Dog Breed - History of Dog Breeds

History of Dog Breeds

Outcast wolves established themselves near human populations and found-pups were raised to assist in hunting. These did not carry any specialized working dog functions. Working, hunting and other functional breeds most likely evolved when there was a demand for certain traits and humans assisted in the natural selection of desirable traits.

Initial dog selections centered on helpful behavior such as barking at unfamiliar creatures and people, guarding livestock, or hunting game. Some dog breeds (such as Saluki or New Guinea Singing Dogs) have been bred for thousands of years. Some working dog breeds such as German Shepherd or Labrador Retriever were established in the last few hundred years. More recently, dogs have been selected for attractiveness and distinctive features, resulting in a vast variety of breeds. Similar dog breeds are classified by dog registries in Dog Breed Groups.

Groups of individuals that have dogs of the same breed often unite into national breed clubs, describing their dogs in specific language by writing a breed standard. Breed standards prescribe the most desirable specimen attributes and working abilities for purebred dogs of that breed as well as undesirable traits. National breed clubs promote their breeds via the local breed registry and international organizations. Dogs recognized by the main breed registries are said to be "purebred".