Dogs of Russia
There are several breeds of dog that originate from Russia, the most well known being the Samoyed and Siberian Husky. Lesser known dogs of Russia include the South Russian and Caucasian Ovcharkas.
Most of the Russian dog breeds have existed for centuries, in recent DNA testing it was found that the Samoyed and Siberian Husky were two of the most ancient dog breeds. Only 152 breeds that are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) were tested, so although these are old breeds, there are without a doubt more, and many of the dogs found in the test were from Asia, so it is possible Russia may be the home of more “ancient" breeds. It is believed by some that the Central Asian Ovcharka is one of the oldest breeds in existence, and perhaps having a close tie to the Tibetan Mastiff. Some of the breeds are more recent from Russia, such as the Black Russian Terrier and Russian Spaniel.
All of Russia’s breeds were once used (and most still are) for a working purpose. The Samoyed and Siberian Husky are both from the Siberia region and were used as sled dogs, both breeds having historical significance for exploration and use in Alaska as well as their homeland. The Caucasian, South Russian, and Central Asian Ovcharkas were used for guarding livestock and their families. The Borzoi is a sighthound, originally used for hunting wolves, was once kept exclusively by the Tsar. A fairly recent breed, the Russian Spaniel was developed by crossing English Cocker and Springer Spaniels at the end of the 19th century. Developed by the former USSR, the Black Russian Terrier was bred as a military/police dog by the state, only recently have they been found outside Russia.
