What were different dog breeds origionall bred to do?

November 17, 2007 1:26pm CST
Can all of you dog owners out there please tell me what your favourite breed of dog was origionally bred to do. I know different terriers were bred to get rabbits out of burrows etc and retrievers were bred to get game from lakes etc thats why many of them have slightly webbed feet :) and lurchers, beagles were bred to hunt foxes and hares etc. theres so many different breeds I would love to know what they were bred to do. What is the use of a poodle? I know they were French royal dogs but was that it? they were just bred to look ermm curly? I would love to know what your dogs were born to do :)
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4 responses
@Seraphine (385)
• Finland
17 Nov 07
I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They were bred to be lapdogs for the English royalty. And this is not my breed but you asked about poodles and I happen to know the answer. They were water dogs used for retrieving pheasants and ducks, so it's pretty much the same as retrievers.
@urbandekay (18278)
17 Nov 07
Actually, you are correct in saying Poodles were fowlers but the reason they have the woolly fur they do and that it is cut way from their body but left around their head is that it acted as a buoyancy aid, since they were used to retrieve large birds like swans, the weight of which would have pulled their heads underwater without this aid. all the best urban
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
17 Nov 07
I have wolfdogs. Their used to pull sleds & eat you out of house & home.
17 Nov 07
Pulling all those sleds has got to give them a healthy appetite :)
@urbandekay (18278)
17 Nov 07
Border Collies were bred in the border region between Scotland and England. On the Scottish side of the border they were used to round up sheep and looked typical with long shaggy coats. On the English side they were often used for driving cattle and tended to be shorter coated. They were recognised as a bred standard in 1970s I think. all the best urban
@ABJones (34)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I have a sheltie like the bordercollie they were breed to heard sheep but alot of people don't think that beacuse there small and people just see them as a small Lassie.