Canine curiosities

The Tornjak originated from genetically homogeneous, almost extinct, indigenous shepherd dogs. These dogs have populated the mountain areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia and the surrounding valleys.

The Leonberger is a breed of dog originating in Germany and owes its name to the German town of Leonberg, in Baden-Württemberg, where it originated. It is a long-haired, brown molosser, derived from crosses of large breeds such as the St. Bernard or the Great Pyrenean, produced at the beginning of the 19th century.

The hovawart is a large breed of dog originating from the Black Forest in south-west Germany. This breed is typically black in colour, although other coats are possible. Well spread throughout Europe, the Hovawart's origins date back to the 13th century.

With its roots in the vast Pampa, the Uruguayan Maroon breed is extremely strong. It is a dog that is a survivor, with a long and hard story to tell. 

It is one of the oldest breeds and references to English Mastiff type dogs in the United Kingdom date back to pre-Roman times. Roman conquerors adopted them for use as gladiators in the amphitheatres of the time.

The bullmastiff was originally called ‘the night guardian of the game’, as it was used to catch poachers. The base group of the bullmastiff is 60% English mastiff and 40% bulldog. The breed was created at the end of the 19th century.

The bulldog, also known as the English Bulldog, is a breed of dog originating in England. Its ancestor, known as the Old English Bulldog, was used in bull-baiting until the mid-17th century, although this practice was banned in 1835. Today, this breed of dog is one of the symbols of England.

The Cão de Fila de São Miguel is a breed of cattle dog native to Portugal, specifically the Azores. The breed was developed on the island of São Miguel since at least the 16th century. A cattle herding dog (boyero) with a difficult character, its hardiness makes it a good example of a guard dog