The history of dogs in the United States intertwines with the story of human settlement, culture, companionship, and a mutually beneficial relationship to create an unsurpassed bond between man and his best friend. Dogs arrived in America in two ways: through natural migration by crossing from Siberia to Alaska, with archaeological evidence dating their presence back approximately 9,000 years and through early European settlers. These early canines were crucial to the success, survival, and daily life of people across a variety of settlements, and they remained popular companions and critical partners in protecting our freedoms.
For this blog, we will focus on some of the dog breeds that uniquely evolved in America and breeds that have played a large part in our American culture. We pay homage to these dog breeds and our history by featuring them on our bags.
Beagle
The beagle, featured on the front of our All-American recipe, is a small hound breed that originated in Britain and can be traced back to the 14th century. It was popular for its ability to hunt small game, including rabbits and hares, and it was known for its friendly nature, intelligence, and loyalty.
They were first imported into the United States in the 1800s, where they were cross-bred with other breeds to improve their hunting abilities. As a result, they became larger and more muscular than their British counterparts.
Their popularity continues in modern times due to their continued use as both hunting dogs and beloved family pets, in addition to being used for scent detection and therapy dogs. Their friendly, affectionate personalities and loyal nature made them a hit among dog lovers, and they have consistently ranked among the most popular breeds in the United States. They are considered one of the most versatile breeds, capable of working in a wide range of environments and situations.
FUN FACT: Snoopy was a beagle, which led to a massive increase in the breed’s popularity.
Labrador Retrievers
Labrador Retrievers were bred in the early 1800s in Newfoundland, Canada, to assist fishermen in retrieving fish that had escaped from nets and lines and to help with other tasks around the fishing villages. Their webbed paws, waterproof coat, and strong swimming abilities made them well-suited for these tasks. We feature the Labrador Retriever on the front of our Patriot Power recipe.
Later, in the 1800s, the breed was imported to Britain where they quickly became popular hunting dogs known for their strong natural instincts, good temperament, and ability to work in water. While Canada is right next door, it is thought that the original lineage of Labrador Retrievers in the United States was mainly imported from Britain in the early 1900s. The Labrador Retriever was initially used for hunting waterfowl but quickly gained in popularity as family pets and versatile working dogs.
The modern Labrador Retriever that we know today was refined by breeding the original dogs with other breeds, such as the St. John’s Water Dog and various types of Setters, Spaniel, and Pointer breeds. Today Labradors are used in a variety of roles ranging from search and rescue to therapy work and are often employed as assistance and guide dogs for people with disabilities, in addition to being loving family pets.
(UN) Fun fact (if you are a fan of labs!): The breed recently lost its title, after a 31-year reign, as the most popular breed in the US to the French Bulldog.
German Shepherd
German Shepherds originated in Germany in the late 1800s, developed by Captain Max von Stephanitz who was looking to develop the ideal German herding dog. Von Stephanitz bread various strains of herding dogs from the northern and central districts of Germany to create a more intelligent and versatile dog capable of performing a variety of tasks.
Von Stephanitz spent 35 years promoting and further refining the breed, however, as modern livestock management became more pervasive, he shifted his promotion to using German Shepherds as ideal K-9 workers and by World War I they were employed on the battlefield as messenger dogs, scout dogs, and mine detection dogs.
They were first brought to the United States in the early 1900s as working dogs on ranches and farms, continuing their legacy as herding dogs, and military and police K-9s, but they really gained in popularity as companion animals after the war, in part because of the canine movie stars Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart.
German Shepherds continue to be used widely as police K-9s and Military Working Dogs due to their intelligence, loyalty, and exceptional protective instincts and remain very popular family pets and non-military service dogs for the same reasons. We feature the German Shepherd on our Big Guns recipe for adult large breed dogs.
FUN FACT: A German Shepherd was the first guide dog. The dog, Buddy, proved skeptics wrong after arriving in New York in 1928 and helping his owner, Frank Morris, navigate crossing a busy street.
American Foxhound
The foxhound has a long and storied history in the United States. We feature the American Foxhound on our Peanut Butter Battle Biscuits bag.
Robert Brooke, who would eventually go on to become the Governor of Maryland, immigrated from England in 1650 with his family and a pack of hounds and is regarded as an originator of the sport of fox hunting in America. The new terrain in America, however, was challenging for the English foxhound to maintain pace with the horses during hunting leading to the evolution of the original breed into the American Foxhound.
Interestingly, many of George Washington’s dogs descended from the English Foxhounds Brooke brought to America and President Washington became instrumental in the evolution and breeding of the American Foxhound by crossing the English foxhound with other European breeds taller, lighter and faster dog to cater to the unique landscape of America.
The American Foxhound, accepted into the American Kennel Club (AKC; founded in 1884) in 1886, remains one of the most popular hound breeds in America, esteemed for its hunting skills and general friendly disposition.
FUN FACT: George Washington owned 36 Foxhounds. Their names included Sweet Lips, Tipsy, Tipler, and Drunkard, among others.
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier, a small and lively breed, has an intriguing history in America and is featured on the front of our Bacon Battle Biscuits bag. Developed in the late 19th century, they originated from a mix of English Bulldogs and English Terriers. Nicknamed the “American Gentleman,” Boston Terriers gained popularity due to their charming personality and distinctive tuxedo-like markings.
The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1893. Originally bred for pit fighting, they transitioned into loving companion dogs. With their friendly nature and adaptability, Boston Terriers have remained a cherished breed among families, showcasing their enduring legacy throughout the years.
FUN FACT: The Boston Terrier has been Boston University’s official mascot since 1922, and in 1979, Massachusetts named the “American Gentleman” its official dog.
Bluetick Coonhound
The University of Tennessee’s mascot, Smokey, is a Bluetick Coonhound. Smokey has been a part of Tennessee tradition since 1953, when a contest was held to select a Coonhound as the mascot. But Coonhounds have a long history in America.
Coonhounds are a family of dog breeds that were originally bred in the Southern United States for the purpose of hunting raccoons. In total there are six breeds that fall under the Coonhound category as recognized by the AKC, including the Black and Tan Coonhound, the Redbone Coonhound, the Treeing Walker Coonhound, and the Bluetick Coonhound.
The origins of Coonhounds can be traced back to European hunting dogs that were brought over to America by early settlers. Over time, these dogs were bred with native American dogs, resulting in the development of a variety of unique breeds that were well-suited to hunting raccoons and other game animals, valuable sources of food and fur. Coonhounds were highly prized by early American settlers for their ability to track and tree raccoons.
The popularity of Coonhounds continued to grow throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and remain popular hunting dogs today. They are also commonly kept as pets and are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and strong hunting instincts. They make great companions for those who enjoy outdoor activities such as hunting, hiking, and camping. We feature the Bluetick Coonhound on our new Battle Biscuits bag!
FUN FACT: The Bluetick Coonhound gets its blue coloring from black ticking on a white background, which mimics a navy-blue color.
Overall, we love all types of dogs at Old Guard Pet Company; each has a special story. But we like to have a purpose and reason for everything we do. Highlighting our unique history and the dogs that have been a crucial part of our lives in America is one way we support and celebrate our traditional American ways.
