Man has been inseparable from dogs for thousands of years. We sought out companions for hunting, herding, and friendship. As we domesticated ancient wolves, they slowly became the breeds that we know today, but did you know some haven’t changed in as much as 10,000 years?
Ancient Breeds
Despite such a diverse and large amount of different breeds, looking at all dogs today shows that they share a startling amount of DNA, and that all traces back to the wolf’s ancestor. Some of these mighty breeds have stayed undiluted and are even old than the pyramids! Let’s take a look at the oldest dog breeds on Earth.
Akita Inu
The Akita Inu has the oldest lineage of any dog breed, going back an estimated 10,000 years. They were bred to help hunt game in Feudal Japan and are one of the country’s most treasured breeds. They are known for their loyalty, courage, and affection/
Greenland Sled Dog
One thousand years ago, the Greenland sled dog followed its owners from Siberia to North America. They have roots going back around 9,500 years and helped the people of the Arctic transport food, supplies, and people across the frozen tundra. Today, the Greenland sled dog is an endangered breed, with few examples around today.
Afghan Hound
A lot of the history surrounding the Afghan hound has been lost due to conflicts and war. The breed was around far before Genghis Khan and Alexander The Great were warring in the region. The breed is thought to have stopped interbreeding with wolves around 8,000 years ago, making it a very old lineage.
Greyhound
The greyhound has a surprisingly old lineage that are backed up by ancient drawings of the breed found in Turkey. Today they are known for being the fastest breed in the world and used to be breed solely for the rich and famous. The breed was nearly extinct at a point, but their numbers are fine today.
Basenji
The Basenji is a dog that’s synonymous with Ancient Egypt and is thought to be as old as the pyramids. The breed is thought to have been depicted on hieroglyphs. Later on in history, the breed was used to help people of the Congo hunt. They were given bells so that they could be heard in the jungle and alert their owners to where they were – this is because the basenji doesn’t bark like a normal dog and is very quiet.
Tibetan Mastiff
As the name suggests, the Tibetan mastiff has a history in Tibet, acting as guardians for monastaries against predators and other wildlife like bears. They have a lineage dating back 5,000 years and were adopted by many cultures, including the Greeks, Romans, and Persians.
Saluki
Ancient carvings in Sumeria have been thought to depict the Saluki. They have been called the Persian greyhound as the breed originates from that region. They have even been found in tombs mummified with what was most likely their owners.
Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamutes are an ancient breed that was used by the Inuit people near the Arctic Circle as a sled dog. The breed has been unchanged for thousands of years and ended up in North America after they crossed over the Bering Strait when it formed an ice bridge across the ocean.
Xoloitzcuintli
The Xoloitzcuintli has a lineage equally as strange as its name. The dog was shrouded in Aztec myth, believed to have been a gift to the people to keep them company and guide them to the afterlife. They are some of the oldest breeds on the planet, an estimated 5,500 years ago.
Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is another breed that has a long heritage in Tibet, acting as watchdogs for monasteries like the Tibetan Mastiff. Unfortunately, a lot isn’t known about this dog, and its history might be even older than records show. The dog was believed to look after the souls of the dead before they reincarnated.
Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is one of the most recognizable breeds with its signature blue tongue. The breed has a lineage in China from thousands of years ago, where they were the companions of many classes of people, including nobility, hunters, and even transporters. They are an enormous breed, sometimes weighing as much as 70 kgs.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian husky is one of the most famous breeds in the world, and it has a reputation for being naughty. Siberian huskies were used as sled dogs by the Churchi tribe thousands of years ago. Their high amounts of energy helped them pull sleds and cross huge distances on the frozen tundra.
Source:
Infographic: 10 of the World’s Oldest Dog Breeds
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