Are you considering adding a furry friend to your family? Meet the Golden Retriever, a breed known for its friendly and tolerant attitude. Originally hailing from Scotland, this breed has captivated dog lovers with its intelligence, trainability, and golden coat. Whether you’re looking for an energetic companion for your outdoor adventures or a loyal guardian for your home, the Golden Retriever has something special to offer. In this “what is a breed” post, we’ll explore the fascinating history, unique traits, and what it takes to care for a Golden Retriever.
The American Kennel Club gives full recognition to 157 breeds of dogs and has several more in the pipeline, but the average American is probably only sure of a dozen or two. Veterinarian Bruce Fogle features more than 400 breeds in his beautiful Encyclopedia of the Dog, but even serious dog fanciers are likely to mis-identify the Swedish Drever as a cross between a Beagle and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi or confuse the Black Russian Terrier with the Giant Schnauzer.
What is a breed?
And the new emphasis on so-called “designer breeds” complicates matters even further. These dogs are almost always crossbreds between two purebred or first-generation crosses that do not have fixed characteristics but do have a cute name. Thus Puggles (Beagle/Pug), Shih-Poos (Shih Tzu/Poodle), Goldendoodles (Golden Retriever/Poodle), Cavachons (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel /Bichon Frise) and many others pop up in newspaper advertisements, on websites, and in pet stores.
So what is a breed?
Webster’s Desk Dictionary of the English Language what is a breed defines a breed as “a homogeneous grouping of animals within a species, developed by humans,” and the Oxford English Dictionary says a breed is “a line of descendants perpetuating particular hereditary qualities.”
Both of these definitions leave room for interpretation. As noted above, although the only real difference between the four types of Belgian shepherds is coat type and color, the AKC registers three of the four types as separate breeds and enrolls the rough-coated variety in its Foundation Stock Service without full recognition. The UKC used to agree, but in 1991, this registry re-designated all four Belgian shepherds as four varieties of one breed as the Canadians and Europeans have done for years.
What is a breed? Not an easy question…
Obviously, the answer is not a simple one. In some cases, historic record proves the heritage of a breed for centuries. The Chow Chow, Great Pyrenees, Lhasa Apso, Basenji, Basset Hound, Borzoi, and many other breeds have an ancient legacy and are obviously the result of breeding for a particular set of characteristics and qualities. In other cases, geographic isolation led to development of similar breeds from the same basic stock. For example, the livestock guardian dogs are considered to be descendants of mastiff-type dogs popular in the Roman Empire. Several of these dogs, including Great Pyrenees (France), Kuvasz (Hungary), Maremma (Italy), Akbash (Turkey), and the Tatra Sheepdog (Middle Europe), strongly resemble each other with slight differences in bulk. The Anatolian Shepherd, another Turkish flock guardian, is considered either a short-coated version of the Akbash or a breed on its own, depending on the source of the information.
In some cases, a breed developed in one country was imported to another, and, because of breeder preference and the limits of the gene pool, changed in appearance somewhere along the way. The English and American Cocker Spaniels are examples of this phenomenon. The Cocker came to the US from England and became a smaller dog with some other physical changes; 50 years later, the original cocker was imported and shown first as a variety of the Cocker and then as the English Cocker while the original English dog became the American Cocker.
How about those designer dogs?
Designer dogs usually have purebred parents of two different breeds. However, breeding a male of one breed with a female of another breed does not produce a purebred puppy of any breed regardless of a cute name and a marketing strategy that extols its virtues.
Puggles, Goldendoodles, Peke-a-poos, and other crossbred dogs may make wonderful family pets, therapy dogs, performance dogs, etc., but they are definitely not a homogeneous grouping as defined by Webster or “a line of descendants perpetuating particular hereditary qualities” as designated by the Oxford.English Dictionary. For example, the Puggle, the offspring of a Pug/Beagle breeding will be 50 percent Pug and 50 percent Beagle, but any characteristic may resemble one parent dog more than the other. A Puggle may inherit the Beagle’s droopy ears and the Pug’s curled tail, the Beagle’s howl and the Pug’s loose skin, etc.
What does all this mean?
A breed must be carefully developed over at least seven generations to fix the desired characteristics. When breeding purebred dogs, the offspring must be identifiable as a member of the breed when compared to the standard and to other adults. In other words, each litter of puppies should resemble its parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so on.
Breed development
Although the domestication of the dog is shrouded in mystery, many scientists are convinced that dogs developed from wolves that settled on the fringes of human development. Wolves found easy pickings in the garbage heaps near human settlements, and, as the wolves became more accustomed to humans and vice versa, humans probably found equally easy pickings among the wolf cubs. These cubs became pets, cave or hut guardians, hunting companions, and later, livestock guardians and herders.
Once a truce was established between wolves and men – a situation that likely happened over and over again in different parts of the world – people may have started to select wolves to enhance certain traits, and thus created dogs skilled in herding, tracking, guarding, retrieving, and coursing.
The value of purebreds
People developed breeds in attempts to refine dogs for particular purposes. British sheep farmers along the England-Scotland border developed Border Collies to gather the flocks from the hills and move them from one field to another. European sheep farmers developed a different type of shepherd dog to work the terrain in their countryside. Shepherds in mountainous areas developed dogs to guard the flocks from wolves. Shepherds on the Shetlands and other islands developed smaller breeds of dogs (and sheep) to fit the size of the habitat.
Breeds in trouble
Predictability of appearance is a two-edged sword. Not only can it be an advantage to a family looking for a pet, it can be a major drawback when the sins of a few dogs of a breed are visited on the whole breed. Such is the case with a growing list of breeds, including the bully breeds, Akitas, Chows, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Malamutes, and others.
Many US jurisdictions have breed specific bans or vicious dog laws. These laws blame dogs for their breeds, not their deeds. They indict the therapy dogs and search and rescue dogs and gentle family pets along with the dogs that roam at large, threatening neighbors and their pets.
The versatility of breeds
Dogs are the most versatile of animals. They range in size from the tiniest Chihuahua to the largest Irish Wolfhound or Mastiff – from two pounds to 200 pounds. They come in all coat types from the bare skin of the Chinese Crested to the thick double coat of the Newfoundland and the silken tresses of the Shih Tzu. They come in all colors from white to black, in bi-colors and tri-colors, and in patterns from spotted to patched to tiger brindle. They have bushy tails and smooth tails, lop ears and tipped ears and upright ears. They come in a range of temperaments from mild and joyful to tough and aloof.
In short, what is a breed there’s a dog breed to fit any lifestyle or family vision, a dog that will keep up with an active family or lounge around with a couch potato, a dog that will provide companionship and love under any or all circumstances. But behind the facade, no matter the shape, size, or attitude, is a history as old as civilization and a partnership that has lasted through the ages. The dogs of today may not be sheepherders and guardians, palace protectors, or royal hunt companions, but they are just as valuable and worth preserving as breeds, as fellow travelers in human history, as companions, and as life partners.
What is a breed – A breed is a group of animals or plants within a species, possessing distinctive characteristics that set them apart from other groups. These traits are often the result of selective breeding to enhance specific qualities, whether for appearance, behavior, or functionality. Understanding breeds allows us to appreciate the diversity and specialization within species, enriching our interactions with them. Whether you’re a pet owner, a farmer, or simply a nature enthusiast, recognizing the significance of breeds can deepen your appreciation for the natural world.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this “what is a breed” topic! Let us know in the comments which breeds you find most fascinating and why. Your insights and experiences help us build a vibrant community of animal and plant enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What breed of dog is known for its loyalty and protective nature?
German Shepherd.
What breed of dog is famous for its distinctive curly coat and hypoallergenic properties?
Poodle.
Which dog breed is often described as gentle, friendly, and good with children?
Labrador Retriever.
