So this is week 5… I am going through dog breeds, covering some basic titbits about the breeds. This will be in between other posts too.
This, the fifth, post will cover M-O of dog breeds.
In previous posts, A-C, D-F, G-I and J-L have been covered.
In the follow up posts I will look into dog breeds from P-R, S-V, and W-Z…
Basically I am doing an A-Z of dog breeds, with 1-3 breeds covered per letter.
If I do not cover the breed of your dog in this post, please leave the breed in the “thoughts” comment box below, or post it via the contact page – this way I can include your breed in another post (either the follow up, or a repeat with different breeds). Do the same if you want more information than I have provided on any particular dog breed!
M
Miniature Schnauzer
Country of Origin: Germany
Lifespan: 13-15 years Breed Size: Small
Original Use: Bred, and used for hunting rats and other vermin on farms in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s. The small size of the Miniature Schnauzer helped it to easily adapt to city life.
Outstanding Physical Trait: I personally, think they look like angry teddy bears with their little beards and bushy eyebrows. The fluffy muzzles are a distinguishing feature, and the breed is aptly named after their beards – the name is derived from the German word for muzzle, “Schnauze”.
Münsterländer
Country of Origin: Münster, Germany
Lifespan: 11-13 years (both) Breed Size: Large (large ML) and medium (small ML)
Original Use: The Small Münsterländer was bred (in the 1700’s) originally for use of nobles for hunting, often used alongside falcons in a hunt. The dog would flush out the prey, and the falcon would catch it. Both the Small and the Large were used as gundogs – all round gundogs; retrieving, flushing out, tracking… The Large Münsterländer was bred (in the 1800’s) for hunting things a little larger then its’ smaller counterpart.
Outstanding Physical Trait:
N
Newfoundland
Country of Origin: Canada – the Newfoundland region
Lifespan: 9-11 years Breed Size: Giant
Original Use: Fisherman’s dog – pulling fish nets, hauling carts laden with fish and/ or fishing equipment.
Outstanding Physical Trait: That immense coat! Big, fluffy bear-like fur! Thick, waterproof coat. It’s just outstanding… !
Norwich Terrier
Country of Origin: England – Norwich (oddly enough!)
Lifespan: 13-15 years Breed Size: Small
Original Use: Hunting small vermin such as, rats and foxes in the 19th Century. Originally used on farms, but adapted easily to city living due to their small size.
Outstanding Physical Trait: It is one of the smaller of the terriers, with a cute little face giving it a little, teddy-bear like look. The Norfolk and Norwich terrier used to be classed as the same breed – the Norfolk being known as the drop-eared as the tops of its ears flop down, the Norwich terrier was known as the prick-eared, and is a required trait for the breed standard (pricked up ears) of the modern day Norwich terrier.
O
Old English Sheepdog
Country of Origin: England
Lifespan: 10-12 years Breed Size: Large
Original Use: Herding/ guarding sheep (sheepdog) – it is a pastoral breed, bred in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s. Nowadays they are kept as companions and often shown. They are no longer used as herding dogs, in favour of Collie breeds, but somtimes are still used for guarding – homes not sheep!
Outstanding Physical Trait: The long, thick coat of the Old English with its’ distinctive colouration – white with grey along its’ back and rump and tail (with a white tip on tail).
Otterhound
Country of Origin: England
Lifespan: 10-12 years Breed Size: Large
Original Use: Bred for hunting otters… The otters would eat up all the fish, so there were few left for humans to fish. Otterhounds would hunt the ‘vermin’, reducing the numbers, but increasing the numbers of fish available for people.
Outstanding Physical Trait: This breed has an amazing, thick, double coat – it is water and weather-proof; ideal for hunting the semi-aquatic creature, and being in water for long periods of time. The Otterhound also has a brilliant sense of smell, being able to track otters beneath and through the water.
All images are open source, Google images, or my own – or photos donated for use by the pet owners.
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