Basenji. The Basenji, known for its cat-like attitude, is the oldest dog breed in the world according to genetic evidence, despite conflicting sources that recognize other breeds. This breed still retains traits from its ancestors.
The Guinness Book of World records recognizes Salukis as their oldest dog breed and notes the breed dates back to at least 329 B.C. Yet, Guinness also notes that cave paintings of dogs that look like Salukis date back 9,000 years ago, which shows just how difficult deciphering the exact age of specific dog breeds can ...
All modern dogs are descendants of wolves, though this domestication may have happened twice, producing groups of dogs descended from two unique common ancestors.
The Alaskan Malamute is the closest to a wolf in terms of appearance.
DNA discovery dating back to 685 BC makes the Chinese Saluki the second oldest dog breed in history. Also known as the Shanxi Xigou, this dog was around during the Tang Dynasty ruling of China.
Claiming the spot for the rarest dog breed with less than 200 dogs alive, the New Guinea Singing dog is a native to the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.
Scooby-Doo is a Great Dane. The character was designed by Iwao Takamoto, an animator at Hanna-Barbera. According to the American Kennel Club, Great Danes are "the mighty 'Apollo of Dogs,'" which is very unlike the silly and cowardly Scooby-Doo.
Why, yes. But while certain breeds originated in North America, there's only one wild dog we can claim: the Carolina Dog. The Carolina dog looks an awful lot like the Australian dingo, and is sometimes called the “American Dingo” or “Dixie Dingo” because of its Southern roots.
The Schipperke is the most fox-like dog in this list. Their black coat, pointed nose, and black eyes resembles a black fox. According to Dog Time, they are fearless, devoted, and a great guard dog.
The history of pets is intertwined with the process of animal domestication, and it is likely that the dog, as the first domesticated species, was also the first pet. Perhaps the initial steps toward domestication were taken largely through the widespread human practice of making pets of captured young wild animals.
The origin of the English word dog has been a riddle for ages. It developed through Middle English dogge from Old English docga, after which the trail seems to go cold. At first it referred mostly to dogs of a coarser nature and was often used disparagingly, also as an insult to people.
Prehistoric communities
The first animal to make the transition from the wild to the domesticated state was the wolf, the common ancestor of all modern-day dogs. This occurred at least 12,000–14,000 years ago when people discovered that young wolf cubs that remained subordinate to humans as adults could be trained.
The Dalbo dog (Dalbohund) or Dalsland Mastiff is an extinct livestock guardian dog breed from Sweden. A Cuban breed of mastiff originally used for bull-baiting, dog fighting and recapturing runaway slaves; believed to have been descended from introduced Spanish Mastiffs, they became extinct in the mid-20th century.
The mudi (left), a Hungarian species farm dog, and the Russian toy are the newest breeds to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Known for its cat-like qualities, floppy ears and flattened face, the Japanese Chin can often be found curled up in a soft lap awaiting affection. As recognized by Guinness World Records, the smallest dog in the world is a Chihuahua named Miracle Milly, that weighs a whopping 1 pound (0.45 kilograms).
While the term "Aussie dog" is commonly used to reference the Australian shepherd, there is a variety of similar dog breeds, like Kelpies, Koolies, and Australian cattle dogs, that are actually native to the continent.
The Australian Shepherd, the cowboy's herding dog of choice, is a medium-sized worker with a keen, penetrating gaze in the eye. Aussie coats offer different looks, including merle (a mottled pattern with contrasting shades of blue or red). In all ways, they're the picture of rugged and agile movers of stock.
The Dingo is Australia's wild dog. It is an ancient breed of domestic dog that was introduced to Australia, probably by Asian seafarers, about 4,000 years ago.
Officially a mixed-breed dog, he made his debut as a bloodhound in the Mickey Mouse cartoon The Chain Gang. Together with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy, Pluto is one of the "Sensational Six"—the biggest stars in the Disney universe.
Bluey, the anthropomorphic titular character of (alleged) children's show Bluey, is an Australian cattle dog. She's part of an entire family of cattle dogs—hence the last name of Heeler—and the hit Australian show portrays the breed accurately: energetic, curious, and quite intelligent.
In the 1966 animated film, his long muzzle looks similar to that of a Beagle, and his long body shape is reminiscent of a Dachshund. His tan coat and dark brown ears could come from a number of different breeds, including the Beagle or Cocker Spaniel.
Tibetan Mastiff
The massive breed, mainly found in Tibet, can reach more than 150 pounds in weight. This fiery dog costs $10,000 to own.
From millions in real estate to jet-setting around the globe, the world's richest dog is rolling in the dough. Gunther VI is a German Shepard with a net worth of $400 million.