Top 10 Dogs Originating in Canada

In honor of Canada Day – July 1^st – our Top 10 list for this month is of the Top 10 Dogs Originating in Canada.  In keeping with the topography of Canada, many of the dogs on the list are working dogs bred to be sled dogs or sporting dogs bred for their swimming and retrieving abilities.  And, while a couple of the dogs are now extinct they do have the honor of being the early ancestors of breeds that have gone on to become some of the most recognized and sought after breeds worldwide.

1) Canadian Inuit Dog (Qimmiq) – Working Dog - the largest of Arctic dogs is also one of the oldest and rarest sled dogs;

2) Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever – Sporting Dog - this breed is named for its ability to lure or “toll” curious birds towards it by playing at the water’s edge;

3) Newfoundland – Working Dog - large and black or grey they are known for their gentle disposition and strong swimming abilities;

4) Landseer – Working Dog - not always considered a separate breed, these dogs are black and white Newfoundlands named after Sir Edwin Henry Landseer who depicted the breed in his 1838 painting “ A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society”;

5) Labrador Retriever – Sporting Dog -  bred in chocolate, black and yellow dogs these gentle dogs are the most popular registered breed in the world;

6) Mackenzie River Husky –  Working Dog -while not a recognized breed, this name is associated with mixed breed dogs that have lived and worked around the Mackenzie River;

7) St John’s Water Dog – Extinct - this dog is said to be one of the ancestors of both the Newfoundland and the Labrador Retriever breeds;

8) Valley Bulldog – bred from both boxers and bulldogs the dog comes from the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia;

9) Seppala Siberian Husky – Working Dog - a strong husky bred primarily as a working sled dog, they are now very rare;

10) Tahltan Bear Dog – Extinct - bred to hunt bear and lynx this tough little dog could not survive life outside its own habitat.