BACKGROUND In 1850, Captain John Edwardes, of Sealyham, Haverfordwest, Wales, set out to establish the breed which we know today as the Sealyham Terrier. Captain Edwardes was intent on creating a new breed which was small, robust, dead-game and not only intelligent but also of pleasing appearance. Though the combination of breeds that produced the Sealyham has always been kept secret, it is generally though ...

BACKGROUND The Schnauzer is an ancient breed. It is the original sheepdog of the Austrian Tyrol. Paintings and tapestries dating back to 1492 show dogs that are not unlike the modern Schnauzers. The Schnauzer has also been found in statuary, one on a statue in Mecklenborg, Germany. This statue is dated 1620. "Schnauzer" was the name of the first prize winning Wired-haired pinscher (the breed's previous titl ...

BACKGROUND A medium-sized white dog with the "smiling" face, the Samoyed was brought out of Siberia at the end of the last century and the early part of this century to pull sledges on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. These valiant dogs endured terrible hardships serving man in his quest for the Poles, with only a few returning. The Samoyed was originally used to hunt, herd reindeer, and haul sledges for t ...

BACKGROUND The Scottish Terrier is one of the descendants of the old Scotch Terrier, along with the Dandie Dinmont, the Cairn, and the West Highland White Terrier. The exact origins of the breed is obscure, but a dog of its general description dates back to some of the earliest records. The low stature and wiry coat have always been important characteristics relating to the original purpose of the breed, wh ...

BACKGROUND The Schipperke is also known as the "Belgian Barge Dog", "Little Captain" and "Little Black Devil". Originating in Belgium, Schipperkes were first noted in the writings of the monk Wenceslas in the 15th Century. In the 1800s Belgian gentlemen would craft special brass collars for their Schipperkes and proudly walk their dogs through town. Schipperkes also served as watchdogs and ratters on barges ...

BACKGROUND Camel trains from Egypt carried Salukis to all parts of the ancient world along the silk roads. The Saluki is widely recognised as the first of the sighthound breeds and is still unsurpassed for its combination of speed and endurance and is still used as a food provider by some nomadic tribes from Morocco to Asia Minor. The Saluki is a beautiful connection with the past and is treasured by a rela ...

BACKGROUND Centuries ago, when the first white people arrived in South Africa, they found that the Hottentots at the Cape were using dogs of the Ridgeback type for hunting purposes. The peculiar ridge of hair, running parallel to the spine and in reverse to the rest of the coat, at once distinguished it from other breeds. During the 19th Century big game hunting flourished in Southern Africa, particularly i ...

BACKGROUND The Pomeranian is believed to have descended from the Wolf-Spitz type dogs that migrated to Pomerania from the north of Russia and Siberia. It shares common ancestry with other Arctic breeds such as the Samoyed and Keeshond. These early Spitz-type dogs were used as guard and sledge animals. At this stage of development, the breed weighed up to 14kg.The smallest puppies from any litters were often ...

BACKGROUND Although the Pharaoh Hound expanded its origins in ancient Egypt, it was first brought into Egypt by the Phoenician merchants when they settled on the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo while plying their trade of selling exotic spices. On Malta and Gozo, the breed has been preserved and is known to have existed for about 5,000 years. Remarkably, the physical features of today’s Pharaoh Houn ...

BACKGROUND The Pyrenean Mountain Dog (known in America as the Great Pyrenees and in France as Le Grand Chien de Montagnes des Pyrenees) invariably inspires any number of superlative comments. The majestic beauty, dignity, regal bearing and aura of self-confidence which are characteristic of the breed make a lasting impression on the viewer. However, only after one has come to know the Pyrenean Mountain Dog ...