Dogs come in all delightful shapes and sizes, and their breed type will often dictate a pup’s physical traits and unique personality. But what’s the backstory behind that name? We have some furry interesting origin stories to share…
Doberman
Strangely enough, it seems we have taxes to thank for these lovable giants! Back when the taxman had to physically go door to door to make his collections, a German employee by the name of Louis Dobermann also happened to breed dogs in his spare time. He wanted to breed the ultimutt authoritative and imposing type of dog who could join him on his tax collections as protection, and thus, the Doberman was born!
Great Dane
These dogs certainly are great, but they aren’t Danish! The gentle giants were originally bred in Germany (developed from Mastiff-type dogs) for the purpose of hunting wild boars and were first called Boar Hounds. So why are they now “Danes”? Appawrently, a French naturalist visited Denmark in the 1700s, laid eyes on the dogs, and believed them to be a different version of the greyhound—Great Danes—and for some reason, the name stuck.
Saint Bernard
These prominent pooches were supposedly kept as companions to monks who lived at St. Bernard hospice in the 18th century. What the monks didn’t furesee, however, was just how talented these dogs would be at rescuing other monks and travellers who got caught in blizzards at St. Bernard Pass (in the Alps between Switzerland and Italy). The name became official in 1880 as a tribute to the saint himself.
Pug
There are a few theories as to the history behind the name of these puqsquisite little balls of love, one of which stems from the Latin word Pugnus, meaning “balled up fist” (the wrinkles on a pug’s flat face could be compared to a fist). It may also stem from the use of the word “pug” as a term of endearment used in earlier history.
Jack Russel Terrier
Jack Russels were first bred in England in the 1800s by a reverend who aimed to develop a new strain of Fox Terries. The man aimed to make foxhunting more efficient with the introduction of a shorter-legged terrier that would be better suited to the hilly terrain of his region. That man’s name? John “Jack” Russell, of course.
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We have something for dogs of all shapes, sizes, and ages! Bring your pup for a visit at any PETWORLD branch or let your fingers do the walking and shop online.