To really understand a dog, you need to know a little about the history of
canis familiaris. Scientists have traced their DNA back to basically 3 females which means that all dogs today are descended from these 3 females, the majority of dogs actually from one of those three females.
The dog's DNA is almost identical to the wolf and many scientists believe that the dog has evolved from the wolf. The
origins of the dog have been
traced to the distant past (estimate of 15,000 year or more ago) to the area of Eastern Asia.
Many of the dogs today are relatively modern breeds (within the last 200-300 years) stemming from the deliberate intentions of human breeders trying to develop certain dogs for certain functions. Dogs have adapted themselves quite readily to survival among us humans and are able to read us quite well. Their ability to take instructions seems to be high compared to other animals.
Breeds according the age (determined by DNA code):
The oldest breeds (genetically the closes descendants of the first Asian dogs:)
Chow chow (China)
Shar-Pei (China)
Akita (Japan)
Shiba Inu (Japan)
Basenji (Africa)
Siberian husky (northeast Siberia)
Alaskan malamute (northwest Alaska)
Afgan hound (Afghanistan)
Lhasa apso (Tibet)
Pekingese (China)
Saluki (Middle East)
Samoyed (Western Siberia)
Shih Tzu (Tibet)
Tibetan terrier (Tibet)
Guarding Breeds (the next oldest breeds although still quite modern:)
Mastiff
Bull mastiff
Bulldog
Miniature bulldog
French bulldog
Boxer
Rottweiler
Newfoundland
Bernese mountain dog
Perro de Presa Canario
German shepherd
Herding breeds (still newer:)
Shetland sheepdog
Belgian sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Collies
St. Bernard
Old English Sheepdog
Irish wolfhound
Greyhound
Whippet
Borzoi
Hunting breeds (the newest of all the breeds:)
Golden retriever
Labrador retriever
Cocker spaniel
Irish setter
Basset hound
Beagle
Pointer
Bloodhound
Cairn terrier
Airedale terrier
Other spaniels, pointers, retrievers, terriers and scent hound
Common Dog Breeds by Class of Dog