Blog > Tag: Breeds

The history of the Chinese Shar-Pei can be traced as far back as the Han Dynasty (200 CE), with Shar-Pei-like dogs being found on pottery dating back over 2000 years. Due to the shared demographics and geography, as well as some physical similarities, the Shar-Pei is believed to share common ancestors with both Chow Chow and Mastiffs. The ancestors of the modern-day Shar-Pei were originally used for hunting, herding, sentry work, the cruel sport of dogfighting, and even as a food source.

The Rat Terrier is thought to have descended from several different breeds, beginning in England in the 1820s when a Smooth Fox Terrier was bred to a Manchester Terrier. This produced a remarkable dog that was both strong-willed and relentless in his hunt for rats and other vermin. They were feisty little dogs, which is why the English first called them “Feists.”

Hound-type dogs historically accompanied immigrants to the United States from Europe. Many of these dogs were imports from England, Ireland, and Germany. Hunting was a way of life throughout the south, and these dogs were essential in putting food on tables, putting clothes on backs, and bringing in money for furs, as well as ridding farms, homesteads, and properties of animals that would threaten a family’s livelihood. They hunted an array of quarry, including squirrels, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, deer, and bears.

Although there are many hypotheses regarding the origin of the breed, the history of the Black Mouth cur remains slightly murky. Stories of the dogs are well documented throughout the South by families who have kept the dogs for generations.

The Bloodhound breed has existed for many thousands of years. The "blood" aspect of the breed name reportedly comes from the word "blooded"- referring to the hound's status as a purebred. Bloodhounds have been used for tracking both animals and humans for hundreds of years. The bloodhound was one of the earliest dogs to travel to colonial America and was even referenced in letters written by Benjamin Franklin.