Canine roles.Research divides dogs into 10 main categories: * Sight hounds include the greyhound and were designed to chase and bring down prey. * Scent hounds include the bloodhound bloodhound, breed of large hound whose ancestors were known in the Mediterranean region before the Christian era. It stands about 25 in. (63.5 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs between 80 and 110 lb (36.3–49.9 kg). , Bassett and English foxhound. * Working and guard dogs include the mastiff mastiff (măs`tĭf), breed of very large, powerful working dog developed in England more than 2,000 years ago. It stands from 27 to 33 in. (68.6–83.8 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 165 to 185 lb (74.9–83.9 kg). , Rottweiler, bulldog, Doberman, German shepherd and Great Dane. * Northern breeds, dating back 6,000 years and bred to work in harsh climates, include the Siberian husky and the German spitz. * Flushing spaniels, built to "flush out" game from dense undergrowth, with furry legs to protect them from thorns, and short limbs to help them get underneath obstacles, include the English cocker spaniel English cocker spaniel, breed of compact sporting dog perfected in England, whose development may be traced back to the original spaniels of Spain. It stands about 16 in. (40.6 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 30 lb (13.6 kg). and springer spaniel. * Water spaniels and retrievers include the golden retriever and Labrador. * Pointers have keen noses and a powerful hunting instinct, * Terriers, one of the more recent breeds developed to control vermin, include the Jack Russell, border terrier and bull terrier. * Herding dogs fall into two groups - those that protect sheep from wolves and fast and agile varieties such as the collie, whose job was to round up animals. * Toy and companion dogs were an oddity because they had a long ancestry - at least 5,000 years - but no useful function. |
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