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English cocker spaniel -

Their big soft ears and irresistible faces have made English cocker spaniels one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Although they come from a long line of spaniels bred for hunting, the English cocker spaniel was first designated relatively recently, in the 19th century in Victorian England.

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St. Bernard -

The world's best rescue dog, the St. Bernard is named as such after the Great Saint Bernard Monastery in Switzerland where they were companions and caretakers to the monks and travelers during the harsh Alpine winters.

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Collie -

Revered for their beautiful, luscious coats, the collie was first bred as a sheepdog in Scotland. The exact origins of collies are still a bit fuzzy, but they were certainly distinguishable from other breeds in the area from at least the 1700s onwards.

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Maltese -

The Maltese is one of the oldest small dogs in the world, and its ancient origins make it difficult to determine how exactly they arrived on the Mediterranean island they're named after. One theory posits that they were used on Phoenician merchant ships to protect foodstuffs from rats and other pests, and these well-traveled dogs were then spread across the Mediterranean.

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Pomeranian -

The Pomeranian's ancestral stomping ground of Pomerania is in modern-day Poland and Germany. Despite their small stature, they are actually descendants of much larger sled dogs from Northern Europe.

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Boston terrier -

The number one most popular dog breed in the United States for the first half of the 20th century, the Boston terrier can be traced back to one individual dog, Judge, who was brought to Boston from England in 1865.

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Rhodesian ridgeback -

Native to southern Africa, more specifically modern-day Zimbabwe, the Rhodesian ridgeback came to be when dogs brought over by European colonists were bred with native hunting dogs.

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Great Dane -

Despite its misleading name, the Great Dane actually hails from Germany, and was bred to accompany the German royalty on their wild boar hunting excursions.

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Pug -

Pugs, known for being adored by generations upon generations of Chinese emperors, were first bred around 2,000 years ago. It wasn't until the 16th century that European traders spread the breed around the world.

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Labrador retriever -

Perhaps the most popular dog breed in the world, the Labrador retriever comes from the Newfoundland and Labrador province of Canada, where it was used to retrieve ducks for hunters.

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Beagle -

In an interesting turn of events, the modern beagle actually came from a much smaller, now-extinct breed of hunting dog known as a pocket beagle that barely stood eight inches (20 cm) tall.

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Corgi -

Queen Elizabeth's favorite dog breed, the Welsh corgi has been around since at least the 10th century. They were originally bred for cattle herding, and were bred to be small so they could nip at the cows' heels.

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Siberian husky -

One of the most majestic dog breeds in the world, known for their piercing, commonly differently colored eyes, the Siberian husky was bred as a hunting and sledding dog in Siberia around 4,000 years ago. It wasn't until the 20th century that huskies were brought over and made a name for themselves in Canada and Alaska.

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Mastiff -

Mastiffs are an ancient breed of dog most likely first developed by the Briton tribes of Great Britain. They were first spread to the rest of Europe in 55 BCE when Julius Caesar brought them home after his conquest of Britain.

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Basset hound -

Famous for being the droopiest dog in the world, the Basset hound was first bred in France for rabbit hunting. Their hides that seem a few sizes too big for their bodies actually protect these hounds when navigating through bush and underbrush, where their skin is able to give way when caught instead of ripping and causing the dog pain.

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Shih Tzu -

Legend has it the Shih Tzu was first bred by Tibetan monks as gifts for Chinese royalty, beginning as early as 2,000 years ago.

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Shiba Inu -

The smiling Shiba Inu, despite its goofy appearance, is one of the oldest and most historically respected dog breeds in the world. The eldest of the five breeds native to Japan, Shibas first appeared around the 3rd century BCE and were bred as hunting dogs. Samurai frequently took Shibas as traveling companions.

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Australian shepherd -

The name of the Australian shepherd is actually a case of historical confusion. As people from the Basque Country in northern Spain immigrated to Australia with ambitions of farming, they commonly brought their own Basque shepherd dogs with them. While in Australia, some cross-breeding occurred with collies and Border collies, making the Australian Basque sheep dogs distinct from the purely European breed they arrived as. Once the breed reached the west coast of the US, the Americans there simply assumed the breed was native to Australia, and the name stuck.

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German shepherd -

German shepherds, on the other hand, are in fact German. They are one of the youngest major breeds of dog, first deliberately bred by a German cavalry captain in 1899 who hoped to create the perfect shepherd dog.

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French bulldog -

While French bulldogs were popularized by the craftsmen and workers of France in the 1800s, they were actually first bred in England, with the purpose of making a smaller version of the English bulldog.

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Poodle -

The poodle is an old breed of dog, and its exact origins haven't been agreed on yet. One theory is that they entered Europe through Portugal with the Moors of Northwestern Africa, and another suggests they are the descendants of an ancient Asian hunting dog.

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Dachshund -

The dachshund was first bred in Germany as a companion for badger hunters. The dog's short stature and long ears make it a wonderful digger, an instinct that annoys dachshund owners to this day!

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Golden retriever -

Thought to come from the interbreeding of spaniels and Irish setters, the golden retriever hails from Scotland. It was officially debuted at an English dog show in 1908, and has been one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the world ever since.

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Rottweiler -

Like many big dogs, Rottweilers are descendants of the ancient English mastiff. Their name comes from the German town of Rottweil, where they were originally bred as farm dogs.

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Yorkshire terrier -

Like many terrier breeds, the exact history of the Yorkie is convoluted and poorly documented. By at least the 1800s, the Yorkshire terrier was used to control rat populations in mining communities.

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Chihuahua -

Chihuahuas, native to Mexico, are the oldest dog breed native to the Americas. It is widely believed that they descended from a wild dog known as the Techichi that was first domesticated by the Toltec civilization.

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German shorthaired pointer -

German shorthaired pointers were first bred in the 1860s as retrievers. While they were an instant success in Germany, it wasn't until the latter half of the 20th century that this breed made its way to England and the United States.

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Doberman pinscher -

Another breed hailing from Germany, the Doberman pinschers were originally bred as hyper-alert companions of policemen and military officers. While this unfair stereotype of being a violent guard dog followed the breed around for decades, they're known today for their strong sense of loyalty and affection.

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Bernese mountain dog -

Originally bred in the Swiss town of Bern, the Bernese mountain dog was conceived of as the optimal work dog. To this day, they're known for their fierce loyalty, attentiveness, and desire to work, making them wonderful support animals.

Sources: (Stacker) (American Kennel Club)

See also: Which dog should you get based on your zodiac sign?

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