Aug 26th, 2010
Ever Wonder How Your Dog Got Its Name?
No, not like Buddy or Pepper or whatever you bark-out when it’s time for a walk. But are you curious about how different dog breeds got their names?
With it being National Dog Day today (woof, woof), masters are talking about the origin of their dog’s names. Some of them are pretty interesting.
Like dogs named after the region they’re from. Dalmatians (Dalmatia, where Croatia now stands) and Lhasa Apso (Lhasa being in Tibet, “apso” roughly translated to “bearded”). Or dogs named after their skills. Cocker Spaniels (the English hunters named them for their ability to track woodcocks). Not to mention dogs named after languages I personally don’t speak. Basset Hounds (from the French word “basset” which infers “low”), Poodle (a low German word “pudeln” roughly translating to “splashing” and Dachshund (think German again, with “badger dog” as the correct translation).
And of course, the unforgettably vocal Beagle. Its name is from the French word “becguele” for “noisy person.” And the Jack Russell Terrier, named after, oddly enough, Jack Russell – an 18th century English clergyman who bred this special breed for fox hunting.
Whatever dog is your best friend, be sure to tell him/her about the old ancestral tree. And if you’re looking for pet bowls, dog t-shirts, or people t-shirts with dog-breed themes, you know where to find them.
