Dog Breeds/Traits

While the world watched with baited breath as Great Britain’s Prince William said his vows to long-time love Catherine Middleton today, we here at DogWatch Hidden Fences find we’re a bit more intrigued by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel than all the Royal Wedding hoopla. While today will certainly go down in royal history, we’d like to bring the focus to some dog breeds that have made royal history of their own! Introducing . . . the Royal Dogs!

The Saluki: Perhaps the oldest pure dog breed still in existence, the sleek and elegant Saluki has been discovered in carvings in Sumerian tombs dating as far back as 7000 B.C., and Egyptian tombs dating back to 2100 B.C. Thought to be named after the ancient town of Suluk, Libya, the Saluki was considered the royal dog of Egypt. So beloved by the Egyptian royals, they were frequently mummified along with their owners, and several depictions exist of King Tutankhamen with his favorite Salukis. The Saluki is thought to have been brought to Europe during the Crusades in the 12^th Century, and arrived in England in the mid-1800s, and America in the early 1900s.

The Lhasa Apso: One of the most ancient dog breeds, the lion-like, black-lipped Lhasa Apso is thought to have existed as far back as 800 B.C. Lhasas originated in the sacred city of Lhasa in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet, and were bred by holy men called Lamas. Referred to in Tibet as “Apso Seng Kyi,” or “Bearded Lion Dog,” the Lhasa was primarily used as a watchdog in temples and monasteries, as well as in religious ceremonies. It was believed that the souls of deceased Lamas could enter the bodies of Lhasa Apsos, where they remained as they awaited reincarnation. A highly-prized dog, Lhasas could neither be bought nor sold; they could only be given as a gift. Lhasa Apsos made their way to Great Britain and the United States in the early 1900s.

The Pekingese: The royal dog of China, these little dogs with a lion’s mane took their name from the ancient city of Peking (now Beijing) over 2,000 years ago. In ancient China, Pekingese were considered sacred and believed to drive away evil spirits. Bred and guarded in the Imperial Palace, so prized were these little “lion dogs” that only royalty was permitted to own them, and the theft of a Pekingese was punishable by death! In 1860, the British overtook the Imperial Palace of China; during the seizure, five Pekingese were captured and brought back to Great Britain. They were given to British royalty, including Queen Victoria, as spoils of war, and were then interbred, thus beginning the British line of Pekingese. In the early 1900s, the Chinese Dowager Empress Cixi began gifting the dogs to influential Americans, beginning the line of the modern American Pekingese.

The Pug: An old breed of Chinese descent, dating as far back as 400 B.C., the snub-nosed, smush-faced Pug is believed to be a relative of the Pekingese. Imported to Holland by the Dutch East India Company in the 16^th century, the Pug rose to Dutch popularity under William, Prince of Orange, after one saved his life in 1572 by sounding the alarm that the Spanish were approaching, thus allowing him time to successfully flee their assassination attempt. So the intrepid little Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange, and one hundred years later, when William II ascended the throne in England, he brought his beloved Pugs with him, establishing their following in Great Britain. This following grew to include the likes of the ill-fated Queen Marie-Antoinette, as well as another less-than-fortunate Parisian, the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

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Madison Square Garden in New York City usually hosts NBA games and big-name concerts, but last week, the dogs took over. The almost 20,000-seat arena hosted the 135th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last Monday and Tuesday. The famous venue welcomed 2,626 dogs, representing 179 breeds.

Many winners were crowned in this prestigious two-day competition, billed as “America’s Dog Show.” Judges selected the best dog from each of 179 breeds, and slowly narrowed now each winner round by round until finally reaching the Group rounds. The seven Groups are Sporting, Non-Sporting, Toy, Hound, Terrier, Working and Herding dogs. Visit the Westminster Kennel Club website to see the names and photos of the winners.

The big finale came on Tuesday evening, when the seven dogs who were chosen as winners of their Groups returned to the stage to compete for the grand prize of Best in Show. These remarkable show dogs are shown in the slide show below.

It was a tight race this year. Judge Paolo Dondina stated that he couldn’t remember a better lineup of dogs. Yet there must be a winner, and the 2011 title went to Hickory, the five year-old female Scottish Deerhound. This was the first time a Scottish Deerhound had ever taken the Best in Show prize at Westminster, making Hickory’s win an historic one. To watch a video of USA network’s live coverage of the Best in Show round, click here.

We want to know what you think? Take our poll below, and vote for your personal pick for Best in Show! We will reveal the results on our Facebook page next week. Congratulations to Hickory and all of this year’s winners!

Think you know dogs? Then test your knowledge by taking Dog Tails’ first Dog Quiz. We’ve come up ten questions, ranging from breed popularity to famous TV dogs to world record-holders. Write down your answers, and check them against the correct ones, which we’ve hidden after the jump. Ready, set… go!

1.  According to the American Kennel Club, which breed is the  most popular dog breed in America for 20 years running?

2.  Everyone knows Lassie, the loyal female collie immortalized in books, TV shows and films. But do you know the real name of talented male dog who first portrayed Lassie on screen, in the 1943 film Lassie Come Home?

3.  Which U.S. city has the most dogs per person (as of 2007)?

4.  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, what was the age of the world’s oldest dog (ever)?  The oldest dog alive today?

5.  George Lucas’ Alaskan malamute dog inspired him to create which Star Wars character?

6.  Which breed of dog is known to “blush” when it is excited or happy?

7.  Which breed of dog is the most popular choice for college sports mascots?

8.  Which breed of dog has won the “Best in Show” prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show more times than any other breed?

9.  What is the most money one person paid to purchase a dog?

10.  How long is the longest dog tongue?

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It’s all politics this week at Dog Tails.  Tuesday was Election Day, and in honor of this annual tradition, Dog Tails is turning its attention to the pets of Washington, DC.

Small or large, young or old, cat or dog, Republican or Democrat, we salute all of the dogs who loyally follow their owners around the Oval Office or halls of Congress.  The DogWatch Hidden Fences team dove into the past and came up with a list of the most memorable political pets.  No matter which way you voted on Tuesday, we know you’ll love these famous furry friends!

Fala, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dog

Fala is arguably the most famous political dog of all time.  The Scottish terrier moved into the White House in 1940, at the beginning of Roosevelt’s third term.  He soon became a regular fixture in the halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., begging for food and performing tricks for guests.

Fala also enjoyed traveling with his master, joining the President on his many trips across the country and around the world.  In fact, the two were so inseparable that Fala is depicted alongside Roosevelt in his memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC (see picture at left).  He is the only Presidential dog to be given such an honor.

Checkers, President Richard M. Nixon’s dog

Checkers, a cocker spaniel, never made it to the White House, but he still had a sizable impact on Presidential history.  In 1952, then-Vice Presidential candidate Nixon was embroiled in a financial scandal.  In an effort to save his candidacy, he gave a televised speech in which he spoke of his humble beginnings.

The most memorable line from the speech referred to his dog, Checkers, who had been given to Nixon for his then-6-year-old daughter by a campaign donor.  “Regardless of what they say about it, we’re going to keep him,” he said.  The address became known as the “Checkers Speech,” and not only did it save Nixon’s candidacy, but it is now a term used to describe any heart-tugging speech given by a politician.

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