Dogs are the oldest biological species; they are older than humans! But what is the oldest breed of dog? This is of interest to many animal lovers. Today there are many breeds that were bred artificially, but dogs that are created by nature itself are also in fashion! Today we will get acquainted with the oldest breeds of dogs, and the list of US scientists who in 2004 conducted DNA analysis to identify the oldest of the breeds will help us in this.
List of oldest breeds
A person has long been interested in what kind of dog became the first of the domesticated, who was our first friend? DNA analysis to identify the oldest breed of dog in the world was stunned by many. As the results showed, some breeds were much older than previously thought, while others, even considered unrelated, turned out to be subspecies. We present for you a list of 14 oldest dog breeds:
- Alaskan malamute.
- Akita Inu.
- Afghan hound.
- Pekingese.
- Basenji.
- Phasa Apso.
- Saluki.
- Samoyed.
- Siberian Husky.
- Shiba Inu.
- Tibetan Terrier.
- Chow Chow.
- Shih Tzu.
- Sharpei.
I would like to add a handsome Alabai to this list. This is an ancient breed of shepherd dog, which is still used today for its intended purpose in many countries. Let's talk about the most popular breeds in more detail.
Alabai: description, breeding
The breed has been formed for more than 4000 years, and the blood of shepherd, fighting, nomadic dogs flows in its veins. During the formation of the breed of the dog, severe natural selection took place: severe climatic conditions of residence, the protection of housing, livestock, hard physical labor and the fight against predators - all this tempered the character and gave the appearance and endurance that we know now.
The standard of this oldest breed of dog was adopted only in 1993, in 2000 and 2010 mitigating changes were made. Today, there is such a standard:
- The size of the male at the withers is at least 70 cm, the female is at least 65 cm.
- Weight - from 40 to 80 kg.
- The physique is powerful, the legs are strong, widely spaced, the chest is wide, the stomach is picked up, high-spiritedness is noted.
- Working qualities - protection and security.
Today, many start Alabai as a companion, and this dog is great for this role. Easy to train, friendly to children and other animals.
Alabaev is breeding in many cities of Russia, so it is not difficult to buy a high-breed puppy.
Alaskan malamute
One of the oldest native breeds of dogs. The dog was bred by the Malayut Eskimo tribe, hence the name. The genus of malamute comes from wolves, which is noticeable in the color of M. Loot (the line of the breed, there is also Kotzebue, and in this there are other colors besides wolf). Recall that the breed takes its roots from wolves, you can bark at the dog’s absolute inability! The purpose of the dog is to work in a harness.
Standards:
- The main thing is the limbs, they must be strong, healthy. Any deviation indicates a weak genotype.
- Size: male - 63 cm, female - 58 cm.
- Weight - 38 kg for a male, 34 - for a female.
- Eyes are only brown. If blue is a cross, and a reason for disqualification.
- There should be no aggression in character.
The character is balanced, calm. The dog himself is agile, despite the apparent severity of physique. Friendly to other animals and children. Recommended for enclosure and in the yard. Not for apartment and chain!
Akita Inu
Everyone remembers Hachiko! Akita Inu is the oldest dog breed not only in Japan but also in the world. The oldest remains (DNA analysis showed that it was this breed) are dated to the second millennium BC. The breed is a hunter, and was previously used precisely for these purposes, dogs are especially good at catching large animals.
Standard:
- Male growth 67 cm, females 61 +/- 3 cm everywhere.
- Weight from 40 to 50 kg.
- Only three types of color are permissible: pure white, red with white breasts, a mask, the inner surface of the paws, and tiger with a white undercoat.
Akita Inu is breeding all over the world. The breed gained special popularity after the release of the film "Hachiko." The breed is kind, smart, suitable for keeping in an apartment and an aviary, ideal for families with children.
Afghan hound
There is a myth that the Afghan Hound is the oldest breed in the world, as its ancestors are one of the pairs of animals that are fortunate enough to be in the ark of Noah. It is believed that the modern Afghan hound is a descendant of the result of crossing an ancient greyhound with a saluki breed. The Afghan woman really looks like a saluki, only she came out richer in wool! The first club to breed the Afghan Hound was established only in 1926, and the breed was recognized by the AKC.
Standard:
- Height for males from 68 to 74 cm, for females - from 63 to 69.
- Despite their height, the dogs are quite light: male 27, bitches 23 kg (medium parameter, slight deviations are acceptable).
- In the color, only white spots are undesirable, especially if they are on the head.
Samoyed dog
Refers to an ancient breed of sledding northern dogs. Today there are several breed standards: Canadian, English, Australian, South Africa, New Zealand and FCI. The breed is more than three thousand years old, and there is an opinion that a Samoyed dog is a domesticated polar wolf in the past, however, a more comfortable life with a person has given a change in appearance (not much). A Samoyed dog was previously used as a shepherd, guard, hunting assistant, and also as a nanny for young children! By the way, each of the items is still relevant.
Standards:
- The color is pure white.
- Male growth from 51 to 56 cm, females from 46 to 51 cm.
- Light weight - 20-30 kg.
- The coat is long, thick, good undercoat.
A cheerful, kind, playful dog. Perfectly takes root with other animals, loves children. Prone to vagrancy, needs long walks.
Pekingese
The breed is medium-sized, popular among lovers of glamorous dogs! The breed is one of the oldest, originated more than two thousand years ago. In China, it was considered a sacred animal, and kept in the Imperial Palace, no worse than the Emperor himself! Pekingese breeding began in Europe only after five animals were stolen from Beijing - from the Emperor’s chambers, and during this time the breed changed greatly. Modern Pekingese are heavier, and this seems to be due to shortened paws.
Standards:
- Male growth from 15 to 25 cm, bitches - up to 23 cm.
- Weight averages 2.5 kg.
- The color is very different, but the most popular is red, the rarest is white.
- An upturned muzzle must have a transverse fold.
By nature, the Pekingese are very nice, but require special attention. They are entertainers in games, fearless, arrogant and very loyal! They love children, they can scatter things out of boredom, so it's better to play a lot with them!
Siberian Husky
This is a very ancient breed of dogs, which was bred by the natives of northeast Siberia. The breed was officially registered only in 1930. The destination is sledding, but now she is both a companion dog and a show-exhibition dog. The breed is known since the Neolithic, but began to diverge around the world only from the time of the "Gold Rush". Breeding Siberian Husky is a complicated and troublesome business. These doggies are very voracious and very mobile. For them, they need to properly organize the diet: proper nutrition, moderate physical activity, otherwise the dogs will begin to gain excess weight, which is equivalent to a serious illness for them.
Standards:
- Male growth is 53-60 cm, females are 50-56 cm.
- Weight - males up to 28 kg, bitches - up to 23 kg.
- The tail is straight, lowered down only at rest. When the dog is cocked, tense, the tail heaves upward, spun with a sickle.
- The eyes are blue, but can be brown. Often odd-eyed.
The dog is unsuitable for hunting (it does not bring prey), for protection (security qualities are not developed, it is not aggressive towards people, even strangers), service (too self-sufficient). This is a companion dog, for the soul (of course, if you do not have a harness), but it needs long walks, runs, suitable for the most active people. In apartment conditions, the dog will suffer, she needs a yard, a spacious enclosure.
Sharpei
The breed is one of the oldest, originally from China. It was used as a watchman, security guard, assistant in hunting, and also as entertainment in dog battles. It is believed that sharpei came from either a mastiff or a chow-chow with smooth hair. With the latter, sharpei in ancient times lived at the same time, and both breeds have a blue tongue. Sharpei is more than 3,000 years old, and he is a direct descendant of the first four dog breeds, from which all the breeds known today came from. That is, the sharpei genotype is the least different from the wolves, like the Samoyed dog, the Siberian husky, although outwardly these breeds are completely different!
Standards:
- Bluish-black gums, tongue and palate.
- Creased skin is the result of a genetic mutation.
- Color may be different.
- Height - from 46 to 51 cm.
- Weight - from 18 to 25 kg.
The dog is balanced, calm, treats children normally. It can be aggressive towards other animals, therefore it needs to be socialized and trained from early childhood. The eyes are set deep, so there are vision problems, and from this the dog can be frightened by sudden movements - which does not mean intimidation.
What is the oldest dog breed in the world? This remains a mystery.