163 Fun Facts About Dog Breeds and Facts

Which small breed, whose motto is the Latin 'multum in parvo' (much in little), has a wrinkly short-muzzled face and curled tail?

Pugs descend from the Lo-sze of the Song dynasty court and reached Europe from China in the sixteenth century, where the Dutch House of Orange made them fashionable.

Which sighthound is the fastest dog breed, reaching peak racing speeds of at least 43 mph (69 km/h)?

The Greyhound is the fastest breed, clocked at about 45 mph (72 km/h); its double-suspension rotary gallop has all four feet off the ground twice per stride.

What breed was Chaser, the dog who could fetch 1,022 toys by name?

Chaser was a Border Collie; retired psychologist John Pilley taught her the names of 1,022 toys over three years, a vocabulary reported in Behavioural Processes in 2011.

Which breed, bred by Cape Colony settlers to bay lions, is nicknamed the 'African Lion Hound'?

The Rhodesian Ridgeback descends from the ridged hunting dogs of the Khoikhoi crossed with settlers' European breeds; its first standard was drawn up in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, in 1922.

How many main toes (excluding dewclaws) does a dog typically have on each front paw?

Dogs typically have four main toes on each paw. The dewclaw, often present on the front paws, is an additional digit that doesn't usually make contact with the ground.

Which dog breed is famous for its distinctive blue-black tongue?

The Chow Chow's blue-black tongue is required by its breed standard; the pigment also covers the lips and roof of the mouth, and puppies are born with pink tongues that darken within weeks.

Which rust-gold pointing breed is nicknamed the 'Velcro dog' for its clinginess?

The Vizsla, Hungary's rust-gold pointer-retriever, is so owner-attached it is nicknamed the 'Velcro Vizsla'; it hunts, points and retrieves, including in water.

In which country did Max von Stephanitz develop a now-famous herding and police dog breed from 1899?

Germany: cavalry officer Max von Stephanitz bought Hektor Linksrhein at a Karlsruhe show in 1899, renamed him Horand von Grafrath and founded the German Shepherd breed club that year.

Which small-to-medium Hungarian herding breed is famous for its naturally corded coat?

The Puli's coat cords naturally as its woolly undercoat tangles with the outer coat; cords can be flat or round, and black is by far the most common colour, with white and grey rarer.

Which 'gentle giant' breed, bred by hospice monks for rescue work, is shown with a neck barrel?

The Saint Bernard is named for the Great St Bernard Hospice in the Swiss Alps; the neck brandy barrel is a myth popularised by an 1820 painting rather than any working practice.

Which Italian breed, once a marsh water retriever, now specialises in hunting truffles?

The Lagotto Romagnolo retrieved waterfowl in the Romagna marshes; after those wetlands were drained in the 19th and 20th centuries, breeders repurposed its nose for truffle hunting.

Which gundog's swimming is aided by fully webbed paws, an otter-like tail and a waterproof coat?

The Labrador Retriever's standard calls for an 'otter tail', webbed toes and a dense water-resistant double coat, equipment inherited from the St John's water dog of Newfoundland.

What type of dog is an Alaskan Malamute primarily known for?

The Alaskan Malamute is a powerful and strong breed primarily known for its role as a sled dog, bred to haul heavy loads over long distances in harsh Arctic conditions.

Which fluffy white Arctic breed's alert, happy expression earned it the nickname 'smiley dog'?

The Samoyed's upturned mouth corners give it the 'Sammy smile'; it descends from the reindeer-herding dogs of the Nenets people of Siberia and pulled sledges on Nansen's 1893 Fram expedition.

What is the average gestation period for a dog?

The average gestation period for a dog is approximately 58 to 68 days, or around two months, though this can vary slightly between individual dogs and breeds.

Queen Elizabeth II owned more than 30 dogs of which breed over the course of her reign?

Pembroke Welsh Corgis: the Queen owned more than 30 across her reign, beginning with Susan, an 18th-birthday gift in 1944, and bred 'dorgis' by crossing them with dachshunds.

Which fox-like breed is the smallest of the six original dog breeds native to Japan?

The Shiba Inu stands only 35-41 cm, the smallest of Japan's six native breeds; its cream 'urajiro' markings on cheeks, chest and belly are required by the standard.

The French Bulldog emerged in Paris from local ratters crossed with Toy Bulldogs from which country?

Displaced Nottingham lace workers brought their toy bulldogs to Normandy, and English breeders happily shipped over dogs they considered too small or with faults like upright ears.

Which toy spaniel breed is famous for its large, fringed, upright ears?

The Papillon's name is French for 'butterfly', after its large fringed ears; the drop-eared variety of the same breed is the Phalène, French for 'moth'.

What is the typical lifespan of a medium-sized dog breed?

Medium-sized breeds typically live 10-13 years; size drives longevity, so small breeds often reach 15 or more while giant breeds such as the Great Dane average only 8 to 10.

In which country did Sir Dudley Marjoribanks develop the Golden Retriever at his Guisachan estate?

Scotland: at Guisachan near Tomich in the Highlands, Marjoribanks (later Lord Tweedmouth) bred the yellow wavy-coated retriever Nous to the Tweed Water Spaniel Belle in 1868 to found the line.

The Mexican hairless dog is better known by what name?

The Xoloitzcuintle, named for the Aztec god Xolotl plus itzcuintli ('dog'), throws hairless and coated pups in the same litter; ceramic figures of hairless dogs occur in ancient West Mexican tombs.

Which sighthound was nicknamed 'the poor man's racehorse' by 19th-century colliers?

The Whippet was raced and bet on by Northern English miners in 'rag racing'; it is the fastest-accelerating dog, reaching about 35 mph, yet cheap to keep.

Seaman, the dog that accompanied Lewis and Clark all the way to the Pacific and back, was what breed?

Seaman was a Newfoundland that Meriwether Lewis bought for $20 in 1803; the breed's webbed paws and thick coat suited it to water work, and Seaman appears on many expedition monuments.

What is the smallest recognised dog breed in the world?

The Chihuahua, a Mexican toy breed, is the smallest recognised breed: the AKC standard caps it at 6 lb (2.7 kg) and typical dogs stand only 13-20 cm.

Which dog breed is generally recognized as the tallest in the world?

The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed on average: the FCI standard asks for males of 81-86 cm at the withers, minimum 79 cm, and it has been the Irish Guards' mascot since 1902.

The Kangal Shepherd Dog, a large livestock guardian, takes its name from a town in which country?

Turkey: Kangal is a district of Sivas Province in central Anatolia; the UK Kennel Club recognised the Turkish Kangal Dog separately from the Anatolian Shepherd Dog in 2013.

The Chukchi people developed which sled-dog breed for pulling and companionship?

The Siberian Husky comes from the Chukchi Peninsula in eastern Siberia, where the Chukchi relied on it for sled pulling, hunting and companionship in harsh Arctic conditions.

What is the most developed sense in dogs?

A dog's sense of smell is by far its most developed and acute sense, allowing them to interpret the world primarily through scent.

Barry, the hospice rescue dog, is preserved in which city's natural history museum?

Bern: Barry's preserved body stands in the Natural History Museum of Bern; the hospice dogs were called 'Barry dogs' after him, and he has a monument at the Cimetière des Chiens near Paris.

Which white Hungarian livestock guardian, the 'mop dog', has the heaviest coat in the canine world?

The Komondor's white cords, which reach 20-27 cm, make up the heaviest coat of any breed; they camouflage it among the sheep and blunt wolf bites.

How many dog breeds did the American Kennel Club (AKC) fully recognise as of 2025?

The AKC fully recognised 202 breeds as of 2025; newcomers first spend time in its Foundation Stock Service before gaining full status.

Which German breed, descended from medieval hunters of boar and bear, has usually held the title of tallest living dog?

Great Dane record-holder Zeus stood 44 inches at the shoulder; a Berlin committee renamed the breed from Englische Dogge to Deutsche Dogge in 1878.

The 'Beagle Brigade' and its handlers inspect luggage at US airports, making around 75,000 seizures a year of what?

Smuggled agricultural goods such as prohibited fruit, meat and plants are the Beagle Brigade's quarry, on behalf of the US Department of Agriculture; many of the dogs were rescued from shelters.

Which dog breed is primarily used by police and military forces?

The German Shepherd is widely recognized as one of the most popular breeds for police and military work due to its high intelligence, trainability, strength, and loyalty.

Which medium-sized, short-coated Chinese breed is renowned for its excessively wrinkled skin, most dramatically as a puppy?

The Shar-Pei's deep wrinkles and loose skin are at their most dramatic in puppies, which gives the short-coated, medium-sized breed its unmistakable look.

The Pharaoh Hound, despite its name, is the only internationally recognised breed of which island nation?

Malta: the Pharaoh Hound is the Maltese national dog, known there as the Kelb tal-Fenek ('rabbit dog'); DNA studies show it is a modern Mediterranean breed, not an ancient Egyptian one.

Which dog breed yodels instead of barking?

The Basenji's unusually shaped larynx produces a yodel-like 'baroo' instead of a bark; DNA studies place the Central African breed among the most basal dog lineages.

Which curly-coated breed is most often called hypoallergenic, despite little allergen difference between breeds?

The Poodle's tightly curled, low-shedding coat keeps dander from spreading around the house, yet studies find its Can f 1 allergen levels no lower than other breeds'.

Which large white livestock guardian must have double dewclaws on each hind leg?

The Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog) standard requires double dewclaws on each hind leg; French shepherds call it the Patou, and it guarded flocks from wolves and bears in the Pyrenees.

Which retriever descends from Sailor and Canton, two pups rescued from an 1807 shipwreck?

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever traces to Sailor and Canton, two Newfoundland-type pups rescued from a wrecked English brig in 1807 and bred with local Maryland duck dogs; it is Maryland's state dog.

Which breed holds the record for following a human trail more than 330 hours old, in Oregon in 1954?

The Bloodhound, bred since the Middle Ages to track people, followed a trail more than 330 hours old in Oregon in 1954; police worldwide use it to find fugitives and missing persons.

Which breed comes in smooth, wirehaired and longhaired coats, in standard and miniature sizes?

The Dachshund, German for 'badger dog', was built low and long to follow badgers underground; it comes in smooth, wirehaired and longhaired coats and in standard and miniature sizes.

Which loyal, dignified Japanese dog breed is often described as having a 'bear-like' head?

The Akita, a large and powerful dog from Japan, is known for its unwavering loyalty to its family and its imposing, bear-like head.

The Boxer was bred from the Old English Bulldog and which now-extinct hunting breed?

The Bullenbeisser ('bull-biter') vanished through crossbreeding rather than decline; its descendant keeps the broad skull, underbite and strong jaws built for holding large prey.

Which setter breed's solid mahogany coat was fixed by 19th-century breeding from red-and-white dogs?

The Irish Setter, sotar rua ('red setter') in Irish, was bred to a solid mahogany coat during the 19th century; earlier Irish setters were mostly white with red patches, ancestors of today's Irish Red and White Setter.

Which curly-coated breed was taught to herd fish into nets and carry messages between boats?

The Portuguese Water Dog worked on Algarve fishing boats, herding fish into nets and carrying messages between boats; it was near extinction in the 1930s until shipping magnate Vasco Bensaude rebuilt the breed.

Which dog breed is known for its unique spotted coat pattern?

Dalmatian puppies are born pure white; their black or liver spots usually appear within about two weeks, and the breed's coach-dog history made it the firehouse mascot.

Which dog breed, named after a German city, is known for its use as a guard dog?

The Rottweiler is named after Rottweil, a German market town, and was historically used to drive cattle and pull carts, later gaining a reputation as a powerful guard dog.

What does a dog's vomeronasal (Jacobson's) organ detect?

The vomeronasal or Jacobson's organ, in the roof of the mouth behind the incisors, detects pheromones; dogs draw scent onto it by licking or chattering their teeth.

Which hound was among the breeds used to develop the modern Beagle in the 1830s?

The Talbot Hound, a white scent hound now extinct, is counted among the Beagle's ancestors with the North Country Beagle and Southern Hound; the modern breed took shape in 1830s Essex.

Which college's Bulldog mascot is called Handsome Dan?

Yale's Handsome Dan has been the university's bulldog mascot since 1889, the first live college mascot in the United States; Georgia's bulldog is Uga and the Marines' is Chesty.

In what year did the AKC accept the Boston Terrier as a non-sporting breed?

The AKC recognised the Boston Terrier in 1893, one of the first breeds developed in the United States to gain recognition; it arose in 1870s Boston from bulldog-terrier crosses.

What is the maximum weight of a Yorkshire Terrier?

The Yorkshire Terrier standard caps weight at 7 lb (3.2 kg); the coat must be tan on the head and dark steel-blue on the body.

The Shih Tzu is believed to descend from the Pekingese and which other breed?

The Lhasa Apso, the Tibetan monastery dog, is thought to have been crossed with the Pekingese at the Chinese court to produce the Shih Tzu, whose name means 'lion dog'.

The Pomeranian is named for a region straddling which two countries?

Pomerania is a Baltic coastal region now split between Poland and Germany; the breed was miniaturised from German Spitz types, and Queen Victoria's dogs popularised the small size.

How many dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic?

Three dogs survived the Titanic: two Pomeranians and a Pekingese, all small enough to be carried into the lifeboats by their first-class owners.

A chestnut-and-white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is called what?

The name honours Blenheim Palace, seat of the Dukes of Marlborough.

What does 'Senne' mean in the Bernese Mountain Dog's German name Berner Sennenhund?

Senne means an Alpine pasture or dairy, so Sennenhund is the dog of the Alpine herdsmen (Senn); the Bernese is one of four Swiss Sennenhund breeds traditionally traced to Roman-era mastiffs.

In which US state was the Australian Shepherd actually developed?

California: the breed was shaped on Western ranches, above all in California, in the 19th and early 20th centuries; the name comes from collie-type dogs that arrived with Australian sheep imports.

What was Louis Dobermann's profession when he bred the Dobermann in the 1890s?

Louis Dobermann was a tax collector in Apolda, Thuringia, who also ran the town dog pound; wanting a dog to protect him on his rounds, he bred the Dobermann from pound dogs in the 1890s.

In what year did the American Kennel Club recognise the Weimaraner?

The AKC recognised the Weimaraner in 1943, after Howard Knight imported the first dogs from Germany in the late 1920s; the 'Grey Ghost' became a 1950s fad breed.

What role did the shaggy little Tibetan breed favoured in monasteries traditionally play?

The Lhasa Apso served as an interior watchdog in Tibetan monasteries and noble homes, barking at anyone who got past the Tibetan Mastiffs outside; the 13th Dalai Lama gave a pair to Suydam Cutting in 1933.

What is the local Dari name of the silky-coated hound from Afghanistan's mountains?

Sag-e Tāzī is the Dari name of the Afghan Hound; Tāzī is the Persian word for a sighthound, and the breed is also called the Balkh, Barakzai or Kabul Hound after regions and tribes.

Until 1936, what was the Borzoi known as?

The AKC registered the breed as the Russian Wolfhound until 1936, when it adopted Borzoi, from the Russian for 'fast'; Russian aristocrats used the hounds to course wolves.

The Saluki was originally bred in which region?

The Saluki was bred in the Fertile Crescent, where hounds of its type appear on Mesopotamian seals and Egyptian tomb paintings; Bedouin tribes prized it for coursing gazelle.

Which breed's ground-scenting ability is said to be second only to the Bloodhound?

The Basset Hound's nose is often ranked second only to the Bloodhound's; it was bred in France to hunt hare on foot, slowly enough that hunters needed no horses.

Jack Russell, who bred the terrier named after him, had what profession?

The Reverend John 'Jack' Russell was a country parson at Swimbridge in North Devon who hunted foxes and bred his white-bodied fox terriers from the 1820s.

How many terrier breeds originated in Scotland?

Five: the Scottish, Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont and West Highland White Terriers all arose in Scotland, several from the same Highland working-terrier stock.

Which breed is called the 'King of Terriers' as the largest of its type?

The Airedale Terrier, from the valley of the River Aire in Yorkshire, is the largest terrier at around 58 cm and is nicknamed the 'King of Terriers'.

Which breeder crossed bull-and-terriers with English White Terriers to create the Bull Terrier?

James Hinks of Birmingham crossed bull-and-terriers with the English White Terrier in the 1850s-60s to produce the all-white Bull Terrier; the egg-shaped head was refined later.

From which extinct dogs is the English Mastiff likely descended?

The English Mastiff is thought to descend from the Alaunt, a medieval catch dog, and the Pugnax Britanniae, the war dog of Roman Britain; Alpine Mastiff crosses added size in the 19th century.

The Leonberger takes its name from a city in which German state?

Leonberg lies near Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg; town councillor Heinrich Essig bred the Leonberger there in the 1840s, reputedly to resemble the lion on the town's coat of arms.

What is the white-and-black colour variety of Newfoundland dog called?

The white-and-black Newfoundland is the Landseer, after Sir Edwin Landseer, who painted one in 1838's 'A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society'; the FCI treats the Landseer as a separate breed.

Why is the Old English Sheepdog nicknamed the Bobtail?

Its long coat does not shed unless brushed.

What was the Sheltie originally called before rival breeders objected?

The Kennel Club registered the breed as the Shetland Collie in 1909; Rough Collie breeders objected to the name, and it became the Shetland Sheepdog in 1914.

The Belgian Shepherd's long-haired black variety is called what?

The Groenendael, named for the village where Nicolas Rose bred it, is the long-haired black variety; the Tervueren is long-haired fawn, the Malinois short-haired and the Laekenois rough-coated.

What does 'corgi' mean in Welsh?

Corgi is Welsh for 'dwarf dog', from cor (dwarf) and ci (dog); the Cardigan, with its long fox-brush tail, is among the oldest breeds of the British Isles.

What is the coated variety of the Chinese Crested Dog called?

Hairless and powderpuff pups can be born in the same litter.

How many permanent teeth does an adult dog have?

An adult dog has 42 permanent teeth, 20 upper and 22 lower, replacing 28 deciduous puppy teeth; the upper fourth premolars and lower first molars are the meat-shearing carnassials.

What was the Keeshond previously known as?

The Keeshond was known in Britain as the Dutch Barge Dog because it rode the barges of the Netherlands' canals; its current name honours Kees de Gyselaer, leader of the 18th-century Dutch Patriot party.

What does 'Bouvier des Flandres' literally mean?

Bouvier is French for a cowherd or ox-drover, so Bouvier des Flandres means 'Cow Herder of Flanders'; the breed drove cattle, pulled carts and now serves in police work.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog became the state dog of which state in 1979?

Louisiana made the Catahoula Leopard Dog its state dog in 1979; it is named for Catahoula Parish and was used to catch feral hogs and work cattle.

The animated series Bluey centres on a family of dogs belonging to which working breed?

Australian Cattle Dogs are the Heelers: Bluey and Bandit are Blue Heelers, while Bingo and Chilli are Red Heelers.

Under what species name was the New Guinea singing dog once classified?

Ellis Troughton described the New Guinea singing dog as Canis hallstromi in 1957, honouring Sir Edward Hallstrom; it is now usually treated as a dingo-like form of the domestic dog.

Which breed was Aicama Zorba, the heaviest dog ever recorded at 155.6 kg (343 lb)?

Aicama Zorba was an English Mastiff; Guinness recorded him at 155.6 kg (343 lb) in 1989, and the breed is generally the heaviest, with males often topping 90 kg.

What breed was Adonis, the first dog entered in the AKC Stud Book in 1878?

Adonis was an English Setter, entry number one in the American Kennel Club Stud Book of 1878; the club's first nine recognised breeds were all sporting dogs.

What breed was Bobi, certified in 2023 as the oldest dog ever at 30-plus?

Bobi was a Rafeiro do Alentejo, a Portuguese livestock guardian; Guinness named him the oldest dog ever at 31 in 2023, then withdrew the title in February 2024 for lack of proof of his age.

On which spacecraft did Laika orbit the Earth in 1957?

Laika flew on Sputnik 2, launched on 3 November 1957, becoming the first animal to orbit Earth; the stray Moscow mongrel died of overheating within hours.

At which Tokyo station did Hachikō wait for his late owner for nearly ten years?

Professor Hidesaburō Ueno had died in 1925.

Which musher drove Balto's team on the final leg of the 1925 serum run?

Gunnar Kaasen drove Balto's team into Nome on 2 February 1925; Leonhard Seppala, who owned Balto, drove Togo over the longest and most dangerous stretch of the relay.

Which city's citizens raised money in 1927 to rescue Balto and his team?

Cleveland: businessman George Kimble led the 1927 campaign that bought Balto and his team out of a Los Angeles sideshow; Balto's preserved body is displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

How many years did Greyfriars Bobby reportedly guard his owner's grave in Edinburgh?

Bobby reportedly kept watch over John Gray's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard for 14 years, from 1858 until his own death in 1872; the story's accuracy is disputed.

In how many Hollywood films did Rin Tin Tin appear?

Rin Tin Tin appeared in 27 Hollywood films after American soldier Lee Duncan rescued him as a puppy from a bombed kennel in Lorraine, France, in 1918.

What was the name of the male Rough Collie who first played Lassie?

Pal, a male Rough Collie, played Lassie from 1943's Lassie Come Home; the Saturday Evening Post called his the most spectacular canine career in film history.

What breed was Moose, the dog who played Eddie on Frasier?

Moose, a Jack Russell Terrier, played Eddie on Frasier from 1993 until his son Enzo took over the role; Moose also played the title dog in My Dog Skip.

Which Obama daughter's allergies led the family to choose a Portuguese Water Dog?

Malia's allergies led the Obamas to a low-shedding Portuguese Water Dog; Bo arrived in April 2009 as a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and was joined by Sunny in August 2013.

What breed was Fala, Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous dog?

Fala was a Scottish Terrier given to Roosevelt in 1940; he outlived the president by seven years, dying in 1952, and is buried beside him at Hyde Park.

Which breed has won Best in Show at Westminster the most times?

The Wire Fox Terrier has taken Best in Show at Westminster 15 times, including King in 2019; the Scottish Terrier is next with eight.

Crufts founder Charles Cruft worked as general manager for what kind of company?

The show has run since 1891 and is the largest of its kind.

How many breed clubs founded the American Kennel Club in 1884?

Ten were American and three Canadian.

Where is the Fédération Cynologique Internationale based?

The FCI is headquartered in Thuin, a small town in Belgium's Hainaut province; it was founded in 1911 by the kennel clubs of Germany, Austria, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

Roughly how long is the Iditarod sled-dog race trail across Alaska?

The Iditarod runs about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from near Anchorage to Nome; northern and southern routes alternate by year, each measuring roughly 975 miles.

Which Nashville man returned from Switzerland with Buddy, America's pioneering guide dog?

Morris Frank of Nashville trained with Buddy at Dorothy Eustis's Swiss kennel in 1928 and co-founded The Seeing Eye in 1929; he toured to win guide dogs access to trains and hotels.

Which breed did Stanley Coren's judges consistently rank lowest for working intelligence?

Border Collies were consistently in the top ten.

Which five breeds topped Coren's working-and-obedience intelligence list?

Coren's 1994 book The Intelligence of Dogs ranked the Border Collie, Poodle, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever and Dobermann as the top five, each learning a new command in under five repetitions.

Which Founding Father was key to developing the American Foxhound?

George Washington kept a pack of hounds at Mount Vernon and crossed them with French hounds sent by Lafayette in 1785, founding the American Foxhound, now Virginia's state dog.

The Plott Hound was developed in North Carolina's mountains primarily to hunt which animal?

The Plott Hound was bred to hunt bears by the Plott family of North Carolina's mountains, from German hounds Johannes Plott brought over in 1750; it became the state dog in 1989.

Why was the Spitz-type ancestor of the American Eskimo Dog renamed in the US?

The breed actually originated in Germany.

The Azawakh, a West African hunting dog, is named after a valley in which region?

The Azawakh is named for the Azawagh valley of the Sahel, spanning Mali and Niger, where Tuareg nomads kept it to course gazelle and guard their camps.

What does 'lunde' mean in Norwegian Lundehund?

Lunde is Norwegian for puffin: the Lundehund was bred on the Lofoten islands to climb cliffs and pull puffins from their nesting burrows.

How many toes does a Norwegian Lundehund normally have on each foot?

The Lundehund normally has six fully formed toes on each foot, plus extra-flexible shoulders and a neck that bends back to the spine, all adaptations for puffin hunting on cliffs.

The Swedish Vallhund nearly went extinct in which year before being revived?

By 1942 the Swedish Vallhund was close to extinction; Count Björn von Rosen and Karl-Gustaf Zettersten searched Västergötland for survivors and rebuilt the breed, recognised in Sweden in 1943.

The Bedlington Terrier is named after a mining town in which county?

Northumberland's mining town of Bedlington gave the breed its name; it is closely related to the Dandie Dinmont, Whippet and Otterhound.

About how many Otterhounds exist worldwide?

Only about 600 Otterhounds exist worldwide; the Kennel Club lists it as a Vulnerable Native Breed, registering a few dozen puppies a year since otter hunting was banned in 1978.

The Clumber Spaniel is named after a park in which county?

Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, seat of the Dukes of Newcastle, gave the breed its name; it is the largest spaniel, white with lemon or orange markings.

Which breed from Ireland won Best in Show at Crufts in 2000?

The Kerry Blue Terrier Torums Scarf Michael won Best in Show at Crufts in 2000 and at Westminster in 2003; the breed's coat is born black and clears to blue-grey by around 18 months.

What is the scientific name for a dog's whiskers?

A dog's whiskers are vibrissae, stiff hairs rooted in nerve-rich follicles on the muzzle, cheeks and above the eyes that sense air currents and nearby objects.

Who bred the first Labradoodle in 1989 as a guide dog for an allergic household?

Wally Conron of the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia bred the first Labradoodle in 1989 for a blind woman whose husband was allergic to dogs; he later said he regretted starting the designer-dog craze.

Who co-wrote and directed the 2000 dog-show mockumentary Best in Show?

Christopher Guest directed Best in Show and co-wrote it with Eugene Levy, who also plays Gerry Fleck; the cast improvised most of the dialogue from a scene outline.

Who wrote the 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians?

Dodie Smith wrote The Hundred and One Dalmatians in 1956, inspired by her own Dalmatian Pongo; Disney's animated film followed in 1961.

On what date did Snoopy debut in the Peanuts strip?

Snoopy first appeared on October 4, 1950, two days after the Peanuts strip debuted; Charles Schulz based him on Spike, a childhood dog.

Which writers created Scooby-Doo in 1969?

Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created Scooby-Doo for Hanna-Barbera; the talking Great Dane debuted in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! on CBS in September 1969.

What breed was Terry, the dog who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz?

Terry was a female Cairn Terrier trained by Carl Spitz; she earned $125 a week on The Wizard of Oz and was officially renamed Toto in 1942.

Who wrote the 1956 novel Old Yeller?

Fred Gipson's Old Yeller (1956), set in the 1860s Texas Hill Country, received a Newbery Honor in 1957 and was filmed by Disney the same year.

What breed was Marley in John Grogan's Marley & Me?

Marley was a yellow Labrador Retriever; John Grogan's 2005 memoir Marley & Me covers 13 years with 'the world's worst dog' and was filmed in 2008 with Owen Wilson.

Under what pseudonym did John Hughes co-write the 1992 film Beethoven?

John Hughes wrote Beethoven as 'Edmond Dantès', the Count of Monte Cristo's name, which he also used on Maid in Manhattan and Drillbit Taylor; the St. Bernard comedy grossed $147 million worldwide.

Which painting made the dog Nipper a global trademark?

Francis Barraud painted 'His Master's Voice' in 1898, showing his late brother's dog Nipper listening to a phonograph; the Gramophone Company bought it in 1899 and it became the HMV and RCA trademark.

Which stolen prize did the collie Pickles find in March 1966?

Pickles found the stolen Jules Rimet Trophy, the World Cup, wrapped in newspaper beside a garden hedge in Upper Norwood, south London, on 27 March 1966, a week after it was taken from a Westminster exhibition.

Which honour, called the animals' Victoria Cross, did the ship's dog Judy receive?

Judy, an English Pointer, received the PDSA Dickin Medal in 1946 as the only animal officially registered as a Japanese prisoner of war; she had served on the Yangtze gunboats HMS Gnat and Grasshopper.

In how many battles did Sergeant Stubby serve in World War I?

Stubby served 18 months with the 102nd Infantry and took part in 17 battles on the Western Front; his preserved body was presented to the Smithsonian in 1956.

Which WWII sentry dog's Silver Star and Purple Heart were revoked by Army policy?

Chips, a German Shepherd-Collie-Husky mix, attacked an Italian machine-gun nest in Sicily in 1943; his Silver Star and Purple Heart were revoked under a policy against decorating animals, and he received a posthumous Dickin Medal in 2018.

Postal mascot Owney travelled how many miles as a Railway Post Office dog?

The National Postal Museum holds 372 of his tags.

Snuppy, the first cloned dog, was which breed?

123 surrogate mothers were involved and only two produced pups.

What compound in chocolate causes most food-related dog poisonings?

Theobromine, a methylxanthine dogs metabolise far more slowly than humans, is chocolate's main toxin; dark and baking chocolate carry the most, and grapes, onions and xylitol are other common poisons.

What term describes a guide dog refusing a command that would endanger its handler?

Intelligent disobedience is the trained refusal to obey an unsafe command, such as stepping into traffic; because dogs cannot judge traffic lights, the handler decides when to cross and the dog vetoes.

Which fictional 'enemy' repeatedly shoots down Snoopy's Sopwith Camel?

The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, is Snoopy's unseen foe; the World War I Flying Ace fantasy began in 1965 and inspired the Royal Guardsmen's 1966 hit 'Snoopy vs. the Red Baron'.

Which extinct fighting breed was the base stock of the Dogo Argentino from 1928?

Antonio Nores Martínez built the Dogo Argentino from 1928 on the Córdoba fighting dog, an extinct pit-fighting breed, adding Great Dane, Boxer, Bull Terrier and Pyrenean Mastiff blood to make a pack hunter of boar and puma.

What is a dog's normal resting body temperature?

A dog's normal body temperature is about 38.5 °C (101.5 °F), roughly a degree and a half above a human's; readings above 39.5 °C (103 °F) count as fever.

Which of these French breeds is a spaniel?

The Brittany (Épagneul Breton) is a spaniel-type pointing dog from north-west France, bred for bird hunting; the Briard and Beauceron are herders and the Barbet a water dog.

Miniature Schnauzers were bred by German farmers for what purpose?

They may descend from small Standard Schnauzers crossed with Affenpinschers or Poodles.

Which Italian city gives its name to an Alpine herding breed with a felted, matted coat?

Bergamo: the Bergamasco Shepherd takes its name from the city in the Lombardy Alps; its coat felts into flat 'flocks' that protect it from cold and predators while herding sheep and cattle.

Which distinctive feature marks the head of a Dandie Dinmont Terrier?

The breed has a very long body and short legs, and is prone to spinal problems.

Which Hungarian flock guardian historically served as a royal guard dog?

The Kuvasz guarded the 15th-century court of King Matthias Corvinus, who reputedly trusted the dogs more than his guards; it is a white Hungarian flock guardian placed by the AKC in the Working Group.

The Schipperke, a small black Spitz-type dog, is believed to have originated in which region?

The Schipperke is thought to have originated in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium, as a small barge and workshop dog; its name is Flemish for 'little shepherd' or, by folk etymology, 'little skipper'.

Which long, low-slung Scottish breed is among the most endangered native breeds of the UK?

The Skye Terrier, long and low with a coat that sweeps the ground, is a Kennel Club Vulnerable Native Breed; only around 30 puppies were registered in the UK in 2005.

How many distinctive ridge patterns have been identified on the Thai Ridgeback?

Eight ridge patterns are recognised on the Thai Ridgeback: needle, feather, arrow, lute, violin, bowling pin, leaf and saddleback, all formed by hair growing against the grain along the back.

In which sport is a cross-country skier towed by one or more harnessed dogs?

Skijoring, from the Norwegian skikjøring ('ski driving'), has a skier towed by one to three dogs in harness; bikejoring and canicross are the bicycle and running versions.

What does the Finnish Spitz, a 'bark pointer', do when it finds game?

The Finnish Spitz barks continuously at treed game such as capercaillie, marking its position and holding its attention while the hunter approaches; it became Finland's national dog in 1979.

Roughly how far did the 1925 serum run relay carry diphtheria antitoxin to Nome?

Twenty mushers and about 150 dogs relayed the antitoxin 674 miles (1,085 km) from Nenana to Nome in five and a half days, in temperatures below -50 °F.

Bummer and Lazarus, two celebrated 1860s stray dogs, roamed the streets of which city?

Bummer and Lazarus roamed San Francisco in the early 1860s; prized as rat-killers, they were exempted from the city's dog ordinances and drawn by the cartoonist Edward Jump.

The Icelandic Sheepdog descends from dogs brought to Iceland by which settlers?

The Icelandic Sheepdog descends from spitz-type dogs the Vikings brought from Norway in the 9th and 10th centuries; it is Iceland's only native breed and herds sheep and horses.

Which European country has made breeding short-muzzled dogs such as Bulldogs illegal?

The Netherlands: since 2019 Dutch enforcement rules bar breeding dogs whose muzzle is under a third of skull length, ruling out typical Bulldogs; the breed is prone to breathing trouble, hip dysplasia and overheating.

Bull-baiting, the Bulldog's original job, was outlawed in Britain by an act passed in which year?

The Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 outlawed bull-baiting in Britain; the modern Bulldog was then bred as a companion from the now-extinct Old English Bulldog, and the Bulldog Club formed in 1878.

The Maltese, perhaps the first dog kept purely as a companion, is genetically related to the Bichon, Bolognese and which toy breed?

Havanese, Bichon and Bolognese share ancestry with the Maltese; Stanley Coren suggested the ancient and modern Maltese types were perhaps the first dogs kept purely as human companions.

Spanish seamen are believed to have carried the early Bichon type to which island group?

Spanish sailors carried the early Bichon to the Canary Islands, where Italian sailors rediscovered it on Tenerife in the 14th century as the 'Bichon Tenerife' and took it to European courts.

Breed standards describe the Chihuahua's skull using which fruit?

Chihuahua standards call for a well-rounded 'apple dome' skull; the breed also keeps a small share of pre-Columbian American dog ancestry, unlike most European-derived breeds.

By the late 20th century the Cane Corso survived mainly in which region of southern Italy?

Puglia: the Cane Corso nearly vanished when share-cropping collapsed in the 1960s; from about 1980 breeders rebuilt it from survivors found in the Puglian countryside, and Italy's kennel club recognised it in 1994.

In which year did the American Kennel Club recognise the Cane Corso?

The AKC recognised the Cane Corso in 2010 in the Working Group; Italy's kennel body had accepted it in 1994 and the FCI gave full recognition in 2007.

What name did Dr Robert Jay Russell coin for the Coton de Tuléar after encountering it in 1973?

Dr Robert Jay Russell, who found the breed in 1973 and took the first to America, coined 'Royal Dog of Madagascar'; legend says the Coton descends from white shipwreck survivors, and Malagasy nobles once monopolised it.

A Rough Collie became a fashion item after Queen Victoria saw one at which royal residence?

Queen Victoria fell for the Rough Collie at Balmoral Castle in 1860 and kept several; show breeding then changed the dog dramatically, and US collies stayed 24-26 inches tall while the UK standard shrank.

What was the tiny hound variety kept by Elizabeth I, whose standards were still drawn up in 1901, called?

Edward II and Henry VII kept Glove Beagles; standards for the pocket variety were still being drawn up in 1901.

Champion Obo, born in 1879, is considered the father of which modern breed?

Until 1900 a cocker was simply any such spaniel under 25 pounds; heavier dogs were classed as springers.