Human Interest Reference Libraries
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 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 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 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...
The Formosan Mountain dog, also known as the Taiwan Dog, is a breed of domestic dog that can be used in many jobs including guarding, rescuing, and hunting dogs. The breed was developed in part by four major events in Formosa’s history. These were the Dutch settlement that occurred there in 1624, which caused crossbreeding between the pointer or greyhound type dog known as the Flying Dog, the...
The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a breed of domestic hunting dog that originated in the United States. It was developed in the nineteenth century when an unknown breed of dog and a Walker hound were crossbred, although it is now said to have been a crossbreed between American and English foxhounds. Although it was primarily used to hunt small game like opossums and raccoons, it has been used to...
The Portuguese cattle dog, known by its original name Cão de Castro Laboreiro and other English names, is a breed of domestic livestock guarding dog that originated from Portugal. Its original name means “Dog from Castro Laboreiro” and refers to its city of origin, Castro Laboreiro. The history of this breed is largely unknown, although many stories exist about its development occurring in...
The Armenian Gampr is a breed of livestock guarding dog that originated from the Armenian Highlands. This breed was developed by locals who used primitive selective breeding techniques, but is considered a distinctive landrace. The Armenian term Gampr translates to watchdog in English, which is this breed’s most common usage. The Armenian Gampr is natural breed that has not changed very...
The Ariegeois is a breed of hunting dog that originated from the Ariège area of the Midi-Pyrenées in southern France. This breed was developed in 1912 by crossing Briquet dogs with Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Grand Bleu de Gascogne hounds. The Ariegeois was used in hunting parties as driving dogs and coursers, typically catching rabbits, boar, and deer. Although this dog is not well known...
The Ariege pointer, also known as the Ariege pointing dog or its French name Braque de l’Ariège, is a hunting dog, categorized as a gun dog, which originated in the Ariege area of the Pyrenees. It is thought to have descended from cross breeds of the Perdigueiro de Burgos and Bracco Italiano breeds. The modern form was developed by Braque Francais and Braqque Saint-Germainnin the 20th...
