Dogs of the United States

Dogs of the United States

Many of the dog breeds of the United States developed as the colonists and emigrants developed the land around them. Most of the breeds were used for hunting, and in later years some were companions. The United States also is the homeland of a few sled dogs and herding breeds, as well.

There are different types of hunting breeds that were developed in the United States, such as the coonhounds and retrievers. Five of the coonhound breeds can trace their ancestry back to the 1700s when the English Foxhound was brought to the colonies from England. The American Black and Tan, English, Bluetick, Treeing Walker, and Redbone Coonhound all share this common ancestry. Other dogs, commonly called curs, were used for treeing prey, such as the Black Mouth and Mountain Curs. Retrievers and Spaniels were also used, such as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and American Water Spaniel. Many of these breeds are still used in the United States for hunting today.

Some companion breeds that we know today were always kept simply as pets, and others originally had working abilities. The Boston Terrier was always intended as a companion pet, and the American Eskimo Dog was as well, but was also once used in the circus. American Cocker Spaniels were at one time used for hunting fowl, as most spaniels are. Breeding has changed this dog so it retains little of its working ability, and the dog is now mostly kept as a pet. Toy Fox Terriers and Rat Terriers would kill rats and other vermin, but few are still used on farms scattered throughout the United States.

Other dogs from the United States include the sled dogs, the Alaskan Malamute and Chinook, the later being a rare breed, few people even in the country have heard of. The Australian Shepherd, a working farm dog was developed in California, contrary to its name. Lastly, there is the native breed, the Carolina Dog; some still live in the wild in the southern United States.

Dogs of Canada

Dogs of Canada

All of the dog breeds from Canada are working dogs, or at least were originally used as such. From retrievers to sled dogs, the breeds of Canada all had abilities designed to help their masters.

The Canadian Eskimo Dog and Mackenzie River Husky are the sled dogs of the arctic north. The Canadian Eskimo Dog was originally kept by the native Inuit people, and to them it was known as the Qimmiq. Used for pulling people and freight it was indispensable in the villages. The Mackenzie River Husky is a type of dog, rather then a breed. Once used for transportation in the north these dogs were lost to the snowmobile. A small amount survives in Alaska, where dedicated breeders strive to save the Canadian breed.

The Tahltan Bear Dog was also kept by the Canadian natives. Kept by the Tahitians of the north they were multi-purposed dogs, but they were most often used for hunting. It is now believed that this dog is extinct, it was said that although small it had the courage to take on a bear. Some believe the Tahltan Bear Dog may still exist in remote areas of Canada, but there is no evidence to support this.

The now famous Labrador Retriever and Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever are both gundogs from Canada. Once simply used for hunting the Labrador Retriever is now kept by many as simply a family pet throughout North America and Europe. The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever excels at enticing waterfowl to come out near the hunter and is uniquely suited to this task. They are used mostly for hunting in Canada.

Canada is also the homeland of the Newfoundland and the Landseer. The Landseer is seen as a separate breed by some and as a variant of the Newfoundland by others. The later is the more widely accepted opinion. Newfoundlands were often used for various tasks related to the water. They pulled fishnets in from the waters, accompanied sailors on voyages, and rescued drowning men. Even today the Newfoundland is used a rescue dog both in and outside Canada.

Dogs of North America

Dogs of North America

Dogs are a large part of the culture of many areas in North America, from Mexico’s little Chihuahua to the now well-known Labrador Retriever of Canada. The Canadian Eskimo Dog, Alaskan Malamute, and Chinook where once indispensable breeds of the snowy northern terrain of Canada and the United States’ Alaska. Snow mobiles have largely replaced these sled dogs simply because of the amount of speed that can be achieved, unfortunately leaving some of them to become rare breeds even in North America.

Breeds of North American hunting dogs include everything from retrievers to coonhounds. As already mentioned the Labrador Retriever was breed and developed in Canada and is widely still used to this day. The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever also hails from Canada, and although unknown it is quite unique. This breed actually will be let loose to romp and play near water, enticing waterfowl to come investigate. Once the kill has been made it plays the part of the average retriever and brings the fowl back to its owner. Other North American retrievers include the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the American Water Spaniel.

North America is also the home of the uniquely bred coonhounds of the United States. In early colonial times Foxhounds were brought to the United States for hunting; however they were inadequate for animals that don’t escape by going underground. Raccoons, opossums, bobcats, and larger prey such as cougars and bears would take to the trees to escape the dogs. Selective breeding eventually brought about the coonhounds that are known today, including the Black and Tan and Bluetick Coonhounds. Lesser known North American coonhounds include the Plott Hound and English Coonhound.

Cattle and herding dogs were also very important to the development of the North American landscape. Contrary to its name the popular Australian Shepherd was actually bred and developed in the United States.