Tesem: Ancient Egyptian Hunting Dog

The now-extinct Tesem (a type of dog - not a breed) is one of the earliest known domesticated dogs.

Images of the Tesem have been found on ancient Egyptian artifacts and hieroglyphics dating back to 3200 BC. The Tesem, which roughly translates to hunting dog, was a hunter, guard and companion. This greyhound-like dog had a lean body, long legs, prick ears and a curled tail. Two notable dogs were Akbaru, who belonged to King Khufu (2589-2566 BC) and was said to have been buried in the king's tomb with him, and Abuwtiyuw, who was believed to be a royal guard dog during the Sixth Dynasty (2345-2181 BC) belonging to a servant of a King whose name is unknown. Abuwtiyuw received an elaborate burial fit for a king, and his stele reads:

"His Majesty ordered that he be buried ceremonially, that he be given a coffin from the royal treasury, fine linen in great quantity, and incense. His Majesty also gave perfumed ointment and ordered that a tomb be built for him by the gangs of masons. His Majesty did this for him in order that he [the dog] might be honored before the great god, Anubis." (Hobgood-Oster, 41-42).

It is believed that both the Africanis and Basenji are descendants of the Tesem, and the Tesem influenced the development of sighthounds such as the Saluki, Sloughi and Azawakh.

Basenji: Africa's Barkless Dog

Basenjis, the only barkless dog, can be traced back to Egyptian times.

Basenjis are hounds with a wrinkled forehead, a curled tail and almond-shaped eyes that convey a variety of humanlike emotions. They do not bark, but they do communicate with an odd sound described as a yodel.

According to paleontologists, Basenjis look a lot like the first domesticated dogs. Before becoming a favorite breed with the Egyptians, they accompanied African tribesmen in hunts, and were known expert vertical leapers to scout prey in the grasslands. The dog was introduced to England in the late 1800s, and was favored for its speed and bravery. It later came to the US, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1943.

Not only are Basenjis unique for not barking, they also lack doggy odor, clean themselves all over just like a cat would, and females only come into heat once a year (instead of twice like most dogs).

The French Briard Sheepdog

Briards, French sheepdogs, date back to early history and are famous for their outstanding herding skills.

The Briard, or Chien Berger de Brie (sheepdog of Brie), is an ancient dog breed that dates back to the time of Charlemagne. Early tapestries depict these large dogs with the Emperor. Briards originated in the dairy-producing area of Brie in northern France, hence where they got their name. According to an old legend of the Middle Ages, the name came about when a big shaggy dog avenged his master's killer. Supposedly, when Sir Aubry de Montdidier was murdered, his dog went to such lengths to pursue the man who killed his master that the King ordered a judicial duel between the murderer and dog. The duel took place on the Isle de Notre Dame in 1371, and the dog won the duel.

French farmers bred Briards to herd and guard sheep. Their skills of watching over the sheep and protecting them from prey were so outstanding that it only took two or three of them to handle 700 head of sheep. Briards also have a protective eye toward family members, especially children whom the dogs regard as their flock. They have even been known to protect children from parental spankings. Because of their loving and loyal personality, they are often described as a "heart wrapped in fur" (a quote by a French actress who owned the breed long ago).

It was many years later before the Briard made it to the US. It was 1789, when Thomas Jefferson ended his tenure as America's ambassador to France. He bought back with him a pregnant Briard named Bergere. She and her pups proved to be excellent herders, but her primary role was becoming the founder of the American branch of her family. "Their extraordinary sagacity renders them extremely valuable, capable of being taught almost any duty that may be required of them, and the most anxious in the performance of that duty, the most watchful and faithful of all servants," wrote Jefferson.

Because of their vast intelligence and keen hearing, Briards were used in WWI. They served as sentry dogs and carried supplies to the front lines. They were also used as red cross dogs, leading the corpsmen to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. It is reported that they were so good with their job that any man the dog passed by was beyond assistance. Consequently, by the end of the war their numbers had decreased dramatically.

Today, Briards still have a strong instinct to herd and protect, so don't be surprised if your sheepdog nose butts you on a walk or runs after a squirrel that crosses your path.

Bernese Mountain Dogs: Bred to Work Long Ago

The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in ancient times and managed to survive today.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is one of the four breeds of Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. It is said the Sennenhund breeds came about as crosses between farm dogs in Switzerland and mastiff-type dogs the Romans brought with them when they invaded the Alps about 2,000 years ago. Some do not agree with this theory because the remains of large dogs have been discovered in Switzerland dating to before the Romans came.

The name Sennenhund is derived from the German word Senne meaning alpine pasture and Hund meaning dog, as the dogs accompanied the herders and dairymen called Senn. The other three breeds in this group are the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (the largest of the four), the Appenzeller Sennenhund and the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. All four breeds are tri-colored (black, white & rust/tan) but only the Bernese has long hair. The Bernese (Berner in German) got its name from where it was bred in the canton of Bern.

The Bernese Mountain Dogs were used to guard the farms and drive cattle over long distances from the farm to the Alpine pastures. Later they were used to pull dairy carts to transport their products. These large dogs with broad and muscular hindquarters weigh roughly 100 pounds, but are capable of hauling 1000 pounds. This was perfect for the small farmer who couldn't afford to buy a horse. Over the centuries these dogs remained working on the farms, but around the mid 1800s little attention was given to preserving the breed. By the late 1800s, the breed was almost extinct.

Fortunately, several Swiss dog fanciers focused on reviving the breed around the turn of the century. Their efforts paid off. By 1907 a few breeders found the Schweizerischer-Durbach-Club (later changed to Berner-Sennenhund-Klub) and they developed the characteristic traits of the breed in a first standard. In 1926, an American farmer from Kansas imported a pair of Bernese Mountain dogs to the US. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937, and The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America was formed in 1968. The club helps keep the tradition of their amazing abilities alive by sponsoring carting events which the Bernese who thrives on exercise and activity loves participating.

Today the breed is back to being a favored farm dog, as well as a favored companion and show dog.

Hawaiian Poi Dog: A Protector and a Delicacy

The Hawaiian poi dog became famous in history as a protector of children and as a delicacy for the male natives of Hawaii. As times changed, the breed became extinct.

The dogs, along with hogs, were brought to Hawaii with the first Polynesian settlers between 300 and 800 AD. The island did not have large land mammals so the poi dogs were not needed for herding or hunting. Instead, they lived among the tribes as companions, were spiritual protectors of the children, and were also a source of food for the natives.

A puppy was often given to an infant at birth, and there are accounts of the baby and the puppy being breastfed together, which they believed would give the dog more protective instincts. If a child died before the dog, the dog would be killed and buried with the child's body. If the child out-lived the dog, a necklace would be made of the dog's teeth as a good luck charm for the child.

The Hawaiian poi dog got its name from poi, a common Hawaiian food made from fermented and pounded taro roots. Because meat was too valuable to be used as dog food, the dogs were fed poi. The starchy diet caused a number of health problems. It caused the dogs to become fat with distended bellies, lazy, clumsy and not very smart. They were friendly and liked to play with the children, but they were slow and would run out of energy quickly. They seldom barked and were often found waddling around with the hogs. The dogs were malnourished mainly due to the lack of protein in their diet, and it is believed their heads became flat over the years because the pasty poi did not require strong jaw muscles for chewing.

The people were fond of their dogs, but they saw no wrongdoing making a meal out of them like they would with their hogs. The meat of the poi dog was actually considered a delicacy and would be eaten at feasts and religious festivals, but only the men were allowed to consume the meat.

By the early 20th century, the breed became extinct as the native religion was abandoned and eating dog meat was looked down on from missionaries and other westerners. The Hawaiian poi dogs began to breed with dogs of European settlers and were gradually displaced by cross breeds.

In the 1960s, a dog that closely resembled the poi dog created enough interest to try and revive the breed by the Honolulu Zoo. After 12 years, the attempt was deemed a failure and the program was discontinued.

Shop Amazon

Xoloitzcuintli: The Holy Dog

Xoloitzcuintlis (Xolos) have been around for thousands of years. They became famous in history for helping souls get to the afterlife, having healing powers, and protecting people from evil spirits.

The name Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced "show-low-etz-queent-lee") is derived from the name of the Aztec Indian God Xolotl and the Aztec word for dog Itzcuintli. The Xolo is one of the world's oldest breeds, dating back to over 3,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancestors of the Xolos accompanied man on his first migrations across the Bering landmass - now submerged - from Asia to the New World. Clay and ceramic effigies of Xolos have been discovered in the tombs of the Aztec, Mayan, Colima, Toltec and Zapoteca Indians. Today, the Xoloitzcuintli is viewed as a national treasure in Mexico.

According to Aztec mythology, Xolotl (the God of lightning and death) made the Xoloitzcuintli from a sliver of the Bone of Life from which all mankind was made. Xolotl gave this gift to man with the instruction to guard it with his life. In exchange, it would guide man through the dangers of Mictlan, the afterlife or underworld, toward the evening star in the heavens. In ancient times, Xolos were often sacrificed so they could be buried with their owners to accompany their souls on their journey to the underworld.

The native people regarded Xolos as guards and protectors, believing they would safeguard their homes from intruders and evil spirits. They also believed the dogs had mystical healing powers for a variety of ailments, including asthma, rheumatism and insomnia. The Xolo's reputation as a healer persists to this day in the rural parts of Mexico.

The Xoloitzcuintli stands out for being hairless, although there is a coated variety. Actually, the coated variety is the original form of the dog. The dominant hairless trait originated in this breed as a spontaneous genetic mutation thousands of years ago. The coated variety is covered with a short sleek tight fitting coat. The hairless variety is completely without hair, although many have a short tuft of coarse hair on top of the head, the paws and tip of the tail. The chromosome responsible for the loss of hair is also believed to have affected the dog's dentition - hairless dogs typically have an incomplete set of teeth and often have primitive tusk-like canine teeth.

If you look closely, you can see the tusk-like teeth.

As ancient civilizations became modernized over the centuries, the number of Xolos declined, almost causing them to become extinct. The Xolo was first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1887 as the Mexican Hairless breed, but was dropped in 1959 due to insufficient numbers of dogs being bred and registered. In 2011, the AKC brought the breed back. Their numbers have increased, but Xoloitzcuintlis are still uncommon dogs.

Saluki: The World's Oldest Dog Breed

The Saluki is a dog breed that has been around for thousands of years. They became famous in history as dogs who were highly respected in the Middle East for their tremendous speed and ability to hunt gazelle over long distances and difficult terrain.

According to Guinness World Records, the Saluki is the world's oldest known breed of domesticated dog. Evidence traces the dog back to at least 5,000 years ago. Ancient images of Salukis have been found on seals, mosaic sculptures and tomb paintings at archaeological sites in many areas of the Middle East.

The name Saluki is believed to be derived from the ancient city of Saluk in Yemen. The dogs traveled throughout the Middle East with nomads, and were used to hunt and kill gazelle and other quarry in the desert over deep sand and rocky mountains. The dogs were held in such great esteem that they were referred to as el hor (The Noble) by the Arabs and were bred as carefully as the famous Arabian horses, with endurance and speed in mind.

The Saluki is the only dog considered to be clean by the Muslim religion. They were permitted to share the food and tents of nomads. Salukis were valued companions to Egyptian nobility, and could well be called "the royal dog of Egypt". Salukis were frequently honored with mummification after death, just like the Egyptian Pharaohs themselves.

During the 12th century, Salukis were brought to Europe by soldiers returning from the Crusades. They were brought to England in 1840, and a breeding program was started in 1895. In 1923, the Saluki Breed Club was formed and the Kennel Club granted official recognition to the breed. By the 1930s, interest in the breed weakened. During World War II, breeding almost entirely stopped, and many Salukis were euthanized to prevent the dogs from dying of starvation. A small number of Salukis survived the war, and a slow process of re-establishing the breed began again.

The number of Salukis in their native land have decreased - having been replaced by guns and jeeps. In the US, the breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1927, the same year the Saluki Club of America was formed. Today, the popularity of the Saluki in the US has remained relatively stable.

Shop Amazon

Puffin Dog: A Very Unique Dog Breed

The Puffin dog is a very unique dog with several unusual characteristics. The breed is famous in history for having been a great hunter of puffin birds.

The Norwegian Lundehund (Lunde meaning puffin and hund meaning dog) was bred to hunt and retrieve the puffin bird, a meat and feather crop for the people living on the northern coast of Norway. It is uncertain when the breed first appeared but written references and drawings date them back to as early as the 1500s.

The Lundehund had to climb steep vertical cliffs and maneuver in tight crevices to get to the birds. Overtime, the following characteristics evolved, allowing the puffin dog to perform his job like a pro:

They have six toes on each foot (all fully formed, jointed and muscled) and elongated foot pads - this helped them to climb, descend and brake on steep cliffs and slippery rocks. The innermost toes also helped the dog get a good foothold when lying on his side, squeezing through a tight tunnel.

They have a flexible neck that allows the head to bend backward to touch the spine - this helped them to turn around in tight spaces.

They have flexible shoulder joints that allow the dog to "throw out his arms" - this helped them to hang on to rocks, especially if they lost their footing.

They have ears that close both forward and backward at will - this helped them to keep their ears free of dirt and water, and allowed them to flatten their ears against their head while going through narrow spaces.


These special characteristics attest to the ancient history of the breed, as these are primitive qualities that have been lost in the evolution of most other dog breeds.

The puffin dog population began to decline when government taxes were levied on each dog and nets were used as an alternative to catching the birds. In the 1800s, the puffin bird became a protected species and the Lundehund was no longer useful. This caused their numbers to greatly decrease. In the 1940s, some dedicated Norwegians saved the breed from becoming extinct. The Norwegian Lundehund came to the US in the late 1980s, and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2011. The puffin dog is a rare breed, with the majority of them living in Norway.