7 Delightful Dog Breeds’
Original Jobs
Though these small dogs were said to have been used as guard dogs for Chinese temples and palaces, they were mostly bred for their distinctive, goat-
like looks.
1. Dachshund
•Origin : Germany
•Mass : 7.3 – 15 kg
•Life Expectancy : 12 – 16 years
•Temperament: Clever, Stubborn,
Devoted, Lively, Playful, Courageous
About : The typical doxie traits of being persistent,
long, and low to the ground made the little German
dogs perfect for diving into narrow burrows to roust
out badgers. Being fearless is another reason wiener
dogs were perfect for the task: Can you imagine
coming up against an angry badger or fox in a
confined area with no immediate means of escape?
2. Bichon Frise
•Origin : France, Canada, Belgium, Spain
•Mass : 3.5 – 5.5 kg
•Life Expectancy : 12 – 15 years
•Temperament : Feisty, Affectionate,
Cheerful, Playful, Sensitive, Gentle
About : The Bichon Frise has been around since
before the 14th century, when they were frequently
found on ships, serving the dual purpose of keeping
sailors company on long journeys and being used for
bartering once the destination was reached. In the late
1800s, the smart little dogs were known as circus
pooches or organ grinder dogs for their ability to
perform tricks.
3. Poodle
•Origin : France, Germany
•Mass : 20 – 32 kg
•Life Expectancy : 12 – 15 years
•Temperament : Intelligent, Alert,
Faithful, Active, Instinctual, Trainable
About : We might think of poodles as somewhat
prissy dogs, but they were first bred to get down and
dirty by jumping into ponds and bogs to retrieve birds
shot by their masters. That’s where the distinctive
poodle cut comes from—because their coats became
heavy and cumbersome when soaking wet, they were
shaved, except for strategic areas left unshorn for
warmth.
4. Bullmastiff
•Origin : United Kingdom
•Mass : 50 – 59 kg
•Life Expectancy : 8 – 10 years
•Temperament : Docile, Devoted,
Reserved, Reliable, Alert, Loyal, Loving,
Courageous, Powerful, Protective, Calm
About : Back in the day when it was common to own large
estates (and a large staff to go with it), landowners hired
private groundskeepers to stop people from illegally hunting
game on their property. In order to patrol acres and acres of
ground, these groundskeepers needed dogs that were brave
enough to track down poachers and powerful enough to keep
them detained until the criminal could be brought to law
enforcement. A crossbreed of the bulldog and the mastiff was
determined to be the perfect fit.
5. Affenpinscher
•Origin : France, Germany
•Mass : 2.9 – 6 kg
•Life Expectancy : 12 – 14 years
•Temperament : Stubborn, Curious, Playful,
Adventurous, Active, Fun-loving
About : With origins in 17th-century Germany, this
“monkey dog” (so-called because of their facial
structure) was originally used to hunt small vermin, as
Yorkies were. Because of their small size and
mischievous personalities, the Affenpinscher eventually
ended up being used mostly as a companion dog—
better suited to the laps of their owners than hunting
through city sewers.
6. Bloodhound
•Origin : Belgium, France, United Kingdom,
England, Scotland
•Mass : 41 – 50 kg
•Life Expectancy : 10 – 12 years
•Temperament : Stubborn, Even Tempered,
Affectionate, Gentle
About : Bloodhounds, thought to be the oldest
(and arguably best) scent trackers out there,
originated in an 8th-century Belgian monastery.
With almost supernatural tracking abilities, the
droopy-faced hound has always been popular
with hunters and was a favorite of French kings.
7. Jack Russell
Terrier
•Origin : England
•Mass : 6.4 – 8.2 kg
•Life Expectancy : 13 – 16 years
•Temperament : Stubborn, Energetic,
Intelligent, Fearless, Athletic, Vocal
About : Jack Russell terriers were, in fact, bred by a
man named John (Jack) Russell, a 19th century
English clergyman. The breed’s stamina and high
energy were intended to help them hunt foxes. Now
you know why yours can’t sit still! These days, by the
way, the proper name is “Parson Russell Terrier.”
