Breeding Reference Libraries

The Landseer is a breed of domestic dog that is considered a color variant of the Newfoundland by most kennel clubs. However, many organizations consider it a distinct breed known officially as the Landseer European Continental Type (E.C.T.). The breed received its common name in honor of Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, a painter who created a picture called A Distinguished Member of the Humane...

The Kanni, which means unmarried girl or maiden, is a breed of domestic dog that is native to India, specifically the Tamil Nadu region. The breed was developed from the Mudhol hound or the Caravan hound and has been used a pet. A bride’s family gave it as a dowry to a groom, and the dog was never sold, only given as a gift to those who were willing to care for it. Despite this common...

The Jämthund, also known as the Swedish elkhound, is a breed of domestic dog of the Spitz type. The breed originated in Northern Europe and is associated with Jämtland, where it is said to have been used for sled pulling and moose hunting since the last ice age. It was known locally as the bear dog, because it was and is one of the few breeds that do not run away when encountering a bear....

The Tibetan Mastiff is a breed of domestic guard dog that originated in Asia, where it was used to guard livestock, palaces, tents, villages, and monasteries. The breed was known by many names in different regions, including Bhote Kukur, which translates to “someone from Tibet” and “dog” in Nepali. The term mastiff was once used to denote a number of large breeds, but the Tibetan...

The Tweed water spaniel, also known as the Tweed spaniel or the Ladykirk Spaniel, is a breed of domestic dog that went extinct in the nineteenth century. This breed is thought to have been developed near the River Tweed, close to the borders of Scotland, and was most likely created by breeding the St. John's water dog with local dogs, although this cannot be proven. This breed is known for...

The Trigg hound, also known as the Hayden Trigg Hound or the Trigg foxhound, is a domestic dog and a type of the American foxhound. Colonel Haiden C. Trigg developed the breed in the 1860s, when Trigg bred hounds from Maupin, Birdsong, and Walker to create a faster breed of hound for foxhunting.  The dog became very popular, despite its physical unattractiveness, but when Trigg passed away,...

The Istrian shorthaired hound is a domestic breed of hunting dog that originated from Croatia. The history of the breed is largely unknown, although there are many stories about its development from its home country. Images were found on frescoes that resemble the breed that date back to 1497 and writers including Bishop Bakič of Đakovo, from 1719, speak of the dog.  This breed, along with...

The Istrian coarse-haired hound is a breed of domestic hunting dog that originated from Croatia in the nineteenth century. The breed was developed by Croatian and Slovene breeders that bred the Istrian Shorthaired Hound, which has smooth hair, with the French Griffon Vendeén, making its first official appearance in Vienna at a conformation show that occurred in 1866. The dog was originally...

The Hygenhund is a breed of domestic hound dog that originated from Norway in the nineteenth century. The breed was developed by a breeder named Hygen, who used multiple breeds of hounds to create a hunting dog that could withstand harsh arctic environments. The breed reaches a height between nineteen to twenty-four inches and an average weight between forty-four to fifty-five pounds. Its body...

The Hawaiian Poi Dog is an extinct breed of domestic pariah dog that originated from Hawaiʻi that was once used as a source of food and was said to be a spiritual protector of children. The term Poi, which means kalo or taro root, was used in the dog’s name because it was given to the breed to fatten it before eating. The dogs were not needed for hunting, because the island does not have any...