How Well do You Know Your Dog Breeds? Quiz

Answer: Basenji

The basenji is probably best known by the nickname of the "barkless dog" due to the curious yodel-like sound it makes because to its unusually-shaped larynx. Basenji are one of the few dog breeds that have only a single breeding season each year. The good news for basenji owners is that the most common cause of death is old age -- their average lifespan of around 13.6 years is between one and two years longer than for other breeds of a similar size. The 1954 James Street novel and subsequent 1956 film starring Walter Brennan, "Good-bye, My Lady", tells the story of a young orphan boy who finds a stray 'laughing' dog, a basenji.

Answer: Saluki

Petroglyphs and rock art dating back more than 4,000 years show saluki-like dogs and falcons accompanying hunters ranging from Iran to Egypt and as far east as China.
Grace and symmetry are two words that describe a saluki. Weighing 40-60 pounds and standing 23-28 inches tall, they come in a range of colors: white, cream, fawn, red, grizzle and tan, black and tan, and tricolor (white, black and tan). Their coats come in two types, smooth and feathered, and prospective owners will be encouraged to learn that a saluki will shed very little compared to other similar breeds.

Answer: Barbet

A medium-sized French water dog, the barbet is usually entirely black, brown, or black and white although they also come with white chest spots and white paws or legs on otherwise black- or brown-coated dogs. Standing 20-25 inches tall, the breed weighs in at between 35 and 60 pounds.
Prospective owners should be aware that barbet coats grow long and must be regularly groomed if you do not want to have a house covered in small tufts of hair like tumbleweeds. Very active, both physically and mentally, they need both daily exercise and lifelong obedience training.

Answer: Broholmer

The Broholmer began as a cross between the English mastiff and local dogs in Germany and was named for an 18th century gamekeeper. King Frederick VII (reigned 1906-1912) popularized the breed in Denmark and it even featured in some royal portraits. Many wealthy Danes used the Broholmer as guard dogs, but the breed almost disappeared completely during WWII and was only saved by some Danish breeders. Weighing in at 90-130 pounds and standing 27-29 inches tall, the Broholmer has a sturdy, rectangular body with a large almost-square head.

Its coat is short and harsh and can be either black of light/brownish yellow, sometimes with white markings.

Answer: Papillon

It was called a papillon, the French word word for 'butterfly', because of its characteristic look with long, fringed hair on the ears. The papillon always has erect ears, but its close cousin, with dropped ears, is called a phalène (French for 'moth').

The earliest toy spaniels resembling the papillon are thought to have come from Italy, and numerous 16th century artists painted portraits that included these dogs. A famous portrait of King Louis XIV of France (reigned 1643-1715) and his family clearly includes a papillon. Papillons have an average life expectancy of 11.5 years, but are regularly known to live into their late teens. Weighing in at 7-10 pounds and standing 8-11 inches tall, they have straight, long, fine coats that are white with patches of just about any color.

Answer: Malinois

A member of the 'sheepdog' family and also sometimes called a Belgian malinois, it is distinguishable from its close cousin, the German shepherd, by its squarer build. Other Belgian shepherd variants differ by the their coat: the similarly-colored Tervuren was long hair, the Laekenois is wire-coated, tends to be a lighter fawn color and does not have the black ears and muzzle, and the Groenendael has long hair and is solid black. Standing 24-28 inches tall and weighing in at 55-75 pounds, malinois are active, intelligent, friendly, protective, alert and hard-working, and have one of the highest energy levels of all dog breeds. Be warned -- they still think they are puppies at the age of five or six. Relatively easy to train, they require constant new challenges to keep them interested.

Answer: Vizsla

The vizsla (or sometimes Hungarian vizsla or Magyar vizsla) is rare among the sporting breeds in that it is equally at home as a family dog or household companion. Fearless and a natural hunter with very high energy, they are also gentle mannered, affectionate, loyal and sensitive.

This does mean, though, that they must be trained gently - harsh commands or strong physical correction can easily damage their sensitive temperament. One of the few downsides to owning a vizsla is its relatively short lifespan -- average of only 9.1 years. It is easy to spot a vizsla on the run, charging headlong through any terrain but always wagging its tail, which is usually held horizontal to the ground.

Answer: Shiba Inu

Originally bred for hunting, the shiba inu is small and agile and copes well with mountainous terrain. It is similar, but smaller, than its cousin, the Akita.
Weighing in at 18-22 pounds and standing 13-17 inches tall, the shiba inu is double coated, stiff and straight on the outside but with a soft and thick undercoat. This coat may be red, black and tan, or sesame (red with black-tipped hairs), with a cream, buff or grey undercoat. They are also sometimes white, but the AKC considers this a 'major fault'. Independent and often intolerant of other dogs and children although they do seem inclined to put up with sharing a house with cats!
The "shiba scream" is a distinguishing characteristic -- a loud high-pitched yell that can be caused by either annoyance or great happiness.

Answer: Lakeland terrier

Named for the part of England where it originated (The Lake District), the Lakeland terrier makes an ideal member of a family with small children. It is even a suitable pet for someone allergic to most dogs at it virtually doesn't shed.
Similar in appearance to its two closest cousins, the slightly larger Welsh terrier and the even bigger Airdale terrier, the Lakeland terrier is distinguishable by its narrow chest and wide muzzle. The Kennel Club considers numerous colors 'acceptable' (black, black and tan, blue and tan, dark grizzle, grizzle, grizzle and tan, liver and tan, red, red grizzle and wheaten) although the breed often comes in other variations too.
A Lakeland terrier was the first breed ever to win "Supreme Champion" at the world's two most important shows, the Westminster (U.S.) and Crufts (U.K.) -- the dog was Stingray of Derryabah, in 1967.

Answer: Komondor

The Komondor or Hungarian Sheepdog is known to have existed in eastern Europe as long ago as the 16th century, although the breed is thought to have originated in Tibet. One of the largest common dog breeds, many Komodor's stand more than 30 inches tall and weigh in at between 110 and 130 pounds. Strong-muscled with long legs and a short back, these dogs are remarkably quick and agile for their size. The Komondor's distinctive dreadlock-like corded coat gives it the heaviest fur of any canine. Komondors are always white (with black nose and lips) -- its close cousin, the Puli, can be white, black or grey.

The coats of working dogs discolor easily if not washed regularly -- be aware, though, that a Komondor's coat takes two or three days to dry after a bath.