Dog, Just for Fun
Eurovision in Dog Breeds – What are the European National Dogs?
Eurovision brings together many countries who share in each other’s musical culture, but what does each country’s national dog breed look like? We’ve put together some info on each of the dog breeds that are part of their country’s culture, and what makes them so special!
Denmark – Broholmer
A large dog that was used as a guard dog in the homes of the wealthy. Their numbers dwindled during World War II but was saved by a small group of enthusiasts during the 1970s.
Armenia – Armenian Gampr Dog
After the USSR dissolved, Armenia collected together the remaining gene pool and gave an official name to this breed that had been within their culture for thousands of years.
Sweden – Swedish Vallhund
A very ancient breed believed to of been around since the age of the Vikings over 1,000 years ago, they were bred to herd cattle and catch vermin.
Iceland – Icelandic Sheep Dog
Originally brought to Iceland by the Vikings it is is the ancestor of the Shetland sheepdog and Welsh corgi. In the late 19th century over 75% of the breed were killed from plague and canine distemper.
Russia – Black Russian Terrier
Although named so, the breed isn’t actually a terrier as around 20 breeds were used in it’s development including the Rottweiler, the Newfoundland and the Giant Schnauzer.
Azerbaijan – Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Originally used by local herders to protect sheep, they were also used in East Germany in the late 1960s to serve as border patrol dogs. Once the wall came down, the thousands of patrol dogs were disperesed across Germany and Europe.
Ukraine – Ukrainian Ovcharka
Netherlands – Keeshond
Otherwise known as the ‘Smiling Dutchman’ due to their sunny disposition and friendly appearance.
Montenegro – Montenegrin Mountain Hound
A very rare breed from the mountain regions of the Balkans. You may recognise the breed as the inspiration for ‘Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog’, a popular TV puppet character best known for his mocking nature.
Hungary – Komondor
The Komondor is well known for it’s unusual appearance has been declared as one of Hungary’s national treasures to be preserved. Their dread lock-like coat was originally desired to protect them from wolf bites while working. It usually takes around 2 and a half days for their coat to dry after a bath.
Slovenia – Karst Shepherd
Named after the Karst landscape in Slovenia, in 2008 it was estimated between 600 and 700 exist.
Switzerland – Bernese Mountain Dog
The origin of the breed is suspected to trace back to the Roman invasion of Switzerland when Roman mastiffs crossed with the native flock-guarding dogs. They were mainly used as a general farm dog for guarding property and driving cattle.
Belarus – Borzoi
Specifically bred to run at hunt and r high speeds in cold climates, therefore having both a greyhound build but a thick, silky coat for warmth and protection against snow and ice.
Finland – Finnish Lapphund
Although very popular in Finland they haven’t gained popularity over in other Nordic countries. Traditionally they were used to herd reindeer by the Sami people.
Greece – Small Greek Domestic Dog
A very literal and modern name for an ancient Greek breed, they are widely found in Greece and popular in urban areas due to their small size.
Malta – Maltese
Clearly named after it’s country of origin, the Maltese was originally bred to catch vermin, but it’s appearance soon became a defining factor and they are well known for their long silky white hair.
Norway – Norwegian Elkhound
The national dog of Norway, Norwegian Elkhound were bred to track down and hold moose at bay while signalling to the hunters through loud barking.
Poland – Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Also known as PON, they were almost driven to extinction during World War II and the invasion of Poland, but due the work of Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz all the PONS in the world can now be traced back to her dog ‘Smok’.
Romania – Carpathian Shepherd Dog
Named after the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, it is thought that they are descendants of dogs developed around 9,000 years ago in Mesopotamia after sheep and goats were domesticated.
France – Dogue de Bordeaux
Known as the French Mastiff these dogs are unique in that they have one of the shortest lifespans of any breed. The average dog lives 5-8 years and the oldest on record was 12 years old.
Germany – German Shepherd
An extremely popular breed that is renowned for it’s train-ability, obedience, strength and intelligence, making them perfect for many types of work. They are the second most popular dog breed in the US and fourth in the UK.
Italy – Neapolitan Mastiff
An extremely large and intimidating looking breed that are mainly used as guard dogs due to their great protective instincts. A Neapolitan Mastiff currently holds the record for giving birth to the most puppies in one litter, at 24 (although 4 of them didn’t survive).
Spain – Alano Español
Known as the ‘Spanish Bulldog’ due to former use in Spanish bullfights. As big game became rare and bullfights were outlawed they almost became extinct until the 1970s when a group of veterinary students did house-to-house surveys and bred the few examples left.
United Kingdom – British Bulldog
Named so because they were used in the violent sport of bull baiting (the winner was the first dog to pin a tethered bull to the ground by it’s nose). Over the years the dogs with the biggest heads/jaws and stockiest bodies were the ones to survive and carry forward the breed.
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