahua, Papillon, Affenpinscher

The Boston terrier of a century ago was much larger. Difficulty: Average.

 

American Staffordshire terrier, American Eskimo dog, Bulldog

Newfoundlands live to swim- and drool, and shed! Well-bred ones are amazingly sweet and friendly dogs. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Great Pyrenees, Standard Schnauzer, Kuvasz

The GSD is hardly ever used to herd; it is usually thought of as a protection or sport dog. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Belgian Shepherd, Great Dane, Giant Schnauzer

One of the possible meanings of 'shiba inu' is 'brushwood dog', because the shiba inu was originally bred to hunt birds and small game, such as rabbits, and flush (chase) them out of undergrowth. They were occasionally used to hunt boar as well. They originate from the mountainous areas of the Chūbu region, which encompasses nine prefectures in the middle of Honshu, Japan's main island. As a result, they are capable of handling rocky or mountainous terrain. Nowadays, though, they're mainly bred as pets. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Food, A lapdog, Fighting

The Dalmatian is born pure white, but will develop the typical spotted pattern as it matures. As the name suggests, the breed comes originally from Croatia. Male Dalmatians can reach a maximum height of 58 - 61 cm, while the females are only slightly shorter. The fur is usually short and very dense.

Dalmatians were used to accompany coaches and even to clear the path for fire brigade vehicles, or as guard dogs.
Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Bloodhound, Saint Bernard, Dachshund

The otterhound was originally bred to hunt otters so love to work either in or out of water. Dora is a happy dog with a sturdy body and a shaggy head, often seen dozing, but leave the high gate open and a party has to be organised to hunt her down!

Since otters have been protected by law in UK, their numbers have increased and those of the otterhound have declined. Fewer puppies are registered every year and in 2014 it was estimated that there were only 1,000 worldwide. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Cairn, Maltese, Bloodhound

One theory on the origin of this breed is it results from the 'cross of Choctaw Indians' (Native Americans in north central La) and dogs brought to America via Hernando de Soto. The second theory is that this breed was produced when the French crossed their Beauceron with the Choctaws' dog in the 19th century.
The Catahoula leopard dog is known for its skills herding wild cattle and swine by forming a "canine fence", a unique feature of this breed. Catahoulas are only bred for this instinct; pups lacking this instinct are not bred. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Black mouth cur, Blue Lacy, Cane corso

Bloodhounds have an amazing tracking ability, and today are used for tracking anything from humans, to drugs. They typically weigh 80 to 110 pounds. Difficulty: Average.

 

German Shepherd, Newfoundland, Beagle

Chihuahuas are also known as being one of the world's nastiest dogs. They can do some major damage if they aren't controlled or trained. Difficulty: Average.

 

Miniature pinscher, Toy poodle, Yorkshire terrier

Ch. Matford Vic won the 1915 and 1916 shows, whereas Ch. Conejo Wycollar Boy took the award for the 1917 show.

Although the wire fox terrier bears a resemblance they are now believed not to be related to the smooth tox Terrier, albeit for many, many years they have been interbred.

You should be rather active to own this breed because they like to be very active. They do not at all like to be bored and can and will show less than delightful behaviour if allowed to become bored. Remember, this is a breed that was raised to hunt not only foxes, but also badgers and boars so they are somewhat less fearful of anything than are other breeds. Their average life span is fifteen or more years, again not long enough for their owners.

Asta from the "Thin Man" films was a wire fox terrier (in the book he was a schnauzer). King Edward VII had Ceasar as his companion, and Charles Darwin had Polly, both being wire fox terriers.

Difficulty: Hard.

 

Bull Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, Wheaton Terrier

Like its name suggests, the soft-coated wheaten terrier has a silky coat, particularly the ones native to Ireland. Its habit of jumping on people and licking them is nicknamed the 'wheaten greetin', although this is not a habit that should be encouraged as they don't always know their own strength! As well as hunting, they were also bred as guard and herding dogs. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Glen of Imaal terrier, Kerry Blue terrier, Irish terrier

Manchesters are quite unusual nowadays. To me they look very like a miniature Doberman having a short black and tan coat. Their personalities are quite different of course being terriers.

The breed received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria for rat catching (can't imagine she was in a pub though!)

Manchesters are one of the 25 'vunerable' British breeds in that there are less than 300 pups registered each year with the British Kennel Club. It would be a shame if these perky little dogs disappeared altogether. Difficulty: Hard.

 

schools, airports, swimming baths

The Bichon Frise must be white (or off-white.) The Schipperke must be black, and so must the Belgian Shepherd. The Belgian Sheepdog can have a small amount of white on its chest, while the Schipperke must be pure black (discounting the graying that comes with age.) While many people believe the Newfoundland must be black, there's a black and white version called the "Landseer." Difficulty: Hard.

 

Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael), Schipperke, Bichon Frise

Though there are rumors that the Australian Kelpie has Dingo blood, very accurate breed records show that it was formed from the mating of a Collie from northern England and a local black and tan female. The female was named Kelpie, hence the breed name. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Australian Shepherd, Australian Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler