History of Guardian & Working Breeds

15/11/2025

Photos sent in by Давор Плеш a few months ago...

15/11/2025

The dogs at the hospice were originally guard or protection dogs. Their appearance was unimportant, they had to be able to perform their tasks in the harsh alpine conditions. Not only did they have to run long distance, pushing through heavy snow is not an easy task. This is were a large heavy dog would struggle...
Until well into the 20th century the dogs of the Great St Bernard were therefore a mixed bunch of breeds. Away from the
hospice, however, ‘Saint Bernard dogs’— powerful farm dogs with red and white markings — were already popular from the mid19th century. At that time breeders began the first serious work on changing the way the dogs looked. In around 1900 the bulky
Saint Bernard with its heavy head slowly replaced the lighter variation of the breed. The appearance of dogs began to be
increasingly important: people could afford to keep a dog as a fashion statement or for their amusement. As a result, strict selective breeding turned many working dogs into luxury breeds.
The former hospice dogs have also become gradually larger, heavier set and more long-haired, which is why Saint Bernards are no longer used as rescue dogs. That does not stop advertising agencies the world over from relentlessly depicting the faithful animal with the barrel around its neck as it rushes to the assistance of someone in distress. Saint Bernards are used very differently nowadays.

15/11/2025

Sent in by Solucci in Italy.
His Central Asian Shepherd up in the mountains.

14/11/2025

Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler.
Edwin Landseer - 1820

14/11/2025

12/11/2025

One for you. I was asked from a previous post, what the cart used for?

12/11/2025

12/11/2025

1921

12/11/2025

The Stabijhoun is related to the Drentsche Patrijshond and Heidewachtel. The Stabijhoun probably owes its name to its versatility. The word Stabijhoun is derived from the words ‘sta mij bij’ or ‘stand by me’, while Houn is the Frisian word for dog and is pronounced "hoon". The Stabijhoun originates in the Frisian forest area. In the early 20th century Stabijhoun and Wetterhoun were regularly crossbred with each other. Thereby, the unique varieties of each were threatened to be lost. In 1938 a group of enthusiastic people of the Kynologenclub Friesland started purifying the two breeds again and in 1942 both breeds were officially recognized. Important names in this process were: J. Bos, T. van Dijk, B. de Graaf and W. Hoeksema. The first standard was dated February 10, 1944. In 1947, the Dutch Association for Stabij and Wetterhounen (NVSW) was established. The NVSW represents the interests of The Frisian Breeds since 1947. The population of the Stabijhoun is currently (2013) more than 6000 dogs worldwide.

12/11/2025

Anatolian Shepherd.

12/11/2025

The Kritikos Lagonikos (Cretan Hound) (Greek:Kρητικός Λαγωνικός) is a hunting dog breed from the island of Crete, in Greece. It is considered to be one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe, with a history that goes back to 4,000 years ago. This is a multi-talented dog that comes directly from Crete. It has excellent scent, speed, agility, durability, that make it an exceptional hare hunter. Cretan Hounds also have guarding instincts as well as pastoral instincts.
A primitive hunting breed, its existence on the Greek island of Crete is documented in writing and artifacts for at least 3500 years. It was extensively cultivated and used by the Minoan civilization which, at its peak, dominated over most part of the Aegean, the Cyclades islands and eastern Peloponesus. A tracking and coursing hound, it was always used in chasing and catching hare and wild rabbits on the harsh terrains of its native island. The classic authors praised the Cretan hounds (Kressai Kynes) as the best hare-hunters known to man and in ancient times they were exported to the Greek colonies and other countries in Europe, reaching as far as Spain and the British islands, to mix and improve the local hounds. The dogs have many such peculiar traits and they are evidently a truly ancient species, probably the oldest dog breed in Europe. It is possible that their ancestors came from Africa but they were subsequently adapted to this unique habitat of Crete, an island remote enough to host other unique species of animals also, such as a unique sub-species of wild goat, lynx and others. Isolated there for millennia, these dogs were formed by function to perform a particular and challenging task and they remained pure and unchanged to this day. Due to a long history of struggle against outside enemies, the Cretan people are a freedom-loving race, proud, independent, somewhat suspicious and even stubborn. They do not like to give their dogs to outsiders and even to this day the best specimens are kept hidden from the public eye. Breeding practices are ruthless and the limited means of the past taught the locals to neuter all but the best males and destroy the dogs that were lacking in the hunt. This resulted in a particularly strong and healthy breed, but also one very small in numbers. For years they were kept secret and even now they rarely leave Crete, apart from on the rare occasions they take part in International dog shows held in Athens, where visitors have the opportunity to meet a true living legend. Europnet..