Modern Doggo Breeds That Came From Now-Extinct Breeds Shows That They Are Unrecognizable

Learning about the past is important for knowing more about our future.

Alex

• Published in Animals
• February 22, 2019

It seems to be a mark of pride for dog people to identify even the most obscure dog breeds. Lagotto Romagnolo or Labradoodle? Husky or Malamute? Only a select few are privy to such distinction.

But while some may be able to name the differences between the Norfolk and Cairn Terriers, only the best will be able to name the extinct breeds that lead to them. For those that are on the hunt for more dog breeds to learn about, here you go! And for those who are wondering who their pup is descended from, have at this as well.

Tesem

The Tesem (Ancient Egyptian for hunting dog) is the direct ancestor of today's Sloughi and Salukis. Interestingly, while they appear to be similar in appearance to other sighthounds such as greyhounds, their skeletal structure is closer to terriers.

Salish Wool Dog

The people of Washington and British Colombia used this little guy as a substitute for sheep; shaving their fur in the summer, they'd then create blankets out of the wool for the upcoming winter.

Talbot

Modern day beagles and bloodhounds are believed to have descended from the Talbot. While it's origin is disputed (believed to be in either France, Belgium, or England), it's the only extinct dog breed to have ever featured on the English Coat of Arms.

Happa

Can you guess which breeds descended from the Happa? The Happa has lines in both the pug and the pekingese, and is thought to have also spawned the Japanese Chin.

Turnspit

The Turnspit was essentially considered a kitchen appliance - they'd run on a wheel to ensure meat turned and cooked evenly, and were also used as a foot-warmer in Church. It's believed that corgis descended from this living, lovable apparatus.

Blue Paul Terrier

This was one of the first dog breeds in America, travelling mid-18th century with British immigrants. Both the Pitbull and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier are believed to have descended from this pup.

Cumberland Sheepdog

Collies! No one's surprised by how this sheepdog turned out, are they? Leading to both the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie, this pup quickly morphed into the latter breeds. Little is known about their early history.

Paisley Terrier

The Paisley Terrier gave rise to the yorkie and the silky, but did itself dirty in this progression; the new blood was favoured over the Paisley, and the breed was soon extinct.

St. John's Water Dog

This pup only went extinct in the 1980's - the last two were male, and so couldn't breed. This dog spawned the birth of retrievers and the Newfoundland - and we're very grateful to it.

Russian Tracker

Another hard-to-guess one - is this a Russian Tracker or a Golden Retriever? While this dog looks most like the adored golden, it is also closely related to the setters and flat-coated retriever.

Hawaiian Poi Dog

These dogs, considered spiritual, were discovered by Polynesian settlers in the 13th century. They were gifted to babies, and if the dog died before the child, the teeth were used in a necklace to signal protection.

Tahltan Bear Dog

While loyal and loving to their owners, the Tahltan Bear Dog was bred to hunt - you guessed it - bears. Originating in the Tahltan tribe of the British Columbia, these dogs are indigenous to Canada and have no known descendants.

Bullenbeisser

The bullenbeisser (bull-biter) was another creatively named breed. Used for bull baiting and boar hunting, this pup became extinct through crossbreeding with bulldogs to create boxers.

English White Terrier

This British native was a dog renowned for its playfulness, and shares ancestral links to the hardy Jack Russell Terrier. They were then bred with the English Bulldog, resulting in today's Boston Terrier.

Chien-Gris

This royal breed dates from medieval times to around 1470. The Chien-Gris' (Gray Dog) signature rough coat has stood the test of time through to today's Griffon - their slightly smaller, still royal descendants!

Alex