Dogs have accompanied people for many years, but no one can say exactly how long ago they appeared. The reason for this was the fact that a lot of information regarding the origin and breeding of various breeds was destroyed in the Middle Ages for unknown reasons.

Now only DNA studies of dogs and archaeological excavations can speak about the antiquity of certain breeds. Let's look at the most ancient dog breeds, data on which has been preserved.

An ancient breed that lived in the territory of Mongolia, Central Asia, Tibet, Buryatia, scientists have proven that this breed is much older than the Tibetans, but no one knows the exact dates. This dog is large and powerful, served as a guard in Buddhist monasteries, was considered sacred, and ordinary people believed that it brought happiness to the house. This breed has many names, the most common being “ Khotosho“, which translated from Buryat means “guards the house.” The breed has miraculously survived to this day and is in demand throughout Asia for its service and guard abilities.

The Akita Inu was used in ancient times to guard Japanese emperors and was a favorite of the samurai. Excavations by scientists indicate that this breed was present in Japan as early as the second millennium BC. Was really noticed in 17th century, was a favorite of the imperial families and nobility. Still considered a purebred. There are opinions that this breed appeared by crossing a mastiff and a Siberian husky.

It is one of the oldest hunting breeds, originally from Scotland. The descendants of the hunting Picts became known in 16th century, were very valuable because of their speed, courage and endurance, and were used in deer hunting. In the 18th century, the breed was on the verge of extinction, but it was saved and now it is a wonderful pet in many families around the world.

Or Kangal. Back in Babylonian times, this dog lived in Asia Minor. The common Turkish name for the breed is Kangal, or Turkish Guard Shepherd. In ancient times it was used to hunt lions, and later as a guard against predators for livestock. Thanks to her physique, she is quite capable of catching up and neutralizing a wolf. Now used as a security guard, watchman or just a pet, she can be raised as an excellent nanny.

Exists more than 2000 years, there is also a version that the birthplace of this breed is the Arartu-Ararat kingdom, which existed in the 7th century BC. This breed was first used for service purposes in the troops of the Assyrian state. The breed has excellent service qualities and is now in considerable demand.

Kuvasz is an ancient Hungarian herding breed that flourished in 15th century. A large, strong dog was used to guard herds and estates. In the 18th century, it was chosen as a pet by European townspeople; the dog is fearless, faithful, kind, but not at all harmless in appearance, and leaves no one indifferent.

- a legendary ancient breed, quite rare - few people have been able to see it live. It is considered the ancestor of all watchdogs and service dogs. The first mention of the breed was in China in 1121 BC. The very large dog was valued for its watchdog and security qualities.

Originally from southern Africa, the history of the breed goes back more than 5000 years. The peculiarity of the dog is that it does not bark at all, its origin is unknown to man, and man has never participated in the development of the breed. In the 19th century, this dog had difficulty taking root in Europe and America. Now the breed is not popular, it is very difficult to train, since this breed has always been on its own, and does not consider it necessary to obey a person. She is most often found among the pygmy tribes of Africa, where she is revered and idolized.

- Chinese breed with thousand years of history. In ancient times, these dogs were considered messengers of the gods, they were imperial dogs and were considered a very valuable possession. Soon the breed became available to all Chinese; many began to breed dogs for food, and no one monitored the purebred of the dogs. Tibetan monks noticed all the advantages of this breed, bred black and blue Chow Chows, keeping them purebred to this day. Sacred dogs were famous for their hunting and guard qualities.

— the breed originates from northern wolves. The ancient Chukchi tribes were the first to appreciate the qualities of this breed; they were used to transport goods over long distances. There is evidence that huskies exist more than 4000 years, in the 19th century the breed became famous throughout the world. Now the breed is very popular and widespread, thanks to its excellent qualities it has become a symbol of honor, valor and willpower.

The Shih Tzu is an ancient, incredibly beautiful breed originally from Tibet, but is considered a Chinese breed. According to scientists, she more than 8000 years. For a long time it belonged only to the imperial families, and was considered the favorite dog of Buddha. Only in the mid-19th century did the breed begin to spread to other countries of the world. It is considered a decorative breed of dog; thanks to its very cute appearance, it is in great demand among lovers of “indoor” dogs.

- Chinese imperial breed, the approximate age of which more than 2000 years. There are claims that the Shih Tsu breed originated from the Pekingese, but many scientists insist that the Pekingese is a younger breed and claim the opposite - the Pekingese arose as a result of crossing the Shih Tsu with other dogs. The name of the breed comes from the city of Beijing. In ancient times, it was believed that this dog was a guard with the soul of a lion; no one except emperors had the right to own such a dog. To this day, the Pekingese has not retained its primitive appearance; modern ones are heavier and lower, but they have not lost their charm at all, and delight their owners with endless fun.

- the ancient, most famous Spitz-type breed, breeders did not participate in the development of the breed, so it has been preserved with unchanged appearance and character to this day. The breed appeared on the territory of Russia almost 3000 years ago, lived among the nomads of the tundra. Thanks to its amazing hard work, this dog was used everywhere - on hunting, in pastures, in sleds, as a guard or simply as a faithful companion; all the qualities for this are perfectly combined in this breed, which is why it is still popular.

- possibly the oldest breed, mentions of it date back to approximately 7000 BC. The name is associated with the Arab city of Saluk, the breed originated in Arab nomadic tribes, and was used mainly for hunting due to its exceptional speed and endurance. More often it belonged to the “ruling” class of society; in Islam it was considered a gift from Allah. At the beginning of the 15th century, it began to spread throughout the world; in the 1920s, the breed was recognized and became popular. Now the breed is popular only among hunters; it is very rarely found as a pet due to its highly developed hunting instincts.

One of the rarest and most mysterious breeds in the world, it dates back to the reign of the Qin Dynasty. As a result of research, it became known that the breed exists more than 3000 years, there are also claims that the breed is much older - it arose in the 3-2 century BC.

In ancient times it was used as a watchdog, hunter and fighting dog. Now breeders have made sure that the Shar-Pei becomes an excellent companion, and not a fighter. In the 1930s there was a peak in the popularity of this breed; shortly after the change of government, this breed, like many others in China, was almost destroyed, so it is now considered rare.

- an ancient breed that has changed a lot thanks to breeders. The first drawings of this dog were found on the territory of modern Iran, dating back to 11th century BC. The first individuals of this breed are described as aggressive and vicious, which changed over many centuries. Most often it is a watchman or hunter. Due to its excessive activity, it is very difficult to train this dog, but you can still succeed and raise an obedient, affectionate and kind pet.

A group of Swedish scientists led by Peter Savolainen, a professor at the Department of Zoology at the Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology, was searching for the oldest breed of dog.

First steps to study

To obtain reliable information, the mitochondrial (female-inherited) DNA of modern dogs and their wild wolf ancestors was compared in 2004. As a result of the data obtained, great similarity with wolves in the DNA structure was identified in 14 dog breeds.

Ancient breeds are several thousand years behind their ancestors. The oldest archaeological discovery of a domesticated dog is approximately 15,000 years old. However, some biologists believe that the most ancient dog breeds separated from the wolf much earlier.

Scientist Robert Wayne believes that the emergence of the domestic dog species occurred much earlier than the establishment of a sedentary lifestyle of people (approximately 10,000 - 14,000 years ago). Previously, scientists believed that primitive peoples did not have pets. However, according to Robert Wayne, the first dogs appeared 100,000 years ago or much earlier.

Many scientists believe that the oldest dog appeared in East Asia. During research, it was there that the greatest genetic diversity was discovered, noticeably inferior to other regions and continents.

The most ancient dogs

1. Akita Inu (Japan)
2. Alaskan Malamute (Alaska)
3. Afghan Hound (Afghanistan)
4. Basenji (Congo)
5. Lhasa Alsoo (Tibet)
6. Pikenes (China)
7. Saluki (Fertile Crescent of the Middle East)
8. Samoyed Dog (Siberia, Russia)
9. Shiba Inu (Japan)
10. Siberian Husky (Siberia, Russia)
11. Tibetan Terrier (Tibet)
12. Chow chow (China)
13. Shar Pei (China)
14. Shih Tzu (Tibet, China)

However, the final answer to the question of which dogs are the most ancient can be obtained when all modern breeds are examined.

To date, almost 400 dog breeds are registered in the Fédération Cynologique Internationale system, classified into 10 groups according to type and origin. This number is constantly changing, as thanks to breeding work new breeds are formed, which also undergo the recognition procedure in the organization. But among this huge number there is a special group - the most ancient dogs, whose history goes back centuries.

Scientific substantiation of the antiquity of the breed

None of the existing breeds can be called ancient in the traditional sense, since over the course of a long history animals have crossed and there are no pure representatives whose appearance or behavior has not changed over several thousand years. But there is a group of animals whose genetic code (DNA) has minimal differences from their ancestors (wolves or jackals). This coincidence suggests that the breed was formed in ancient times and has not undergone significant changes.

In 2004, American scientists conducted a study in which 85 breeds of the aboriginal type took part (naturally formed in certain environmental conditions with minimal or complete absence of breeding work under human control). The study of genetic markers made it possible to identify 14 breeds that are most similar to their ancestors - they are recognized as the oldest in the world. The results were published in the journal Science under the title Genetic structure of the purebred domestic dog.

This study cannot be considered absolutely reliable, since only a portion of dog breeds were studied. However, the information received is unique; a partial sample made it possible to establish ancient breeds, but this does not mean that there are exactly 14 of them and not more.

Review of the most ancient dog breeds in the world

The most ancient dog breeds today are those that were classified in the first cluster based on the results of a genetic study:

• The Chinese Shar Pei is a hunting, guard, and in ancient times also a fighting dog. Regarding the origin, scientists have only theories; according to officially recognized data, the age of Shar Peis is at least 3 thousand years. Documentary evidence indicates that such dogs existed during the Han Dynasty between 202 and 220 BC.
  

  As of 1978, the breed was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the rarest and smallest in number.

  Shar Pei is a breed from China known for its many folds in its skin.

• The Shiba Inu is the smallest breed of all that is of native Japanese origin. The time of its appearance is the 3rd century BC. (archaeologists have found ceramic figurines depicting dogs with a curled tail and pointed ears). The breed was recognized internationally in 1964.

  Shiba Inu dogs appeared in the 3rd century BC

• Chow-chow. It is believed that the first dogs of this breed appeared in the 3rd century BC. in northern China and Mongolia. The purebred line was maintained for a long time in Buddhist monasteries and animal registers were kept. The first representatives appeared in England only in the 1830s, and received official registration in the IFF in 1957.

  China is considered the birthplace of the Chow Chow.

• Pekingese is a breed from China, the very name of which speaks of its place of origin - Beijing. Today it is believed that the history of the Pekingese began more than 2 thousand years ago. Previously, only Chinese emperors could own the breed, and anyone who dared to encroach on a dog was severely punished.

  Pekingese are dogs that for a long time were only available to the Chinese imperial family.

• Tibetan Terrier. This is a very unusual breed, since it is not known for what purpose it was bred: either to work on a farm, or to be kept in the temples of Tibet. The official date of origin is the 6th century BC. Dogs lived in the mountains for a long time under the supervision of monks, which is why the representatives are often called sacred. The Tibetan Terrier received FCI recognition in 1957.
  

  Despite the eloquent name, this breed is not a terrier. She received this name thanks to tourists from Europe, who saw in her the features of terriers. According to the international classification, dogs belong to the 9th group “Ornamental and Companion Dogs”, the 5th section “Tibetan Breeds”.

  Tibetan Terriers were bred under the control of monks in the 6th century BC

• The Shih Tzu or Chrysanthemum Dog has Chinese roots and is a Tibetan breed. Mentions of it are closely related to Eastern mythology and Buddhism, but the exact time of its origin is not known. Representatives for a long time were exclusively imperial pets and only after the 20s of the 20th century began to spread throughout the world.

  The Shih Tzu is another breed that for a long time could only be owned by members of the imperial family in China.

• The Lhasa Apso is a breed bred by monks in Tibet as a talisman to protect against evil spirits. Archaeological excavations have made it possible to establish that the ancestors of modern apsos existed back in the 8th century BC, but the breed was first introduced to the world only in 1929 at an exhibition in London.

  The Lhasa Apso is an ancient breed originating from Tibet.

• Akita Inu. The animal's homeland is Japan, Akita province on the island of Honshu. According to archaeological research, the remains of Spitz-shaped dogs similar to Akita date back to the 2nd millennium BC. The first clubs for breeding the breed appeared in Japan back in the 6th century, and since the 15th century, stud books have been kept, which record the nicknames, colors and origin of the representatives of the breed.

  Japan is recognized as the homeland of the Spitz-like Akita Inu.

• The Alaskan Malamute is a sled dog that owes its name to the Malemute tribe of coastal Alaska. Hypotheses about the origin of the rock are varied; excavations confirm the age of the rock for more than 5 centuries, but there is no exact data. Documented mentions date back to the 18th century, but genetic research suggests a longer history.

  The history of Malamutes is not reliably known, but research suggests the antiquity of the breed

• The Siberian Husky is a dog breed developed in the northeastern part of Siberia from aboriginal dogs (mainly from Kolyma and Kamchatka). The history of modern representatives officially begins in the 1930s, but thanks to DNA analysis, it was possible to establish ancient roots. Initially, representatives were used as mounts, but today this animal is positioned both as a companion and as a show pet.

  The Siberian Husky today is not just a sled dog, but a show and companion breed

• Samoyed dog (Samoyed, Samoyed husky). This breed originates from the north of Russia and is believed to have appeared in its native form in the 9th century BC. For more than three thousand years, dogs were companions of the Samoyeds (small Russian peoples), as evidenced by the data found in the ancient Samoyed language. Modern Samoyeds received official recognition in 1959 in the group “Spitz and Primitive Type Breeds.”

  

Have you ever wondered which of all dog breeds is the oldest? In fact, it is very difficult to find out which breed is truly the oldest.
The reason for this is that dogs have interbred with each other many times throughout history. That is why any modern breed cannot be considered the oldest.

1. Afghan Hound

This elegant breed originated in Afghanistan and its surrounding regions directly from the oldest dog species. In ancient times, these dogs typically hunted rabbits and gazelles. Nowadays, Afghan hounds are known for their long and silky coat.

2. Akita Inu

The Akita Inu is one of the oldest and native breeds of Japan. These dogs can track animals such as wild boar, deer and even bear! In ancient times they were also used as guard dogs.

3. Chinese Shar-Pei

This breed is known for its super wrinkly skin. In ancient times, these dogs were used on Chinese farms, where they performed many tasks: guarding, catching rodents, reindeer herding and escorting. Apparently, the Chinese believed that these dogs protected them from evil spirits. However, Shar-Peis today differ significantly from their “original”, which is depicted in drawings dating back to 206 BC. e.

4. Basenji

Some claim that the Basenji is the oldest dog breed in the world. In fact, dogs that resemble Basenjis in appearance can be seen in sculptures and tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. The Basenji's homeland is Africa. Today this breed is famous for the fact that it cannot bark, instead it howls.

5. Chow chow

This breed originated in ancient China, where it was used for a range of tasks including hunting, herding, protection and hauling loads. Researchers believe these dogs are among the first to evolve from the wolf - and recent DNA studies largely support this hypothesis.

6. Pekingese

This small breed is over 2000 years old and has changed very little in all that time. It is believed that these dogs were used primarily as pets. Pekingese have a rich and centuries-old history, including royal history. It is known that if someone tried to steal one of the royal Pekingese, the punishment for this was death!

7. Saluki

The Saluki, along with the Basenji, is one of the most ancient breeds. Several rock carvings of this dog date back to around 10,000 BC. This breed is considered the "royal dog of Egypt." The Egyptians revered these dogs extremely highly, and sometimes even mummified them. Salukis are characterized as powerful and fast hunters, capable of chasing down prey such as gazelle.

8. Samoyed

Samoyeds have been used for guarding, reindeer herding, and as horse-drawn animals for more than 3,000 years. Siberia is considered the birthplace of the breed, which explains their thick coat. In ancient times, these dogs were very expensive.

9. Shih Tzu

Despite its relatively recent recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1969, the Shih Tzu descends from dogs dating back to 800 B.C. e. The name of the breed is translated from Chinese as “lion”. It is believed that throughout their rich history these dogs did not have any work responsibilities. Today this breed is one of the most popular in America.

10. Tibetan Terrier

Due to the geographic isolation of Tibet, the breed has survived as a purebred for over 2,000 years. The first Tibetan terrier was brought to Europe only in 1922. These dogs are distinguished by fur that covers their eyes. This wool is a necessary means of protection in the cold climate of Tibet. In ancient times, this breed was considered the “Holy Dog of Tibet.”

During the Aurignacian culture of the Upper Paleolithic, man made an extremely useful acquisition for home and office: he domesticated the wolf. Over the next millennia, he developed more than 400 breeds of dogs. We tell you what could have gone wrong on the way from wolf to sharpei and which breeds arose first.

Anton Gorodetsky

Xoloitzcuintle

No, this is not someone accidentally wiped the keyboard or a Scandinavian curse. This is the name of one of the oldest breeds in the world - the Mexican Hairless Dog. There is no single version of events, but approximately the Xoloitzcuintle appeared five thousand years ago in Mesoamerica: in Mexico, Central America and on the northern coast of South America.

The incomprehensible jumble of letters in the name is a merger of two Aztec words: “Xolotl” (the name of god) and “Itzcuintli” (“dog or puppy”). The Indians believed that these dogs were guides and guides in the afterlife, accompanying the souls of the dead (and, unlike the corrupt official Charon, completely free of charge). True, for this the dog had to be killed immediately after the death of the owner, but these are already details.

In addition, it was believed that Xolos had supernatural abilities and the makings of a good chiropractor and could treat everything from rheumatism to the bubonic plague. There is a grain of common sense in this: due to the fact that Xolos do not have hair, and their body temperature is higher than normal, they serve as excellent warming compresses for inflamed joints.

Saluki

The name of the breed forces one to imagine next to the dog a volume of Jung and the entire discography of Radiohead. When you first see this big, snow-white, fluffy smiling cloud, it’s not at all clear why it was called that. In fact, there are no bouts of introspection with this breed - they were simply originally companions of the northern tribes of the Samoyed group, who are also called Samoyeds.

The Samoyeds lived in the very north of Russia, where the climate was not very friendly. This strengthened the character of the tribes so much that, according to one theory, they had the courage and adventurism to tame the polar wolf. Since then - about three thousand years ago - Samoyeds have become not only hope and support in the tribe’s economy (to look after deer, drive away predators, nurse a child, sort out buckwheat, plant roses), but also an autonomous heater.

At night, they took the dogs with them to the tent and slept with them in an embrace, and this eternal call of conditioned reflexes is so ineradicable that even today’s individuals, as soon as you hug them, freeze and do not move, so as not to wake up a person.

Basenji

The Basenji breed has nicknames like Chekhov's: African non-barking dog, Congolese bush dog, Congo terrier, Nyam Nyam terrier, Zande dog, “creature from the bush.” However, in almost 5 thousand years of the breed’s existence, more could have been invented.

Basenjis originated in Central Africa, from where they scattered throughout the continent. In Ancient Egypt, they were brought as gifts to the pharaohs (almost like greyhound puppies), since Basenjis were considered a talisman against all evil spirits and a talisman for good luck. In addition to the esoteric purpose, the Basenji also had quite applied tasks such as hunting and protection. The characteristic feature of the breed is its pleasant silence: Basenjis do not know how to bark - they can only grumble, snort and growl. At the same time, dogs do not smell at all, their fur does not cause allergies, and they also absolutely touchingly wash themselves with their front paws, trying to pass for a cat.