Dog breeds you haven’t heard of
- Appenzeller Sennenhund
Medium-sized dog breed, one of four species belonging to the general type ” Sennenhund “. Reminiscent of a Bernese Mountain Dog, but has a short smooth coat. According to legend, such shepherd dogs were once left in the Alps by the Romans.
The name ” Sennenhund ” comes from the fact that shepherds in the Swiss Alps were called “Senn”. Appenzell is an alpine region in northeastern Switzerland.
Sennenhund was first a dog on pastures, then began to be used as a service breed, and nowadays is often a companion dog. Appenzeller – Sennenhund was recognized as a separate breed in 1898.
- Azawakh
This breed of African greyhounds has been known since ancient times. Dogs were bred by Tuareg tribes in Southern Sahara, in modern-day Mali for hunting and guard duty.
Azawakhs did not appear in Europe until after World War II. Morphologically, the azawakh is well adapted to the intense heat of the desert. He is able to drive the hare even in extreme heat.
But the nature of the Azawakh is a typical dog of one owner: he is very suspicious and out of touch, he has a strong sense of territory.
- Bergamo Shepherd
It is a very rare breed of shepherd dogs. Her homeland is the Italian Alps near the city of Bergamo.
A distinctive feature of this dog is its long hair, twisted into plaits. Such wool is the result of adaptation to the harsh conditions of shepherd’s life in the mountains.
Puppies are born with short smooth hair, which gradually grows and twists into bundles.
The coat performs a protective function – protects the dog from the weather (does not get wet in the rain) and predators – and also does not shed.
- Bracco italiano
One of the oldest European hunting breeds. The Italian Shorthaired Pointer has existed since the 18th century. The resulting offspring were selected for their ability to feed game, swim, by subtlety and other working qualities.
The breed has changed little over time and remains one of the most popular in Italy. Dogs of this breed have a great need for communication with humans, have a cheerful temperament and are very loyal to the owner.
- Chatal Burun (Turkish “Split nose”)
Chatal Burun is one of the few breeds of dogs with a split nose (Pachon Navarro and the Andean tiger dog have a similar exterior).
It is obvious that such an anomaly arose as a result of closely related crossbreeding of the dog’s ancestors, and the consolidation was facilitated by the owners-hunters.
Homeland of the dog is Turkey, and outside it no one knows about the breed. The breed is known for its agility and endurance. Dogs of the breed have an exceptional and delicate sense of smell, which distinguishes them even among pointers / hunting dogs.
- Czechoslovak wolfhound
A relatively young breed of dog that emerged as a result of an experiment in 1955 in Czechoslovakia. During the experiment, 48 German shepherds were crossed with four Carpathian wolves.
The aim of the cynologists was to create a breed with a strong pack instinct, temperament and the ability to learn like a German shepherd, the strength and endurance of the Carpathian wolf.
The breed wanted to be used in special combat operations, but was later used in search, rescue and protective – guard service.
In 1999 it was recognized as a breed by the International Kennel Club. Puppies need to be socialized from an early age, otherwise they will become an uncontrollable and aggressive animal.
With the right upbringing, the wolfhound enters into close social ties not only with the owner, but also with other family members and pets.
Interestingly, these animals do not bark, but use a wide range of other means to communicate with the owner and their peers – body language, whining and howling.
- Estrel Shepherd
Bred in Portugal, Estrel Shepherd was originally used for grazing and protection of personal property of the owner. These abilities were appreciated by both farmers and aristocrats.
The Estrela Shepherd breed is one of the oldest dog breeds in Portugal, which may have been brought there by visiting Arab tribes or in ancient times by the Romans themselves.
The breed standard was adopted in 1934. The Estrel shepherd has an independent character. It takes a lot of patience and understanding to train it. He treats strangers with extreme restraint and distrust. Learn all about the estrela mountain dog.
- Large Vendée Basset Griffon
The ancestors of the Vendée Basset Hound – Griffon are considered to be ancient Gallic hounds. The closest relative of the large Vendée Basset Griffon is the small Vendée Basset Griffon.
Initially, both species met in the same litter. Later, they received separate standards. The Vendée Basset Hound is a natural hound, these dogs are able to work long hours without fatigue, and chase such fast animals as deer, both alone and in a team.
In everyday life, these are small and affectionate dogs with a cheerful disposition and a lively mind. Such dogs can live both in the city and outside it.
- Hovawart
An ancient German breed of dog perfectly combines the features of a companion and a guard. The name of the breed comes from the German words “hof” and “wart”, which means “guard of the yard”.
In the Middle Ages, dogs of this breed were kept mainly in the countryside as watch dogs. Hovawart was equally popular with German aristocrats and peasants.
Over time, this breed almost disappeared, only after World War II enthusiasts were able to find several purebreds of the breed. It is possible that the blood of Newfoundland and Leonberger was added to preserve Hovawart.
The dog should never be kept on a leash – it needs constant communication with the person. Otherwise, the dog may become cowardly or aggressive.
It is said that when the castle of one of the German barons was captured by the Slavs in 1210, it was the Hovawart dog that saved the baron’s young son by dragging him to a nearby castle.
The rescued baby was Eike von Repkov – the future legendary figure in the history of the German principalities. Not surprisingly, Hovawart is fondly mentioned in medieval German texts.
- Kai-ken
It’s an especially rare breed of dogs, even in his homeland in Japan, a favorite character of Japanese manga cartoons. This breed of dog has ancient roots and belongs to the Spitz family.
Kai-ken is considered the national heritage of Japan and occupies a special place in the history and culture of the country of the rising sun: its export outside the country is strictly prohibited.
However, a certain number of dogs were still smuggled abroad. Kai was bred specifically for hunting in mountain landscapes for such large and serious games as wild boar and deer.
