AKA: Chien D’ours de Tahltan, Tahltan

Description: The Tahltan Bear Dog was fox-like in appearance, with some likeness to that of the spitz and pariah breed types. This breed is already considered extinct despite claims that there are still a few remaining. What is clearly known about its appearance is that its coat is short, thick, and rough. Its most distinctive feature is its tail, which has been described as short and bushy. The Tahltan Bear Dog carried it erect, making it look like a shaving brush or whisked broom.

Dynamics: As a hunter dog, the Tahltan Bear Dog was athletic and agile. The breed was raised to help the Tahltan natives hunt bears, hence the name. The Tahltan Bear Dog had great power despite its seemingly small stature. It was also brave and courageous, which should be expected when one is facing a bear. Its hunting instincts aside, the Tahltan Bear Dog was kind and gentle to human s and smaller animals.

Breed Group: Southern

Weight: up to 15 pounds

Height: up to 15 inches

Color: The Tahltan Bear Dog’s coat is usually black with white markings. But there has been reports of other varying colors. Black with white markings is considered the standard.

Country of Origin: The Tahltan Bear Dog was raised by the Tahltan Natives. It was indigenous to Canada

Photo: Pharaoh Hound

AKA: Ridgeback, African Lion Dog, African Lion Hound

Description: The Rhodesian Ridegback is large and well-muscled dog. It has a flat broad head with a long and deep muzzle and a defined stop. Its nose can be black, brown, or liver, and its eyes are usually brown. Its ears are set high and dropping down and tapering. It has a deep chest, and strong straight front legs. The body ends with a long and tapering tail that curves upward a little. The Rhodesian Ridgeback’s most distinctive feature is its clearly defined symmetrical ridge of hair growing in the opposite direction running down the middle of the back.

Dynamics: The Rhodesian Ridgeback is known to be a ferocious and sophisticated hunter, but it is also a calm and gentle dog to its master or family. It has a good nature and is obedient and even-tempered. It can play roughly though and may not do well with small children. This is an intelligent and serious dog, straightforward and confident. It is brave and and can have an imposing presence. Towards strangers, this dog is reserved and quiet. But it can socialize well when trained.

When training the Rhodesian Ridgeback, it is important that the training be consistent and firm. This breed does not respond well to meek or passive owners, and might refuse to take us seriously. Without the proper training and socialization, the Rhodesian Ridgeback may develop destructive behavior and may become combatant with other dogs or pets. It might also become stubborn and may refuse to follow you. But once you have established that you are the leader and the dog is the follower, then the Rhodesian Ridgeback will prove that is is a loyal and protective companion.

Breed Group: Southern, Hound

Weight: males 80-90 pounds (36-41kg), females 65-75 pounds (29-34kg)

Height: males 25-27 inches (63-69cm), females 24-26 inches (61-66cm)

Color: The color of the Rhodesian Ridgeback’s coat range from light wheaten to shades of red. Sometimes there are little white patches on the chest and toes.

Country of Origin: The Rhodesian Ridgeback came from Zimbabwe, South Africa, where it is known as a hunting dog and retriever. It also took care of children and guarded property. When hunting in packs, this breed is excellent in hunting lions, which earned them the name of African Lion Hound.

Activities: The Rhodesian Ridgeback has great stamina and energy. It needs a lot of exercise and a lot of opportunities to run around. It should be walked everyday and allowed to run free in a safe and secure area.

Grooming: Grooming the Rhodesian Ridgeback is easy because it has a short and smooth coat. Brush occasionally with a bristle brush. Dry shampoo only when necessary. It is an average shedder.

Other Info: The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. It is a generally healthy breed but can also be prone to the usual ailments like hip dysplasia and dermoid sinus. The Rhodesian Ridgeback will be all right living in an apartment as long as it is getting enough exercise.

Photo: Sannse

AKA: New Guinea Highland Dog, Singer, NGSD

Description: The New Guinea Singing Dog has the appearance like that of a fox, with a triangular head, prick ears, and triangular eyes. It is a small- to medium-sized dog with a plush coat that can be either average or long in length. Its body is muscular, and the New Guinea Singing Dog is agile and graceful. The body ends with lean hindquarters and a brushy, soft, and fluffy tail.

Dynamics: The New Guinea Singing Dog is not as domesticated as a regular pet dog. This breed is closely related to wild dogs. One of its wild characteristics is that it howls more than it barks, even dramatically changing the pitches of its howls. This is where they actually got their name. But it can be tamed and can become devoted to an owner when properly socialized. Generally, this is not a dog for may people.

As a breed of the wild, the New Guinea Singing Dog is active and alert. It is instinctive and uses its fives sense when exploring its environment. It has a great hunting drive, coupled with optimizing all its senses in hunting and chasing prey. It is flexible and can slip through any opening wide enough for its head. The New Guinea Singing Dog is also an aggressive animal, especially with dogs of the same sex.

Breed Group: Southern

Weight: 18-30 pounds (8-14 kg)

Height: 14-15 inches (35-38 cm)

Color: The New Guinea Singing Dog can come in red or shades of red, black, and tan. There can be white markings on the body but it should not cover more than one-third. The white markings can be on the muzzle, face, neck and shoulders, belly, legs, feet, and tail tip.

Country of Origin: The New Guinea Singing Dog is from New Guinea. In the 1950s, breeding with imported dogs almost made the breed extinct. Thankfully, pure dogs were found in the isolated Lavanni Valley , and another pair was caught in Irian Jaya’s Eipomak Valley in Indonesia. This breed can be seen in many zoos around the world, but is already rare in New Guinea.

Activities: The New Guinea Singing Dog needs a lot of exercise and physical activities. As a wild dog, it should be taken outside everyday.

Grooming: Brushing is enough for the New Guinea Singing Dog. Its coat is weather resistant, and does not really need regular grooming.

Other Info: The New Guinea Singing Dog has a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. This is a hardy breed and has no irregularities. This dog is versatile and can adapt to any place and under any climate.

Photo: Valerie Abbott

AKA: Tepeizeuintli, Xoloitzcuintle, Xolo
Description: The Mexican Hairless dog could be in a miniature size or standard one. They come in two types the hairless and coated hairless. They have graceful body, ears like that of a bat, and eyes shaped like almond with long neck. They are very prominent because they are a hairless breed. But according to its variety, the coated one is covered with a flat compact coat that is short in length. The hairless type come in black nor blue in color Some do have hair on top of their head and this type also affect their dentition where they also have missing teeth.

Temperament: They are a very calm breed, but do require both socialization and obedience training because they also possess a working breed’s attitude with strong instrincts. They climb and jump and could be a trusted guard dog, that would not turn their back on fights. As early as possible they needed to be trained with good manners to be obedient and could easily adjust to its surroundings and the people around them.

Activity: They are required for a daily walk and puppies likes to play as their exercise. What is important especially for those hairless variety to get enough exercise for them to fight sickness and they should be protected from extreme weather. And exercise also would help them behave and not display behavioral problems.

Health: No known health issues except that hairless breeds should have an extra care especially protection against severe cold and during bad weather and extreme heat as well. Their life expectancy is from 15 to 20 years.

Grooming: Hairless ones is very easy to groom provided their skin should also be checked and need to apply lotion usually twice a month or once a month depending on their skin’s condition. And be sure to use a hypoallergenic product that is proper for their skin.

Breed Group: Southern
Color: from black to slate, gray, bronze, brindle, red, fawn, solid or spotted.
Height: Toy: Height 9-14 inches (23-36 cm.) tall at the shoulder, Miniature: Height 15-20 inches (38-51 cm.) tall at the shoulder, Height 20-30 inches (51-76 cm.) tall at the shoulder.
Weight: Toy: Weight 5-15 pounds (2.3-6.8 kg.), Miniature: Weight 15-30 pounds (6.8-14 kg.), Standard: Weight 25-40 pounds (11-18 kg.) and up to even 60 + pounds (27 kg.)
Country Of Origin: Mexico

Dynamics: Xolo Breed existed almost 3,500 years already. Native to Mexico. They are known as the sacred dog according to the Aztecs because they believe that masters’ soul needed them for their safety in underworld. That is the history behind of what is the belief about this breed and until today, Mexicans do have the great belief that this breed is for healing that is why some of the cultures eat their meat for healing purposes.

Photo by Vanzetti

AKA: Ilio, Poi Dog

Description: The Hawaiian Poi Dog is extinct. It had a short coat covering its low and barrel-shaped body. The head was flat due to lack of chewing, as it was on a vegetarian diet. The Hawaiian Poi Dog was raised basically to become a delicacy of a Polynesian tribe in Hawaii.

Dynamics: The Hawaiian Poi dog is described as clumsy, playful, and had a friendly temperament. It was fat and lazy, fattened up to be eaten. It was like a hog more than it was a dog. It was sluggish, and it was evidently not very smart.

Breed Group: Southern

Weight: The Hawaiian Poi Dog was overweight as they were fattened up.

Height: approximately 14 inches (36 cm)

Color: The Hawaiian Poi Dog came in various colors.

Country of Origin: The Hawaiian Poi Dog came to Hawaii with the Polynesians more than a thousand years ago. In the 19th century other breeds mixed with the Hawaiian Poi Dog until the breed was no longer pure. The Honolulu Zoo attempted to bring back the breed but failed. The Hawaiian Poi Dog is now indeed extinct.

Activities: The Hawaiian Poi Dog acted more like a hog than a dog. It was fat and lazy and slow.

Other Info: The Hawaiian Poi Dog’s life expectancy could not be determined because it was eaten before it would die of a natural death. It was fed with a vegetarian poi diet that made it inactive, slow, and obese. Due to the lack of chewing in the diet, the head of the Hawaiian Poi Dog became flat and enlarged.

The Hawaiian Poi dog was actually also used as guard dogs for the tribe’s children. It would even sleep with the children to protect them. A puppy would sometimes be given to a child at birth as a gift. If the child would die, the dog the was killed and buried alongside the child. If the dog died first, its teeth were pulled and made into a necklace to be worn by the child.