Posts Tagged ‘guard dog’

Breed Spotlight: Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dog standing in a grassy field with a half shaved cut.

History The Portuguese Water Dog originated in the Algarve region of Portugal where it was bred to assist at shipyards. These dogs were tasked with guarding ships, herding fish into fishermen’s nets, retrieving lost tackle or broken nets, and acting as couriers from ship to ship, or ship to shore. They would sometimes travel with fishing…

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Breed Spotlight: Schipperke

Schipperke dog standing in field.

History The Schipperke (pronounced “sheep-er-ker”) originated in Flanders, Belgium in the early 16th century. This breed descended from the now-extinct Leauvenaar,  a black sheepdog that was also the foundation breed for the Belgian Sheepdog, or Groendendael. While the Belgian Sheepdog followed in the Leauvenaar’s footsteps as a shepherd, the Schipperke took on its own role as…

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