Extinct Ancient Dog Breeds: A Look at 13 Forgotten Canines

Let's take a journey through time and explore some of the most fascinating extinct ancient dog breeds. The Salish Wool Dog, for example, was a small, fluffy dog that was native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

These dogs were highly valued by the indigenous Salish people for their soft woolly coats, which were often used to make clothing and blankets. The Salish Wool Dog was a beloved companion and working dog, used for tasks such as herding and guarding.

The Phu Quoc Ridgeback, a breed from Vietnam, was known for its distinctive ridge of hair running along its back in the opposite direction of its coat. Unfortunately, this breed is now extinct due to a combination of factors, including cross-breeding with other dogs and the loss of its original habitat.

The Phu Quoc Ridgeback was a highly intelligent and energetic breed, well-suited to its native island environment. Its unique appearance and strong work ethic made it a valuable companion for the people of Vietnam.

Worth a look: Extinct Old English Terrier

The ancient world was home to many fascinating dog breeds that are now extinct. The Phoenician Hound, for example, was a sleek and agile breed that originated in the Mediterranean region.

These dogs were highly valued for their hunting skills and were often depicted in ancient artwork. They were known for their speed and agility, making them well-suited for chasing small game.

The Phoenician Hound was a rare breed, and its exact characteristics are not well-documented. However, it's believed to have been a medium-sized dog with a short, smooth coat.

The Tesem was a long, thin dog with triangular ears that stood tall above their head.

These dogs were fierce hunters and loyal human companions.

They were first recorded in a drawing that dates back to between 3200 and 3000 B.C.

The Tesem's time as a popular breed came to an end around 1650 B.C., when Egyptians started replacing them with other breeds.

The Old English Bulldog was primarily bred for bull-baiting. It's hard to imagine a dog being used for such a cruel sport.

Experts believe that the Old English Bulldog was derived from ancient warring dogs. This breed was likely created for a specific purpose, just like many other breeds.

The Old English Bulldog was originally established in the 1600s or 1700s. This is a relatively recent time period in the history of dog breeding.

It's estimated that the breed was highly active and did not tire easily. I can imagine that would be an asset for a dog bred for bull-baiting.

These dogs shared similar physical characteristics to the English Foxhound. It's interesting to think about how different breeds can share similar traits.

The Old English Bulldog disappeared due to crossbreeding. Unfortunately, many breeds have met the same fate due to human actions.

Here's an interesting read: Olde English Bulldog Breed

The Dalbo dog was a big, floofy breed that protected grazing cattle from wolves and bears in 17th-century Sweden. They were strong and agile, but often sustained serious injuries from predators.

Farmers outfitted them with spike collars to add an extra layer of protection. This was a common practice to help the breed survive in a harsh environment.

The Dalbo dog's numbers were steadily declining by the early 1820s, along with the local wolf and bear populations. This decline led to the breed's eventual extinction.

Il Öhman is credited with researching the breed in the 1950s and interviewing locals who remembered the Dalbo dog. Her efforts helped keep the breed's memory alive.

One of the last remaining images of a purebred Dalbo dog is a photo of a dog named Bella, taken in 1904.

The Molossus, a massive and powerful ancient dog breed, fell victim to changing hunting styles. Its size and strength made it a formidable hunter, but it couldn't keep up with the demands of modern hunting methods.

The Thracian Hound, another ancient breed, was prized for its speed and agility, but it too struggled to adapt to new hunting techniques. Its slender build and short legs made it less effective at hunting larger prey.

The Laconian Hound, a small and energetic breed, was highly valued for its ability to track and hunt small game, but it couldn't compete with the newer, more efficient hunting breeds that emerged. Its short stature and high energy levels made it well-suited for hunting in tight spaces, but it was eventually replaced by more versatile breeds.

On a similar theme: Rare Small Dog Breeds

The Molossus was a giant breed, weighing around 200lbs, similar to today's mastiff. They were bred for use in ancient Rome's military.

These massive dogs were sent to charge into battle to break up formations or hunt out people hiding. They were even trained to protect their humans in battle, and some even helped Alexander the Great in his conquests.

The Molossian Hound, an ancient Greek dog, is the ancestor of the Mastiff. It's considered the most famous extinct breed in history.

A Molossian features in the Satyricon, a 2nd-century work of Latin fiction. Trimalchio, the main character, has a Molossian named Scylax, who was loved dearly.

The Molossian earned a mention in book 9 of Aristotle's The History of Animals, where it's described as "superior to the others in size, and in the courage with which they face the attacks of wild animals."

See what others are reading: Terceira Mastiff

The Braque du Puy is an extinct pointer breed that originated in France. No Braque du Puy dogs can be located today, leading most experts to believe that they are extinct.

Some breeds are saved from extinction, but sadly, it doesn't seem that the Braque du Puy was saved a second time.

The Braque du Puy is a pointer breed that originated in France. It's believed to be extinct today.

This breed's history is shrouded in mystery, with multiple theories about its origins. One theory suggests they were saved from extinction during the French Revolution.

Unfortunately, it seems that these sporting dogs were not saved a second time, leading to their current status as an extinct breed.

The Alaunt is an extinct dog breed that lived throughout Europe and Central Asia in ancient times.

They were bred to work in a variety of capacities by Sarmatian nomads, who valued their strength and precision.

Unfortunately, they became extinct in the 17th century.

Their large, stout body was similar to that of the Great Dane, a breed that's still around today.

Turnspit dogs were small, low-to-the-ground dogs with a short tail that was often cropped, and they were usually blue/gray in color.

They were bred for a very specific purpose: to run on an oversized hamster wheel connected to a spit that roasted meat over the kitchen fire. This was a grueling task that left them miserable.

Turnspit dogs originated in Welsh castles, but their use became widespread throughout other countries, including the United States, where they were possibly used by William Penn.

They were often described as "ugly" and had a "quite morose disposition", which made them unpopular as pets.

Turnspit dogs were treated poorly and were essentially considered kitchen appliances, not beloved family pets.

The Salish Woolly was a small dog breed with long, soft white hair, pointed ears, and curly tails.

Their hair was highly valued for its softness and was often sheared to be used in clothing and blankets. In fact, it's believed that these fabrics were so common that they wouldn't have even been expensive.

They originally lived on the Salish Coast, specifically on Vancouver Island in what is now Canada, and in Washington State.

The St. John's Water Dog was a medium-sized breed that loved the water and was often found alongside fishermen on their boats. They had a water-resistant coat and were trained to fetch distant fish nets or dive for objects in the water.

Their distinctive appearance included a black coat with a white crest on their chest, earning them a "puppy tuxedo" look. They were a beloved companion for fishermen, but their popularity declined due to high taxes imposed on them in the 1800s.

The government taxed any dogs sold for purposes other than herding sheep, leading to a significant decline in their popularity. As a result, the St. John's Water Dog became an extinct breed.

Here's an interesting read: St. John's Water Dog

The Chiribaya Shepherd was a llama-herding dog native to ancient Peru.

They were treated like royalty in life and death, which is a testament to the importance of llama and alpaca farming in the Chiribayan culture and economy.

In 2006, local archeologists discovered 43 Chiribaya Shepherds buried individually in an ancient cemetery in Ilo, Peru.

These "mummy dogs" were beautifully preserved, with fur, tissue, and teeth still intact, wrapped in llama blankets and buried with llama and fish bones.

The Chiribaya people gave such a high social status to pets, making them one of the only ancient cultures to do so, apart from the ancient Egyptians.

Experts believe dogs in modern-day Peru may share some of the traits of their royal ancestors.

Hawaiian poi dogs were semi-domesticated and descended from dogs brought to the islands by Polynesian settlers.

In ancient Hawaii, poi dogs were an important food source, especially for women, because Hawaii's ancient legal system prohibited women from eating pork.

They had short legs, long backs, flat heads, and pointy ears, as depicted in ancient petroglyphs in Oahu.

The only surviving image of a poi dog was sketched by German painter and explorer Louis Choris in 1816.

Hawaiian poi dogs bred themselves into extinction with feral dogs brought to the islands by Western colonizers.

The Honolulu Zoo launched a program to bring back the Hawaiian poi dog breed in the 1960s and '70s.

Within 3 generations, the program produced Hoku, a female with similar physical traits.

In 1976, Hoku traveled from Honolulu to Tahiti on a Polynesian canoe, a re-enactment of the journey ancient Polynesians would've taken to modern-day Hawaii.

The term "poi dog" is now used in Hawaii to refer to any mixed breed.

The Marquesan dog is a mysterious breed that's steeped in history. Much of what we know about it comes from ancient petroglyphs and stone carvings that may not be entirely realistic.

Historians believe the Marquesan went extinct before 1595, when Europeans began colonizing the islands. Unfortunately, this means we may never know for sure what the breed looked like.

Experts think the Marquesan may have survived through the mid-1800s, although it's believed to have been extremely rare during this time.