The Oldest Known Dog Breeds

The Basenji dog

Dogs resembling the Basenji can be seen in sculptures in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. These dogs were trained to hunt lions. The Basenji is so fast they could run the lion to its death. This dog breed wasn’t successfully introduced to England until the 1930s and made its way to America shortly after.

The Saluki dog

The Saluki dog has been found in rock art dating back to 10,000 BC. They were considered to be the “Royal Dog of Egypt.”

The New Guinea Singing Dog

One of the most rare breeds in the world, the New Guinea Singing Dog is much more closely related to a wild dog than a domesticated pet.

The Pharaoh Hound

Pharaoh Hounds are skilled hunters and were bred to hunt rabbits in Malta, Greece and North Africa. These dogs are beautiful but costly — a puppy can easily set you back $5,000.

The Ibizan Hound

The Ibizan Hound may share similar roots with the Pharaoh Hound and resembles the dogs portrayed on tombs in ancient Egypt. Bred for hunting small game, particularly rabbits, the Ibizan Hound was kept in its purest form to retain its sharp sense of smell and hearing. 

The Peruvian Inca Orchid Dog

Peruvian Inca Orchid Dog A breed first depicted in ancient pottery around 750 AD, according to the AKC, these dogs were the dogs of the Incan and Quechua tribes.

The Carolina Dog

Known also as the American Dingo, the rare Carolina Dog may have been closely related to the very first dogs that roamed North America. Based off of ancient art depicting dogs with similar physical traits to the Carolina Dog, some experts believe that the Carolina Dog is a descendant of the breeds that may have crossed the Bering landmass over 8,000 years ago.

The Xoloitzcuintli

Also known as the “Mexican hairless dog,” the Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced shoh-loyts-kweent-lee) or Xolo dates back an estimated 3,500 years to the time of the Aztecs.

tThe Samoyed Dog

 These dogs have been used for guarding herding, and sledding for over 3,000 years. 

The Saluki Dog

Evidence of the Saluki can be traced to early Egypt, where it was used by nomads to run down foxes, hares and gazelles in the desert.

The Borzoi Dog 

Also known as the “Russian Wolfhound,” Borzois were bred by Russian aristocracy for the purpose of hunting large game, like wolves, in very cold climates. The first Borzoi was documented in the 1600s and from there, the breed may have established as many as seven different types in Russia

The Greyhound

Greyhounds became valuable for chasing rabbits in the 1800s and then as racing dogs in America in the 1900s. Greyhound-like dogs depicted in Greek, Egyptian and Roman times, then became popular among English nobility and commoners.

The Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound This elegant breed is considered to have descended directly from ancient dog types, although the common dog we see today typically goes back to dogs brought over to Great Britain in the 1920’s

The Chinese Shar Pei Dog 

Chinese Shar Pei this breed has been seen in pictures on pottery dating back to 206 BCE.

The Chow Chow Dog

Recent DNA studies have potentially confirmed that this fluffy breed is one of the first to evolve from the wolf

The Pekingese Dog

Though nobody knows quite when the Chinese first began to breed the Pekingese, they have been associated with the emperors of China since at least the 700s CE.

The Shih Tzu Dog

Shih Tzu is descended from dogs dating back to 800 BC and has deep roots in royal Chinese history. Later, the dogs were given as gifts to English and Dutch nobility and by 1938 a standard was set for the breed. In the late 1930s, Shih Tzus finally arrived in America and rose to enormous popularity by the 1960s.

The Tibetan Terriers

Tibetan Terriers were kept as a pure breed for over 2,000 years, simply due to the geographically isolated location of Tibet. It wasn’t until 1922 that the 1st Tibetan Terrier came to Europe