But what do the statistics say? The American Kennel Club has used registration data to compile the list of 2021's most popular breeds. As always, the Labrador Retriever tops the list — this time for the 31st year!
The archaeological record and genetic analysis show the remains of the Bonn-Oberkassel dog buried beside humans 14,200 years ago to be the first undisputed dog, with disputed remains occurring 36,000 years ago.
The Siberian Husky, originally and still used for sledding, is very similar to wolves. Overtime not only has the resemblance to wolves stayed similar, but the genetic composition has as well.
Australian Cattle Dogs
Bluey, an Australian cattle dog, entered the Guinness Book of World Records by living to the ripe old age of 29 years and 5 months, setting the record for oldest dog ever.
But among dogs, which are well known for their hybrid (or mongrel) varieties, different breeds can mate and have viable offspring, so they are all found under the umbrella of a single species, Canis familiaris. Dogs are highly unusual in their variation, from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane.
Blue dogs come in all sizes. Some breeds are known for their blue coat, while others carry the blue coat gene outside the breed standard. Many blue dog breeds are sought after and highly prized for their good looks and unique blue coat markings, including blue tick, blue merle, blue harlequin, blue brindle.
Average Lifetime Cost: $20,000
The high price of an Azawakh often stems from its bloodline. They make terrific show dogs and are also very rare. Azawakhs hail from Western Africa where they hunt gazelle, running as long and as fast as they can.
The world's richest pet, a German shepherd known as Gunther VI, is owned by the Gunther Corporation who also manage the dog's estate and fortune and through real estate investments have rocketed Gunther's grandfather's inherited fortune from a mere £59 million in 1992 to the £370 million reported today.
One of the rarest breeds in the world, Swedish Vallhunds are certainly something special. Bred as a working animal these dogs are as intelligent, energetic and loyal as you'd expect, but they do require lots of activity. Provide that, though, and you'll have a happy and loving dog on your hands for many years.
Greyhound. R. Bitzer Photography / Adobe Stock Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed and can run at speeds of 40–45 mph. Despite their aerodynamic build, greyhounds are actually quite calm—and maybe even a little lazy.
There has been historical documentation of identical twins in dogs, but until very recently, it has not been able to be genetically verified. That is, until a litter of Irish Wolfhounds in South Africa produced a litter including a set of brothers born in the same sack with attached umbilical cords.
While the once widely believed theory that dogs see everything in black and white has been proven false, the truth is that dogs see a color spectrum similar to that of humans with red-green colorblindness, says the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Small dogs the world over can all trace their ancestry back to the Middle East, where the first diminutive canines emerged more than 12,000 years ago. Small dogs the world over can all trace their ancestry back to the Middle East, where the first diminutive canines emerged more than 12,000 years ago.
The official holder of the world's oldest dog is held by an Australian Cattle Dog called Bluey who died in 1939 aged 29. Guinness World Records says he was bought as a puppy in 1910 in Victoria and worked among cattle and sheep for nearly 20 years before being put to sleep.
A rescue pup named Gino is officially the world's oldest living dog, and he lives a life of luxury in California. Guinness World Records declared him the oldest living dog on Nov. 15. He's 22 years and 52 days old, to be precise.