Breed All About It

The Australian shepherd is best known for its quick maneuvers and intuitive thinking on the range. The breed is first and foremost a herder of sheep, but the typical pet owner must make do when there's nothing around for an Aussie to wrangle.

The Yorkshire terrier's ancestors were commoners' dogs, responsible for catching rats.

Discover how Chesapeake Bay Retrievers became the superior breed for swimming and hunting.

The Bullmastiff was bred first and foremost to protect. The British created the breed to guard gamekeepers' estates from poachers. Even today, the Bullmastiff is a preferred guard dog.

Discover the history behind the Irish wolfhound and how the breed became master hunters.

Brits created this breed to flush feathered game from the thorny brush. The Spaniels attitude matches its bouncy, animated style. The English Springer Spaniel lives to please and makes a pleasant pet for all family members.

The Westie shares its family history with other Scottish terriers including the Cairn and the Scottie. Terriers of this region were created to rid communities of unpleasant rodents. Their compact builds and confident spirits make them a popular pet today.

Considered one of the most popular toy breeds in the world, this lapdog descended from sled dogs and herding breeds of Europe. Queen Victoria made the breed famous when she brought a Pomeranian back from Italy.

Coonhounds come in six breed types: American Black and Tan, English, Bluetick, Redbone, Plott and Treeing Walker. The colonists who arrived in America in the 1700's developed this breed to control the raccoon population.

Discover how the Sheltland Sheepdog's trademark bark wards off danger.

Bernese Mountain Dogs, the pride of Switzerland, were used for pulling carts up and down the hills. Today, Berners use these same skills when they compete with other mountain dogs in Draft Dog competitions.

Discover the history of the Great Pyranees and how they are trained to protect.

This animal's compact size makes it popular with folks who have smaller yards. The breed also travels well, and its trademark bark cautions owners to anything out of the ordinary.

Discover the Flat-coated Retriever and experience its energy and keenness.

The legendary loyalty of the Akita caught the attention of Helen Keller who introduced the breed to America. Originally, the Akita was an all-purpose hunting dog in its native Japan. The breed is said to have been used as a water retriever for fishermen.