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Scandinavian countries hold official competitions to crown the “King of the Barkers,” and the Finnish Spitz dog breed dominates the event. Recorded contestants have hit 160 barks per minute — loud and genuinely fast. Think about your neighbors before you commit to this one. Behind the noise, though, is a genuinely devoted national treasure with…
Could a small dog with a fox-like face, a plume of a tail, and a surprisingly loud bark fit into your home? The German Spitz Klein has plenty of personality packed into a compact frame. This lively companion is affectionate with its family, quick to notice changes around the house, and often more energetic than…
A German Spitz dog can hear a sound at the front door, race over to investigate, and then settle beside its favorite person as if nothing happened. That combination of alertness and affection is a big part of the breed’s appeal. Underneath the thick coat and cheerful expression is an intelligent little watchdog that likes…
This dog is literally named after the thorns it hunts through. The Italian Spinone dog breed traces its name back to bracco spinoso, a reference to both its wiry coat and the thorny brambles it was bred to push through while hunting game in the Italian countryside. It’s a fitting name for a breed built…
Could a small dog with a soft, almost lion-like coat also be an alert watchdog with a mind of its own? The Tibetan Spaniel dog has been doing exactly that for centuries. Originally valued around Tibetan monasteries, this little companion is known for watching its surroundings closely, forming strong bonds with family, and deciding for…
Picture a hunting dog whose entire job is to trick ducks into swimming toward a trap, using nothing but a flick of its black-tipped tail. That’s exactly what the Dutch Spaniel dog breed, better known as the Kooikerhondje, was bred to do centuries ago in the Netherlands — and some still do it today. It’s…