Group 5 - Working

The history of the Australian Cattle Dog begins in 1802, when George Hall and his family immigrated to Australia from their home in the north of England.  The family moved to the...

The Australian Kelpie was first recognized as a distinct breed beginning in the 1870’s, but its ancestors go back much further in time.  There is much debate over the true origin of the K...

There are few breeds with as disputed a history as the Australian Shepherd.  The Australian Shepherd was largely developed in a time before written records were kept of dog breed...

The origin of the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a mystery, and a hotly debated one.  The breed was developed in extremely rural areas and was bred exclusively as a working dog. ...

A native of Scotland, the Bearded Collie is considered to be one of the oldest of Scottish breeds, dating back to at least the 1600’s.  Collie is the Scottish word for sheepdog, and there...

Records coming out of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, dating over 3000 years ago, indicate that dogs were kept to tend livestock even at this early time in pre-history. Pastoral themed...

Please see the main Belgian Shepherd Dog page for information on the history of the breed.

The Belgian Lakenois is considered by many to be both the oldest and rarest of the Belgian Shepherd Dog varieties. Its roots are believed to trace back to the 1700’s where the Laekenois w...

In Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia, the Malinois can be found working in the fields of personal p...

Please see the main Belgian Shepherd Dog page for information on the history of the breed.

The Bergamasco is a very ancient breed, and almost nothing is known for certain of its origins, as it was developed long before written records were kept of dog breeding and was primarily...

Prior to the late 1800’s the history of the Border Collie is a mystery.  It was during this time that the various modern Collie breeds began to diverge from the landraces and random bred...

The history of the Bouvier des Flandres is among the most disputed of all dogs.  There are dozens of different theories as to its origin, and there is very little evidence to sup...

The breed was not called “Briard” until around 1809. Prior to that time they were known as “Chien d’Aubry”, Chien d’Montargis”, and, most commonly as “Chien Berger de Brie” or “Chien de B...

Known informally as Cardigans, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, as the name implies, begin their history with the Corgis proper. Though thought to be Cousins, the Cardigan and the Pembroke are...

Almost nothing is known about the origins of the Finnish Lapphund.  This breed was first developed hundreds of years before literacy entered the region of its origins, and in any...

As early man began to dominate the landscape through technological advances, coupled with the advent of agriculture, he would cease his nomadic hunter gatherer wanderings. This change...

History shows that the Icelandic Sheepdog is descended from one of the most ancient and earliest of domesticated dog breeds.  Although very little documentation exists from the time when...

Written records of the Komondor have only been found from the last few centuries, with the earliest dating back to 1544.  However, there is an almost universal belief that the br...

Much of the history of the Kuvasz has been lost in time.  This breed is so ancient that it certainly predates the keeping of dog breeding records, and may even predate the invention of wr...

The Norwegian Buhund is one of the oldest Nordic breeds and a Spitz-type sheepherding dog, notable for its prick ears and tail that curl across its back. Nordic Spitz-type breeds are...

In previous centuries there were few, if any, records kept of dog breeds; especially those breeds that were not kept by the nobility for hunting or companionship; therefore little solid e...

Pembroke Welsh Corgis, as the name implies, begin their history with the Corgis proper. Though thought to be Cousins, the Cardigan and the Pembroke are actually two distinct lines, with P...

Thought to have descended from one or more of the Tibetan dog breeds, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog may have been developed from either the intentional or unintentional breeding of dogs...

Much of the history of the Puli has been shrouded in mystery.  The breed originated in a time before written records of dog breeding and development were kept.  The breed...

The Pumi is an ancient breed developed in a time before written records were kept of dog breeding, so very little is known for sure about its ancestry.  This problem is exacerbated by the...

Although there is a lot of speculation, virtually nothing is known for sure about the history of the Collie prior to the late 1800’s.  Collie-type dogs originated in an era when almost no...

The first of what would become Shetland Sheepdogs were Spitz-type dogs, most similar to the modern day Icelandic sheepdog. It is likely that the original stock comprised Scandinavian...

Although the exact history of the breed is somewhat of a mystery, it is certain that it shares the majority of it with the Rough Collie.  As such, for detailed information rega...

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi looks like a stockier version of the Swedish Vallhund; albeit  with even shorter legs and a longer body. The similarity is such that two breeds could be related,...