Abyssinian cat is thought to be one of the oldest breeds of domestic cats in the world, as the first domestication of Abyssian
Cat occured in Ancient Egyptian times. It is thought that Abyssinian cats were bought and sold on the banks of the River Nile
by traders, where the African Wild Cats(the ancestors of all domestic cats)lived in their native habitats. Abyssinian Cats are
most easily identified by their "ticked" fur which gives their coat a mottled appearance.
Affenpinscher is thought to be one of the oldest toy dog breed, appearing in Germany during the 17th century. Athough the
Affenpinscher then was bigger than the dog we know today, it is thought that the ancestors of these dogs were around much earlier,
being depicted in paintings as early as the 15th century. The Affenpinscher was first bred and kept as aform of pest control in kitchens and stables
as these active Terriers proved effective at keeping rat numbers down. By the late 1800s, the breed was fully established in southern
Germany and was a favoured dog of rich and famous.
Afghan Hound is thought to be one of the oldest of all domestic dog breeds, with the first records of the Afghan Hound dating
back to 4,000 BC. The fast and agile nature of this dog meant that they made excellent hunters of small game in their native
Afghanistan, most commonly hunting Deer, Goats, Gazelle and Wild Boar along with seeing off larger predatores such as Wolves and
Snow Leopards.
Ainu dog is thought to be one of the oldest breeds of dog in the world, first bred by the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido
to hunt Salmon, Deer and Bears. Despite being hunter-gatherers that survived in freezing conditions, the Ainu are thought to
have kept dogs from the very beginning and respected them in nearly the same way as other Humans. The Ainu Dog is thought to have descended from medium-sized dogs that arrived on the island with migrants from the main island around 3,000 years ago.
Unlike a number of species of other domestic dog, the origins of the Airedale Terrier are well known. This breed was created
150 years ago by working class farmers in a valley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Cross-bred from a Welsh Terrier and an
Otter Hound, the Airedale Terrier quickly bacame the Terrier of choice and was oficially recognized in 1886. It is the larges
of all Terrier breeds and was originally bred as a hunter of small animals, particularly rats.
Akbash is a large, white breed of domestic dogs, native to the plains and mountains of western Turkey. It is a guard dog and was originally
bred by shepherds around 3,000 years ago to create a white-coloured dog that could gaurd their flock of Sheep. Although the exact
reasons for this particular choice in colour are unknown, it is widely believed that a white guard dog was wanted, to ensure
that it wasn't mistaken for a hungry predator, such as a Wolf.
The Akita is a medium sized domestic dog breed, first bred in Japan in 1600s. It originates from the Akita Prefecture in
the northeast of Japan, hence it's name. The exact reason for initial creation is still disagreed upon, as to whether or not
they were bred as hunting or as fighting dogs.
Alaskan Malmute was developed by a tribe of Innuit known as the Mahlemuts, who wanted to create a working dog that could
pull heavy loads, as well as assisting with hunting, but one that could also withstand the harsh winter conditions. They are
believed to have originated from primitive domestic dogs that accompanied prehistoric people on their migrations between Asia and America.
Alpine Dachsbracke is a stocky and robust breed of Scent Hound, originally created in the mountains of Austria during the
mid 19th century. Bred by mixing the larger indigenous Austrian Hounds with the short-legged Dachshund of Germany, the alpine
hunters were able to create a breed that could not only be used for tracking animals, but one that was also placid enough to
bring the wounded animal back to their master, without causing it any further harm.
Although the exact origins of the American Bulldog are still not quite clear, they are most commonly thought to have derived
from English Bulldogs that arrived in North America with European colonists. Despite there being a great variety within the
breed today, the American Bulldog is thought to be the most typical example of the original English Bulldogs of the 17th and
18th centuries. Bred and kept primarily for hunting and as a guard dog, the American Bulldog was also used in Bull baiting.
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