Find the Hound - Thrice! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rough collie

The rough collie belongs in the Pastoral breed group. Bred in Scotland, it shares its origins with the smooth collie and they were both working sheepdogs. They were popular with Queen Victoria. There are two stories as to how the films started - one is from a short story by Elizabeth Gaskell, and the other from a crossbreed dog that saved the life of a sailor during WWI. Be that as it may, a series of Hollywood films were made between 1943 and 2005 (interestingly all starring male dogs), plus radio programmes, TV shows, books and even a video game. Without saying a word, the dog was always able to convey to people its exact meaning - "What's that you say, Lassie? Timmy's fallen down a well?" When I looked after 11 rough collies they mostly managed to convey that they were hungry or that there was no way they were coming in for the night....

Answer: Basset hound

Part of the Hound group, bassets are believed to have been bred for hunting by French monks in the Middle Ages. Easily recognisable with their long, low set body and long ears, a basset named Fred has featured in a UK comic strip (syndicated around the world) since 1963.

The original cartoonist (Alex Graham) died in 1991, but the cartoons continued, drawn by Michael Martin and Graham's daughter, Arran Keith.

Answer: Pug

Pugs belong to the Toy group and are believed to have been brought to Europe from China by traders from the Dutch East India Company. William of Orange brought them to the UK when he became King. They are a lot of dog in a very small body and a well-bred, healthy and lively pug is a joy.

The British Board of Film Classification is responsible for classifying films - U is suitable for Universal Viewing and PG stands for parental guidance; anyone can see it, but parents are warned that the content may upset or frighten children under 8, or more sensitive children.

Answer: Irish wolfhound

The Irish wolfhound is supposedly the tallest of all the hounds and the biggest of all breeds. They are, however, another gentle giant. Believed to have been developed from greyhounds and mastiff, they were bred to hunt wolves, which were a menace to livestock in Ireland.

When the wolf died out in Ireland, the breed nearly vanished, but it was revived by a group of devotees. It is still a vulnerable native breed.

Answer: Pointer

The pointer belongs to the Gundog group, which is divided into four categories - Retrievers, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve, Pointers and Setters. These were all bred to find live game and/or to retrieve game that had been shot and wounded/killed. Several breeds can fulfill more than one role. Pointers are very stylish dogs.

Answer: Pekingese

The Pekingese belongs in the Toy group, and can trace its lineage back to the Tang dynasty. It held a high place in the Imperial palace in Peking (now Beijing), and commoners were, in fact, not allowed to own them. The Pekingese is also known as the 'lion dog' and the great British humourist, P G Wodehouse, owned several.

Answer: Bouvier des Flandres

The bouvier des Flandres belongs in the Working group. Bouvier means cattle herder, which is what this strong dog was bred for. Many areas of France and Belgium had their own bouviers, but after WWI, most of them sadly became extinct. The bouvier des Flandres was saved by a careful breeding programme by a Belgian army vet.

Answer: Staffordshire bull terrier

The Staffordshire bull terrier belongs in the terrier group. In the UK, it was previously known as the 'nursemaid' dog, as it loved and was reliable around children. It was bred from the bulldog and the black and tan terrier and was raised as a fighting dog.

Although they acquired an unwelcome reputation because of bad owners, they can be wonderful family pets and, in my opinion, have the nicest smile of all dogs. They are showed in broad leather collars ornamented with brass emblems, containing the Staffordshire Knot.

Answer: King Charles spaniel

The King Charles spaniel is the smaller sporting spaniel of two which share a common ancestry, and is such belongs in the Toy Group. The King Charles and the cavalier King Charles were recognised as two separate breeds in 1945. The Kennel Club was going to call it the Toy Spaniel but King Edward VII wanted to retain the royal connection. Prince Charles, the heir to Elizabeth II, is a keen and well-regarded painter.

The King Charles spaniel is a vulnerable native breed.

Answer: Italian greyhound

Italian greyhounds belong in the Toy group. Slim and elegant, they are high stepping dogs, and are another breed suggested as models for the dogs on the tombs of the Pharoahs. Although miniaturised, they are every inch the hound!