Last Updated on January 12, 2024 by Fumipets
30 Extinct Dog Breeds That Deserve Attention: Rediscovering Lost Companions
Throughout history, various dog breeds have come and gone, leaving behind stories that intertwine with human civilization. The topic of extinct dog breeds is both fascinating and poignant, offering a glimpse into the past and the evolution of canine companionship.
These breeds, though no longer with us, played significant roles in the lives of our ancestors. From hunting and guarding to companionship, each extinct breed has its own unique tale. By exploring and acknowledging these lost breeds, we not only pay homage to their legacy but also gain insight into the historical relationship between humans and dogs. This knowledge can deepen our appreciation for modern breeds and the rich, diverse history of man’s best friend. Let’s delve into some common questions about these bygone breeds.
Extinct Dog Breeds
Dogs have been in the world in some form for many thousands of years. Over the years, certain canine breeds have gone extinct and are no longer seen among us. Extinct dog breeds came in a variety of forms and sizes, and they each had certain social roles. We compiled a list of 30 extinct dog breeds for your consideration. To find out more about them, keep reading!
The 30 Extinct Dog Breeds
1. The Alpine Mastiff
Despite being extinct, the English Mastiff breed now exhibits certain characteristics of the extinct Alpine Mastiff due to their close kinship. Due to their huge bodies, these dogs from Ancient Greece were effective mountain dwellers. They are believed to have vanished in the 1800s as a result of excessive mating with other well-known dog breeds.
2. The St. John’s Water Dog
Originally from Newfoundland, where they served as domestic helpers and human friends, comes this remarkable dog breed. The St. John’s Water Dog loves to swim, as their name would imply, and they make great fishing partners. Throughout the 20th century, these dogs were brought to England to be crossed with other dog breeds. Sadly, the breed’s population began to decline soon after, and they became extinct in the 1980s.
3. The Cordoba Fighting Dog
Although they are a separate breed, these powerful canines seem similar to contemporary Boxers and Bulldogs. The Cordoba Fighting Dog was created in Argentina and is known for its strong pain tolerance and propensity for deathmatches. As a result, they rose to prominence as fierce fighters who were renowned for their ferocity. By mating them with less violent canines, they were eventually faded out.
4. The Braque du Puy
This breed of pointer was French in origin. Today, there are no known Braque du Puy dogs, which leads the majority of specialists to assume that they are extinct. One of the many hypotheses explaining the origins of this species is that it was spared from extinction during the French Revolution. Unfortunately, it does not seem that these sports dogs were again spared from extinction.
5. The Norfolk Spaniel
These little dogs, which were bred specifically for bird hunting, were the most popular breed in England during the 19th century. When the Spaniel Kennel Club combined the Norfolk Spaniel with other Spaniel breeds in the 1900s, it lost its status as a distinct breed. Therefore, they are now thought to be extinct. The Norfolk Spaniel is regarded to be the ancestor of all existing English Springer Spaniels.
6. The Talbot
The Talbot was a Normandy-bred medium-sized hunting dog that was a distant ancestor of both the Beagle and the Bloodhound. They were effective in hunting small animals because of their athletic physique, white coats, and sleek appearance. Talbots were bred less and less until they became extinct as more effective hunting canines were created and owners got weary of the Talbot’s high maintenance requirements.
7. The Tesem
The Tesem was a long, slender dog with triangular ears that were perched high above their heads. These Egyptian canines were formidable hunters and devoted friends to their owners. A Tesem is seen in a drawing that was made between 3200 and 3000 B.C. After the Egyptians began using other breeds in their place, they are estimated to have gone extinct around 1650 B.C.
8. The Alaunt
An ancient canine breed known as the Alaunt thrived all throughout Europe and Central Asia. They were developed by Sarmatian nomads to perform a variety of tasks. They were admired for their power and accuracy, and had enormous, sturdy bodies akin to the Great Dane’s. Sadly, they vanished from existence in the 17th century.
9. The Dogo Cubano
These were Cuban canines, who could weigh up to 300 pounds at maturity and are still regarded as one of the biggest breeds in the world. They possessed keen eyes, large heads and necks, and short muzzles. Although their owners regarded them as wonderful companions, they were infamous for being hostile against other animals. In the 19th century, the Dogo Cubano vanished from existence.
10. The Alpine Spaniel
A medium-sized gun dog breed with a thick, curly coat that was appropriate for winter conditions was the Alpine Spaniel. These canines were used in the Great St. Bernard Pass region, where lost travelers often occurred, as security dogs and for mountain rescues. They were created in the 19th century, but a devastating sickness caused them to become extinct in the same century.
11. The Chien-gris
This was a big companion dog with a reputation for being happy and kind. Some of them had white, brown, or red patches, but most of them were gray. Although they are small, these pups may grow to be 95 pounds and 27 inches tall as adults. By 1800, they became extinct due to the popularity of other kinds.
12. The Salish Wool Dog
In the region that is now known as British Columbia, the Coast Salish initially developed this long-haired dog breed. In order to preserve their lineage and their snow-white coats, they were kept to restricted spaces in barred caverns and on tiny, isolated islands. In the 1940s, the Canadian Kennel Club recognized the Salish Wool Dog as a distinct breed, but by the 1990s, they had regrettably gone extinct.
13. The Hawaiian Poi Dog
This extinct breed originated from Polynesian dog breeds that were formerly introduced to the Hawaiian Islands. These canines are named after the taro plant, which is used to make poi, a popular dish in Hawaii. They were fed with poi to make them fatter for consumption. Because there were few land-based sources of animal protein, the dogs were grown for meat. The Poi Dog began to lose favor as the Hawaiians gained expertise in fishing and farming pigs and goats, which finally caused their extinction.
14. The Russian Tracker
The Russian Tracker, a domestic hunting dog that existed until the 1800s, is also known as the Russian Retriever. These canines were skilled flock herders who were said to go to any lengths to safeguard their human partners and the farm’s livestock. The precise cause of the breed’s extinction is unknown.
15. The Old English Bulldog
This breed of English sporting dog, which should not be confused with the contemporary Old English Bulldogge, was developed particularly for bull-baiting. According to experts, the Old English Bulldog is descended from prehistoric fighting dogs. The breed is said to have started in the 1600s or 1700s, however it is unclear precisely when they became extinct.
16. The Paisley Terrier
The Paisley Terrier was developed for companionship and display, but its owners also used them as rats. They possessed delicate personalities, petite bodies, and silky, smooth coats. Since the Yorkshire Terrier was developed using this breed, their heritage endures. The Clydesdale Terrier is another name for the Paisley Terrier, which is another name for the dog that was often bred in that region.
17. The English Water Spaniel
Prior to being extinct in the 20th century, this breed was admired for its exceptional waterfowl and duck hunting skills. They made superb divers, and their human partners enjoyed to take them fishing. Shakespeare may have previously used the English Water Spaniel breed as a reference in Macbeth. According to records, the breed perished in the 1930s.
18. The Moscow Water Dog
The Moscow Water Dog was a rare breed of dog that was created from the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, the Newfoundland, and the European Shepherd. It was also known as the Moscow Diver and the Moskovsky Vodolaz. These canines were bred to save lives by pulling people out of the water, but they ended up desiring to attack instead, leading to the termination of their breeding program and eventual extinction.
19. The North Country Beagle
Apart from the fact that they resembled the English Foxhound physically, little much is known about this extinct dog breed. According to certain records, these dogs were quite active and
id not get tired often. They were present in Britain up until the early 19th century, when crossbreeding caused them to become extinct.
20. The Blue Paul Terrier
A well-known combat breed in Scotland and the United States was the Blue Paul Terrier. This breed is credited for giving the present American Staffordshire Terrier its distinctive blue colour. Nobody is certain of the precise dates of their development or even of their extinction.
21. The Bullenbeisser
The Bullenbeisser, well-known for their powerful physique and quick motions, was created to lure bulls. They are the progenitors of the breed of dogs we now refer to as Boxers. They resided in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. These dogs started being crossed in the 1800s, and it didn’t take long for them to become extinct.
22. The Turnspit Dog
In 1576, the earliest book ever published on dogs included the Turnspit dog. They were created to run on a unique wheel that kept the roasting spit moving, thus the name “kitchen” or “cook” dogs. Sadly, people did not see these dogs as pets or sentient creatures. They were only regarded as cooking utensils. They peaked in popularity in the 1700s, declined over the next several decades, and then were extinct in the early 1900s.
23. The English White Terrier
The English White Terrier was developed in the middle of the nineteenth century by a few breeders in England who intended to develop a new display breed with pinched ears and compact, athletic bodies. They preformed poorly in the show ring, which led to crossbreeding, which gave rise to breeds like the Jack Russell Terrier and the Fox Terrier. The English White Terrier eventually became extinct when people stopped breeding them.
24. The Molossus
Back thousands of years ago, these powerful, muscular canines were very well-liked. The Molossus, a member of the Kingdom of Molossia in Italy, is said to have protected the Roman army. The precise date of the breed’s extinction is unknown. According to experts, this breed contributed to the evolution of all Mastiff breeds that exist today at least in part.
25. The Tweed Water Spaniel
These big dogs were found beside the Tweed River, close to the Scottish border. They were well known for being skilled bird hunters and swimmers. They had large, floppy ears and brown, curly coats that gave them a cute appearance. They are believed to have been created for the first time in the early 19th century. But when the 19th century came to an end, their numbers shrank, and they finally vanished altogether.
26. The Toy Bulldog
The 18th and 19th centuries saw the existence of this tiny, sturdy breed from England until it became extinct. Once founded, the French Toy Bulldog Club of England submitted the Toy Bulldog to the Kennel Club, but the breed never took off or gained popularity due to its undesirable temperament and poor health, since many were born with reproductive or health issues.
27. The Toy Trawler Spaniel
The Toy Trawler Spaniel was bred as a sports dog and is thought to be a King Charles Spaniel ancestor. But because the breed did not do well in hunting, they changed over time to become show dogs. There were at least a few of the species still in existence in the 1920s, while it is uncertain where the breed originated or precisely when they became extinct.
28. The Southern Hound
Although the Southern Hound existed in Britain, it is unknown when or where it came. They were large, square-headed canines that stood erect. They had a knack for picking up odors. Some claim that these dogs have been around since the dawn of time, while others believe that they were subsequently transported to Britain. They were sluggish but dependable canines that were trained to follow their masters’ deer hunters’ tracks.
29. The Hare Indian Dog
This breed was originally utilized to hunt on open plains by the Hare Indians of Canada. These dogs have long, pointed muzzles and short, slender heads. Records indicate that they regularly barked and did not appreciate being contained. But as hunting techniques improved, the Hare Indian Dog’s utility diminished, and the breed gradually disappeared.
30. The Tahltan Bear Dog
The Tahltans, who resided in British Columbia, bred and nurtured these powerful, devoted canines. The Tahltan Bear Dog was a little dog with a huge personality that was bred to hunt bears. They were obedient, simple to train, and never back down from a battle when on a hunt. When Europeans arrived in the region, they brought with them a variety of dog breeds and interbred them with Tahltan Bear dogs until the breed became too diluted to survive.
Final Thoughts
In the past, there were many unique canine breeds that wandered the planet. Because of them, we have the breeds we have now and may soon have the opportunity to encounter new breeds, thus they deserve to be kept in our words and thoughts. Which of the extinct canine species on our list most intrigues you? Please tell us by writing a comment!
Questions & Answers
Why have some dog breeds become extinct?
Dog breeds can become extinct for various reasons, including changes in society and lifestyle, the development of new breeds that fulfill similar roles more effectively, or even natural disasters and diseases. In some cases, breeds have faded away because their specific skills were no longer in demand in a changing world.
Can extinct dog breeds tell us anything about human history?
Absolutely. Extinct dog breeds often reflect the needs and environments of the people who bred them. For instance, breeds developed for hunting or herding provide insight into the agricultural practices and wildlife of a particular era. These breeds serve as living (or once living) markers of human history and societal evolution.
Are there any efforts to revive extinct dog breeds?
In some cases, there have been efforts to recreate extinct breeds through selective breeding of existing dogs that have similar characteristics. This is a complex and often controversial process, as it involves trying to replicate a breed without having the original genetic blueprint.
What is one of the most notable extinct dog breeds?
One notable extinct breed is the Turnspit Dog, bred to run on a wheel to turn meat over a fire. This breed provides an interesting glimpse into pre-industrial kitchen life and shows how dogs were bred for very specific working roles.
How can learning about extinct dog breeds benefit current dog owners?
Understanding extinct breeds can give current dog owners a deeper appreciation for their pets’ ancestry and the roles dogs have played throughout human history. It also highlights the importance of responsible breeding and dog care to ensure the health and sustainability of existing breeds.
