History The Lagotto originates from Italy where it was bred as a water retriever. It has been around since the 16th century, but when the great marshlands were drained to provide land for arable farming, it gained a reputation for hunting out a more valuable prize; truffles. It has a highly developed sense of smell … Read more
History The Pembroke Welsh Corgi originates from Pembrokeshire in Wales, believed to have come from Vallhunds (Swedish Cattle dogs) introduced by the Vikings in the 9th and 10th century. They were used to drive cattle and sheep, nipping at the feet of livestock to get them to move, but able to avoid the kicks. Corgis … Read more
History Although probably around for much longer, the first written evidence of the Dachshund isn’t until the 16th century. The name comes from the German ‘Dachs – badger and ‘Hund’ – dog. The dogs were bred to follow badgers into the set, drag them out and kill them. It would also catch and kill foxes … Read more
History The Turkish Kangal Dog is a large breed of dog originating from the Kangal region of Turkey. It was used as a protector of sheep and other livestock and was a fierce defender against wolves and other predators. Rarely left alone to guard sheep, it would work with the shepherd to deter and warn … Read more
History Large land Spaniels were popular in Britain for flushing or ‘springing’ game for hunters. In the 1800’s, the breeding of specific Springer Spaniel types began to produce a dog specifically designed for this purpose. They needed a fit dog that could range far and wide to flush out game and also retrieve. Springers were … Read more