Top 13+ Oldest Dog Breeds Still Winning Hearts Today

It can be easy to get swept up in the ‘latest' dog breeds– such as the newest pedigree dog breed, the Hungarian Mudi, announced by the Kennel Club last month – so we think it’s high time to look back and reflect on some of the oldest.

Ciara Farrell, a Kennel Club Historian, tells Country Living: "Dog ‘breeds’, as we know them today, are a fairly modern concept, having been introduced in the mid-18th century, as a result of new agricultural methods. As such, the ancestry of many breeds pre-dates record-keeping, and so their exact origins can often be hard to accurately determine.

"However, there were broader types of dogs before this time, distinguished by their appearance and function – such as sighthounds, scent hounds and herders – that are thought to be ancestors of some of the breeds we know and love today."

While PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Walsh explains that given the fact that dogs likely descended from the wolf, it’s no surprise that some of the oldest considered breeds have a wolf-like appearance.

She explains: "Alaskan Malamutes, Japanese Akitas, and Chow Chows are all reported to have been around for thousands of years. Less wolf-like, Greyhounds are considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds, depending on reports.

"But it is worth remembering that genetically, dogs are entirely different from their wolf ancestors and have not retained any other qualities or traits. "

Read on for some of the oldest dog breeds and their origins…

Italian Spinone

These big, friendly dogs are part of the Gundog group – with dogs of this type having been known in Italy as far back as the 13th century.

Ciara explains: “As Gundogs, the job they were originally bred for is finding and retrieving game, so they have a tough, shaggy, weather-proof coat which is ideal for the wet, marshy ground and thick woodland that they worked. In their ancestry, there are likely to be scent hounds from France and Italy, as well as Mastiff types.”

Italian Greyhound

“The Italian Greyhound, a Toy breed (one that was bred to be a beloved family pet), is a smaller version of its larger working counterparts, and dogs of this type are thought to have been around for thousands of years," explains Ciara.

"Despite the name, images of similar dogs have been found on tombs in ancient Egypt and Greece – the modern name comes from their identification with the Roman Empire.”

Norwegian Elkhound

A typical Nordic 'Spitz' breed – all-rounder breeds whose characteristics include pricked ears, a double coat, and curly tail – can work in various climates and conditions.

“In Norway, Stone Age skeletons of dogs very similar to the modern Elkhound have been found, as well as in Viking graves," adds Ciara.

"These dogs are bold and energetic and were used to track all sorts of game, such as elk, reindeer, and bears.”

Maremma Sheepdog

These dogs worked to protect flocks and properties, and sheepdogs of this type have been carrying out their duties in the mountains of Italy for well over 2,000 years.

“These days, Maremma Sheepdogs are sometimes used to protect endangered wildlife from predators,” adds Ciara.

Deerhound

The Deerhound is a Scottish native descended from indigenous British sighthounds and has been around for at least 500 years

“They have been known by many names, such as the Scottish Wolfdog and Scottish Greyhound, and are close relations of the Irish Wolfhound,” Ciara adds.

“As their name suggests, they originally worked as deerstalking dogs, and as such have seen their numbers dwindle as they have fallen out of use – and are now classified as a British vulnerable native breed by The Kennel Club – but have retained their status as a symbol of Scottish heritage.”

Canadian Eskimo Dog

Another Spitz-type dog, this breed is also known as the Inuit Sled Dog, and has ancestors that made it possible for the Inuit people (of what is now modern Canada) to transport themselves and their possessions across the inhospitable terrain of the Arctic tundra.

Ciara explains: “They have exceptional strength and stamina. The modern snowmobile has superseded them as a means of transport and they are now in very low numbers. Organisations devoted to their welfare, together with the Canadian government, are actively working to protect the breed.”

Harrier

This breed is a typical scent hound with great tracking abilities and the endurance to follow a trail over long distances.

Ciara adds: “Scent hounds have been around since Celtic times and are found throughout Europe in hundreds of different, often very local, varieties. With the decline of its traditional hunting function, the Harrier is now a Vulnerable Native Breed.”

Glen of Imaal Terrier

Terriers have been around in the UK and Ireland for many centuries, where they typically worked at digging and catching animals from underground, or in tight and difficult-to-access spaces. Despite their small stature, they are fearless, tenacious, and strong.

“The Glen of Imaal Terrier comes from the rugged mountains of County Wicklow in Ireland,” continues Ciara.

“Although they have never had a huge population, their numbers have become so low that the breed is one of the rarest and also a member of the Vulnerable Native Breeds list.”

Bearded Collie

Known for their shaggy coats and herding talents, this intelligent dog is still incredibly popular today.

Ciara says: “For many centuries, ancestors of the Bearded Collie have been managing herds of cattle in the Highlands of Scotland. There are many theories about their origins, including descent from the ancient Icelandic Sheepdog or the shaggy Polish Lowland Sheepdog, bred with other native Scottish Collies."

Mastiff

According to Ciara, Mastiff-type dogs are thought to have come to Britain in the first millennium BC – which the Romans, in turn, also took back to Rome.

"They were originally bred to protect and guard people, property and livestock from wild animals, poachers and trespassers. After almost going extinct in the UK after World War II, they have since been revived but remain a Vulnerable Native Breed."

Alaskan Malamutes

As their name suggests, this breed originates from regions in Alaska and is known for being one of the oldest Arctic dog breeds.

“Malamutes have for many years been an integral part of the lives of many people of Alaska, which includes a range of indigenous groups,” says PDSA nurse Shauna.

“It’s been reported they were originally bred for transporting goods and various expeditions, as they are known for being very strong and loyal. They have a ‘double coat’, which keeps them warm in snowy or cold weather."

Japanese Akitas

This breed is believed to have originated from the northern Japanese province of Akita. Nowadays, they are known for being incredibly loyal family pets.

Shaun adds: "Akitas were originally bred for their strength, used as guard dogs in the mountains due to their fearless and loyal personalities, and also used for hunting. They also have a ‘double coat’."

Chow Chows

Best known for their mane-like fur and being one of the only breeds to have a blue-black tongue instead of pink, Chow Chows have reportedly been around for many years, explains Shauna.

“Like Akitas and Malamutes, they also have a ‘double coat’.

"Originally from China, they first came over to Britain in the 18th Century, where they were an attraction at the London Zoological Gardens. Chow Chows are quite unique as they have a ‘stiff leg’ walk, this is because their back legs are totally straight."