Blog > Tag: Breeds

It wasn’t until the end of the nineteenth century when Professor Adolphe Reul of the Belgian School of Veterinary Science realized that, while the regional working dogs were different in some aspects such as coat type, color, and coat length, they were also similar in size, working style, and overall type. He categorized them into eight different varieties, which were then further condensed down to the four varieties that we see today. This includes the Groenendael, Laekenois, Malinois, and the Tervuren.

In this episode of Talkin’ Dogs, we’re going to tell you about the Seppala’s incredible history and some super interesting facts about the breed.

Anyone interested in a doodle breed has almost certainly seen the mysterious F1, F2, F3, and multi-generational designations associated with some dogs or litters. What exactly do these terms mean, and what do they have to do with goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and cockadoodles? (Okay, that last one is not a designer breed, but cockapoo people should really consider switching to this one.) Watch this video to find out!

The Pekingese is named after its city of origin, Peking, known today as Beijing. Like their cousins, the Shih Tzu and the Pug, the Pekingese (or Peke) breed is descended from royalty and is recognized as one of the oldest companion breeds in existence. These small dogs have been known to exist in China since the eighth century. Surviving for more than thirteen hundred years, the breed was first referenced in the ancient artwork of the Tang Dynasty. Like the Pug and the Shih Tzu, the Peke was believed to be a type of ancient Chinese “Foo Dog,” possessing the power to expel evil spirits. Therefore, the Peke was regarded as sacred and divine. They served as a companion to Chinese royalty only since it was illegal for anyone other than those in the emperor’s court to own a Pekingese. In fact, stealing one of the little dogs was a crime punishable by death. While this law kept the Peke strains pure, it almost resulted in the breed disappearing as well.

There is much speculation about the origin of the Old English Mastiff, also called English Mastiff, or just simply Mastiff. The ancestors of the modern-day Mastiffs were found in what is now present-day Britain by Roman soldiers during the expansion of the Roman Empire. The Romans called these dogs Canes Pugnaces Britanniae, which roughly translated to “British Fighting Dogs.” These dogs were imported from Britain to Rome to fight in the amphitheaters and coliseums for entertainment. They were also employed as dogs of war in combat during the expansion of the Roman Empire.