mutts & deerhounds

[mn13189@WCUVAX1.WCU.EDU]

Poster: mn13189@WCUVAX1.WCU.EDU

The statement that all dogs originated in mutts is a little misleading.
Left on their own to breed, dogs would end up going in that direction,
though.  If we go back far enough (real far, here, people) dogs originated
in wolves.  Way back in pre-history man domesticated wolves and started
breeding them for certain traits (i.e. loyalty, friendliness, not biting
your head off in your sleep, etc.).  This was the start of modern breeds.
So, in a sence, when breeds interbreed, they are going a littel bit closer
to their origins.  But this is all very general here.

On a related topic, Corun asked of Scottish Deerhounds.
The book, _The Encyclopedia of the Dog_, by Bruce Fogle, D.V.M., has this
to say on the breed:
DEERHOUND
Key Facts:
Country of Origin:  Great Britain
Date of Origin:  Middle Ages
First Use:  Deer Hunting
Use Today:  Companion
Life Expectancy:  11-12 years
Other Name:  Scottish Deerhound

Weight Range:  80-100lb
Height Range:  28-30 in

Breed History:
The recorded history of the wistful-looking Deerhound begins in the Middle
Ages, when Scottish chieftains used it for hunting.  The collapse of teh
clan system in 1746 threatened its existance, until it was revived by a
local breeder, Duncan McNeil.

The book goes on to mention that its ownership was once restricted to
Scottish Nobility, but now it is quite scarce in Scotland, being more
popular in South Africa.

The dogs pictured in the book are all brown, but it mentions that other
possible colors are fawn, red, red-brindle, blue-grey, grey, and
black-brindle.  It appears very much like a Wolfhound, only a bit smaller,
and a bit more "regal" looking.  This book does a good job with giving a
cursory history and basic traits of all the breeds, with lots of wonderful
color photos.

When I inquired about Mastiff history I was looking for a little bit more
than what this book ahd to offer, which is basically the the Mastiff has
an antiquated origin in Great Britian and was used by the Romans as war
dogs.  And the name evolved from the Anglo-Saxon word masty, meaning
powerful.

Aye,
Eogan

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ye knowe ek that in forme of speche is chaunge
Withinne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho
That hadden pris, now wonder nyce and straunge
Us thinketh he, and yet thei spake hem so,
And spedde as wel in love as men now do."
	--Geoffrey Chaucer (late 14th cent.)
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