Hello beautiful woofers! Who doesn’t love dogs?! Dogs have been our friends and companions
for a very long time. The dogs we know and love are descended from wolves. Scientists
estimated that dogs were domesticated, or made pet-friendly, 15,000 years ago. Wow!
That’s longer than humans have raised farm animals, and certainly longer than humans
have had pet cats. There are so many different types of dogs. Big dogs, little dogs, fluffy
dogs, super playful dogs and more. Here are 15 popular dogs breeds that everyone loves!
1. Golden Retriever - The Golden Retriever is a highly intelligent and loyal companion.
They are recognized for their long, thick golden fur. Their fur helps keep their skin
dry when they jump in water. The Golden Retriever we know today was developed in Scotland around
the mid-1800s for hunting. Today they are more known for being a great family dog and
assisting people with disabilities. They are the third most popular dog breed in the United
States. In Idyllwild, California, a golden retriever is the mayor of the town! His name
is Max and he has two deputies who are also golden retrievers, Mitzy and Mikey.
2. Pomeranian - Pomeranians are cute little fluffy dogs with fox-like faces. Their name
derives from Pomerania, a region in Europe where they originated. Pomeranians were not
always so little. They used to weigh between 20 to 30 pounds but they were bred to be smaller
by Queen Victoria of England. Today they weigh between 7 to 10 pounds. Pomeranians can make
wonderful therapy dogs, and can also be trained as hearing assistance dogs. Pomeranians are
very playful and are known for being smart, energetic, and feisty.
3. Labrador Retriever- The Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the United
States. There are three main colors for Labradors: the Yellow Lab, the Black Lab, and the Chocolate
or Brown Lab. The Labrador Retriever is a big dog that weighs between 60-80 pounds.
Labradors were originally bred in Canada for hunting. They are very calm and sweet-tempered,
and can be easily trained. They have become the most popular dog for a family to adopt
in the U.S. They also make great worker dogs.They are great for families and also make good
worker dogs.
4. Chihuahua - Chihuahuas are the smallest dog in the world. They weigh only between
2-6 pounds. On average, a chihuahua stands only 5 inches tall, but some male chihuahuas
can get up to 9 inches tall. These little cuties have short hair and pointy, upright
ears. Chihuahuas can be a little territorial, making them excellent watch dogs, alerting
their owner when they spot a stranger near their home. This dog breed is named after
the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where the breed was discovered around 1850. It’s uncertain
where they came from before that. In the 1940s, bandleader Xavier Cugat was known for conducting
orchestras with a Chihuahua under his arm.
5. English Bulldog - The English bulldog was bred in England for bullfighting They were
deliberately bred to be low to the ground and to have the iconic, squished-in snout
we associate with them today. They were made this way to bait the bulls. Their low stature
and snout allowed them to run up and grab the bull by the nose and hang on for dear
life. This was a very dangerous job, and luckily, bull-baiting was banned in England. However,
when England banned bull-baiting, English bulldogs were in danger of going extinct because
people had no use for them. Luckily, dog lovers of this breed kept the English bulldog alive
and well. The English bulldog is known for being independent, and one special bulldog
has even broken a world record! Otto the skateboarding English bulldog recently broke the Guinness
World Record for "Longest Human Tunnel Traveled Through by a Skateboarding Dog." This talented
canine soared under the legs of 30 people in Lima, Peru! Gnarly, dude!
6. French Bulldog - French Bulldogs actually originated from England too. English lace
makers bred this dog to be a tiny version of the English bulldog. In the 1860s, craftspeople
moved to France bringing their tiny dog companions with them, and many French people fell in
love with these little beasties! They quickly became very popular and were coined with the
name “French bulldog.” The French Bulldog we know today has also been crossbred with
pugs and terriers. Like English bulldogs, they are bad swimmers because they are top
heavy and have smushed-in noses. They can easily sink so it’s best to keep these little
cuties out of the water!
7. Pug - Pugs are small sturdy dogs with curly tails. They are a purebred dog, meaning their
parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on were also pugs. In fact, pugs are
one of the oldest purebred dog breeds! The first known pugs were from China, more than
2,000 years ago. They were often seen living in monasteries. Pugs were often very valued
by their owners, and some pugs lived with royalty. In fact, some Chinese pugs lived
in palaces and had their own guards to protect them!
8. Siberian Husky - Siberian Huskies are a medium-sized dog with lots of energy. They
originate from Siberia and were used to pull sleds in the snow. During World War II, huskies
were used as search-and-rescue dogs. Their thick coats allow them to withstand harsh
weather and temperatures. Even though they look like wolves, they are not good for being
guard dogs. These gorgeous dogs are very friendly and want to be friends with everyone they
meet!
9. Boxer - Boxers are a medium-sized, short hair dog that was created during the 19th
century in Germany by mixing the now extinct Bullenbeisser dog with the English Bulldog.
Boxers were initially used for fighting other dogs and hunting. This breed got the name
“boxer” because when fighting, they would often get on their back hindlegs and use their
front paws to fight or “box.” Today boxers are hardly used to work and make a wonderful
house pet!
10. Dachshund - Dachshunds are small dogs with a long body and short legs. They are
often three times longer than they are tall. They are often referred to as “weiner dogs”
or “hot dogs.” Dachshunds were originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers in their burrows.
The name Dachshund actually means “badger dog” in German. These dogs are very lively
and courageous. They can be stubborn to train because they love chasing small animals!
11. Beagle - The beagle is a small to medium-sized dog and is part of the hound family. They
have a great sense of smell and quick reflexes, making them great for hunting small animals.
They also are very healthy and have a gentle temper making them really great pets. Beagles
are thought to have existed over 2,000 years, but the modern beagle came from England around
the 1830s. Snoopy from the comic strip, Peanuts, is the most famous beagle. Did you know he’s
a mascot for NASA space program?
12. Pit Bull - Pit bulls are a crossbreed between bull-baiting English bulldogs and
terriers. In the past they were used for fighting, but luckily dog-fighting is now banned and
most of these cute pups don’t have to fight. Pit bulls are often described as a mixed-breed
dog, but the formal pit bull breeds are American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier,
American Bully and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Unfortunately, pit bulls have a reputation
for being dangerous towards other dogs, and sometimes people. Research has been conducted
to determine whether these dogs are actually dangerous. Controlled studies have been inconclusive.
They do have very powerful bites, which can be dangerous, but pit bulls can also be gentle,
loyal and sweet, especially towards their human family. Organizations like the “American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals” states that because pit bulls have been bred
continuously with no regard to passing on specific behavior traits, it’s important
to look at the individual dog for signs of bad behavior rather than an entire dog breed.
13. Shih Tzu - Shih Tzu is an ancient dog breed that belongs to “toy” dogs. This
tiny pup is a descendent of the prehistoric Chinese wolf, Senji. “Shih Tzu” means
“Lion Dog” in Chinese. Do you think this little guy looks like a “Lion Dog?” Can
you see it’s lion-like mane around its face? In the past, the shih tzu served as a guard
dog in the Imperial Palace and Tibetan Buddhist temples. Only recently has this special breed
made its way to Europe and America. It arrived in Europe during the 1930s and in America
after World War II. It is a very popular dog breed today. Go little Lion Dog!
14. Corgi - The Corgi or Welsh Corgi is a small herding dog. In fact, it is the smallest
herding dog in the world! These tiny dogs can organize large animals like cattle and
sheep by running around them and nipping at their ankles! That’s pretty incredible.
Corgis have long torso, short legs and small tails. Some Corgis don’t have tails at all.
It is believed these tiny cuties were brought to Wales in the 9th or 10th Century by Vikings.
Queen Elizabeth continued the tradition, keeping more than 30 pet corgis. Those are some royally
pampered pooches!
15. German Shepherd - The German Shepard is one of the most popular dogs in the United
States. They are known for being loyal and friendly. They were originally bred in Germany
to herd livestock but today they are more commonly used as police dogs. They have an
excellent sense of smell, making them great for detecting dangerous items like bombs.
Yikes! Thank you, guard friends! This breed is relatively new. They were first bred in
Germany in 1899 and brought to the United States in 1907. These dogs need lots of attention
and exercise. The most famous German Shepard is Rin Tin Tin, who was rescued from a World
War I battlefield and went on to be a movie star.
These are 15 popular dog breeds. What’s your favorite dog breed? Did you learn something
new about a certain kind of dog? Did we leave out your favorite type of dog? Let us know
in the comment section below. We want to know what you think! Now it’s time to watch another
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