petorama

Ask Yvette

Dear Yvette

Why are dogs made to look the way they dog? Some look funny.

Madison

There are so many different breeds of dogs out there. Many people roll their eyes at the sight of a well-groomed poodle. People might think that these owners are giving haircuts so the dog looks pretty.

You can get answers to why dogs look the way they do by looking at the breed's history. It is easy to forget that not too long ago, most dogs were bred to do a specific job. Eventually we ended up with some of the greatest diversity in appearance among a single breed.

Since we are looking back through time, the details may be sketchy. But here are a few of the more exotic trends. Have some fun and see if you can find interesting breeds and stories. It can make a great school project, and it can make history fun.

Poodle type haircut: Think of a poodle with a fancy coat. There are several breeds that get cut in a similar way. It looks silly unless you imagine the dog working. Many of these types of dogs were used on boats to retrieve fish from the water. The puffs of fur on the back protect the dog's kidneys from the cold. The puffs of fur on the paws and chest help lift the dog's front end a little. It is like a doggie version of water wings. Some people think this helped the dogs to work more easily, for longer periods of time. It may be fancy, but those fancy haircuts can be practical too.

Long Ears: Imagine a bloodhound sniffing to find a lost person. The dog's head is down, and those long ears are so long they touch the ground. Some people think those long ears help hound dogs to smell better. Those ears may be pooling the scent under the dog's nose and concentrating the smell.

Thick, matted coats: Dogs like the Puli and Komondorfrom Hungary are not common in North America. If you haven't seen one, a google search is worth the effort. Picture a huge mop on feet. Many dogs need this type of coat such as those who work in rugged mountain regions protecting. The coats protect the dog from severe cold, ragged terrain and other physical dangers.

Docked Tails and Ears: Many years ago, docking served a purpose. Dogs that guarded or hunted would often rip their ears and tails. It was thought that surgical removal was better than an injury from a fray. Dogs like Miniature Schnauzers, terriers and other dogs are rarely used for going to ground. Companion animals no longer need to have this procedure done. Many countries have made the practice illegal.

Toys: Some small dogs have serious attitude in those little bodies. Did you know that some toy breeds like the Chi-hau-hau were used as guard dogs? Instead of having one large dog, people would keep a pack of small guard dogs. These dogs work together much like a school of piranha.

Before you fall in love with an exotic, remember that most people want now want a family companion. Get educated and please include the adoption option in your search. There are great pure bred and mixed breeds just looking for a forever home.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

Previous Questions

• Dear Yvette I read a study that said that Vita...
• Dear Yvette: Our two-year-old Beagle and Borde...
• A little bit of Hollywood glamour came London's wa...
• Dear Yvette, Our dog barks a lot. Someone sug...
• Dear Yvette, I am returning to work after a ma...
• View All Questions