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AnimalsTranscript
00:00 History has it that the domestication of dogs began more than 30,000 years ago,
00:06 when human hunters and gatherers came into contact with wolves.
00:10 Over time, these wolves changed psychologically and physically to become man's best friend.
00:18 However, while most of these earlier dog breeds are gone and lost in history,
00:24 others have stood the test of time and lasted thousands of years.
00:29 Hello guys, welcome to another episode of Forever Green. Today, we're going to reveal to you
00:37 20 of the most ancient dog breeds in the world and how they have changed over time. Let's dive in!
00:45 Number 20. Saluki.
00:52 Standing at a height of 23 to 28 inches at the shoulder, the Saluki is a profound,
00:59 elegant hunter and literally chases anything that is moving. Salukis are listed in the Guinness
01:06 Book of Records as the world's oldest dog breed and are believed to have originated in ancient
01:13 Egypt around 329 BC. With speeds that clock at 30 to 35 miles per hour, Salukis were bred by
01:23 the Egyptian nomads for hunting hare, gazelles, wild goats, raccoons, foxes, snakes, and typically
01:32 anything that moved in the desert. Today, the modern Saluki has longer legs and is quite
01:39 deep-chested as compared to their ancient relatives. They still exist as pure breeds
01:45 and their speed is still unmatched as in 1996. The Guinness Book of Records listed Saluki as
01:53 being the fastest dog breed capable of attaining speeds of 42.8 miles per hour.
02:01 The first Saluki into England was documented in 1840.
02:08 Number 19. Pekingese.
02:10 If there are dogs that shout royalty, then the Pekingese is undoubtedly among them.
02:18 This breed of flat-faced and pear-shaped toy dogs was bred in the ancient China during the Han
02:26 Dynasty as early as 202 BC. They were only seen in the Imperial Palace at Peking and are believed
02:35 to have the courage and independence of a lion hence dubbed as the "lion dog." They were bred
02:43 by the royalties in Imperial China to act as personal guard dogs. Some were too small and
02:50 ferocious and were able to fit into the sleeves of the emperors. If the emperors felt threatened,
02:57 they would release the small lion dog to scare away thieves and enemies. Today, the Pekingese
03:03 have retained their ferocity and are aggressive and protective as before. However, they are a bit
03:10 different in physique as they have longer hair and shorter face and legs compared to the ancient
03:17 ones. They were introduced into Europe in 1860 when English forces looted the Imperial Palace
03:25 at Peking, Beijing. Number 18. Shiba Inu.
03:32 The Shiba Inu is the official national dog of Japan since its declaration as a national paragon
03:42 back in 1936. Primitive drawings from the Paleolithic era of 300 BC depict the Shibo Inu
03:52 living with humans making them one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Although they are small
03:59 in size, the Shiba Inu have well-developed muscles portraying a compact frame. In ancient times,
04:07 they were used to hunt wild boars and small game due to their agility and speed. Despite their
04:15 near-extinction fate during the World War II, the Shiba Inu has fought the test of time and
04:23 maintained the same physique and agility. The first Shiba Inu to cross into Europe from Japan
04:31 was documented in 1954 and is said to have been imported by a military family.
04:38 Number 17. Chinese Shar-Pei. Originating from Guangdong, China, the Chinese Shar-Pei
04:51 is believed to have been around as far back as from 202 BC. Renowned for their excessively
05:00 wrinkled skin, the Shar-Pei were used for dog fighting and small game hunting. Their loose,
05:08 wrinkled skin was beneficial and came in handy when it came to fighting as they were difficult
05:14 to grab onto. In the 20th century, during the Communist Revolution in China, the political
05:21 crisis brought the breed to its near-extinction. The breed received recognition in 1978 from the
05:30 Guinness Book of Records as the world's rarest dog breed with only 60 of them remaining.
05:37 This resulting publicity led to a great demand for the breed birthing the crossbreeding of the
05:45 Chinese Shar-Pei in order to meet the demand. The first Chinese Shar-Pei into the United States is
05:52 believed to have been smuggled in the 1970s, but as of today, there is no known purebred
06:00 Chinese Shar-Pei and what exists are the resulting crossbreeds of the purebred
06:06 together with the bull terrier and the bulldog. This crossbreeding led to a dog with more wrinkles
06:14 and a fleshier mouth than the purebred.
06:17 Number 16. Chow Chow.
06:20 There exists a Chinese legend that talks about large war dogs from the Central Arctic Asia
06:30 that resembled lions. With an extremely dense fur around the neck, the Chow Chow give an
06:37 appearance of a lion. It is believed that they were bred around 150-200 BC as guard dogs,
06:46 pointers, retrievers, and sled dogs in the cold parts of China. Additionally, the Chow Chow was
06:55 also bred for human consumption, with their name having been derived from the Chinese word
07:02 "chow," which means edible. The Chow Chow have a black or blue tongue, a distinctive
07:09 characteristic which they share only with the Shar-Pei. Today, this puffy lion dog is used as
07:16 a house pet. The first set of these edible dogs from China to arrive into Europe is believed to
07:24 be in 1820, when an English newspaper reported the arrival of a dog with a blue-black tongue from
07:32 China. Number 15. Alaskan Malamute.
07:37 The Alaskan Malamute got its name from Intuit people, specifically the Malamute who occupy
07:46 the northwestern part of Alaska. The breed was originally in Siberia, before migrating to Alaska
07:54 and has been in existence since 1000 BC. Due to their endurance, they were originally in pulling
08:01 sleds and are considered the largest Arctic sled dog breed. They also made good hunting dogs and
08:09 were used in hunting big game such as seals. They were also in protecting the community from polar
08:16 bears. To this day, they still have a high prey drive and will mostly go after cats, rabbits,
08:23 and squirrels. The Alaskan Malamute are however considered poor watchdogs due to their friendly
08:30 nature. They are presently kept as companions and are used in traveling, recreational sledge,
08:37 and moving heavy objects. They possess similar traits with huskies.
08:42 Number 14. Shih Tzu.
08:50 The Shih Tzu originate from China in the 800 BC and were prized and favorites of the China's
08:57 royal that the Chinese refused to sell or give them away. Although their name means "little
09:04 lion," there is absolutely nothing terrifying or fierce about the Shih Tzu. Their coat and
09:10 appearance is what engineered this name for they resemble mini lions. They were bred for
09:17 companionship rather than a working dog and are well suited to country or city life.
09:23 The first Shih Tzu into the West was in the 1930s.
09:28 Number 13. Neapolitan Mastiff.
09:35 With its powerful and huge astounding physique, the Neapolitan Mastiff has been intimidating
09:43 intruders since the ancient times of Roman Empire. It was bred in southern Italy as a
09:50 guard dog with artifacts dating as far back as 700 BC, depicting the Neapolitan Mastiff
09:58 as war dogs who fought beside the gladiators. Their bestial looks and humongous frame would
10:06 instill fear into their adversaries. Today, the Neapolitan Mastiff is kept as a family guard dog
10:20 and nothing has changed with its unique style as astounding as before. Its profuse folds and wrinkles
10:29 which are always hanging coupled with its pendulous lips make it look terrifying enough.
10:35 Records show that the first Neapolitan into the United States was imported in 1973 by Jane
10:44 Pamplon, although it's rumored that its Italian immigrants have smuggled some dogs as early as the
10:51 1880s. Number 12. Tibetan Mastiff.
10:58 Although they are not considered true Mastiffs, the Tibetan Mastiff is still classified as the
11:04 oldest Mastiff, also known as the Tibetan Bulldog. Tibetan Mastiffs have been in existence for more
11:11 than 5,000 years. They are said to be descendants of war dogs of ancient Rome. They were originally
11:19 used as guard dogs. They dedicated their lives in protecting the livestock and their own
11:25 property, who were mainly nomads of Tibet. They were also used as watchdogs by the Tibetan
11:32 monasteries. Their size and fierceness are quite similar to that of Molossus. In the 20th century,
11:40 they were introduced in Europe by the Prince of Wales, George. But due to their aggressive behavior,
11:47 the breed has been banned in parts of France, US, Australia, and even in the United Kingdom.
11:54 Number 11. Greyhound.
11:58 The Greyhound is depicted on inscriptions, graves, tomb paintings, and in temple drawings dating back
12:08 to 6000 BC in the present-day Turkey. With their deep chest, slim bodies, and long, powerful legs,
12:17 Greyhounds were bred for hunting both big and small game. Today, the Greyhound is used in the
12:24 popular Greyhound racing sport as well as a family companion. Due to their high prey drive,
12:32 Greyhounds were first introduced to North America in the mid-1800s, particularly to rid farms of an
12:40 epidemic of jackrabbits.
12:44 Number 10. Basenji.
12:47 For a very long time, Basenji has been known as the oldest dog breed. It originated from Central
12:57 Africa, specifically the Congo Basin, and has been around since 6000 BC. It is believed to be
13:04 the hunting dog in the cave paintings that were found in Libya. Not much has changed from the
13:11 original breed. It was used as a hunting dog due to its sharp eyesight, great sense of smell, and
13:19 high speed. It is often referred to as "barkless dog" due to the fact that it doesn't really bark,
13:27 instead it yodels, growls, screams, or whines.
13:38 It also lacks the distinct dog smell. It also exhibits cat-like behavior and especially when
13:46 it comes to cleanliness and appearance as it keeps on grooming itself. The Basenji brand was introduced
13:54 in England as early as 1923, but unfortunately, most of the dogs would die until the 1930s.
14:01 Number 9. Greenland Sled Dog.
14:08 As the name suggests, the Greenland Sled Dogs originated from Greenland. They are said to
14:14 have been in existence since 7500 BC and were since used in pulling sleds. They were so good
14:22 at running while pulling sleds in low-oxygen environments. Their appearance is very similar
14:29 to Huskies and Alaskan Malamute, but genetically, they are more similar to Canadian Eskimo dogs to
14:37 the point of being considered as the same breed. They are said to be among the few breeds that show
14:43 no signs of interbreeding with the Gray Wolf. The Thule people migrated the Greenland Sled Dogs
14:51 from Siberia to North America over 1,000 years ago. It was not until 1875 when the Greenland
14:59 Sled Dog was first seen in Britain and then exhibited in dog shows.
15:06 Number 8. Siberian Husky.
15:08 The story of the Siberian Husky begins with the Chukchi people of East Siberia about 10,000 years
15:18 ago during the Ice Age period. The Chukchi people were hunters and gatherers in the Arctic and
15:24 mainly relied on the Huskies to hunt for protection and to pull their sledges. The double-layered coat
15:31 of the Huskies is capable of keeping warm even at temperatures as low as -50 to -60 degrees Celsius,
15:39 making them a perfect fit for the Arctic. DNA studies have shown that the Siberian Husky is
15:46 closely related to the Alaskan Malamute and the Talimer Wolf, a dog breed that is now extinct.
15:53 The Husky does not bark but rather howls like a wolf. Today's Siberian Husky is more of a house
16:00 pet dog rather than a working dog but still have retained their high prey drive. They are
16:07 intelligent dogs and are good with children. Records show that the first Siberian Husky
16:15 into North America was during the fall of 1908. Number 7. Samoyed.
16:25 The Samoyed takes its name from the Samoyedi people of Siberia who were its breeders over
16:32 3,000 years ago. The Samoyedis were nomads who herded reindeers and thus bred the Samoyed as
16:41 a hunting dog, herding dog as well as for hauling their sledges. Since they habited in the northern
16:48 Arctic, the Samoyed had a dense double-layered coat which was mostly white in color. This coat
16:57 helped them keep warm in the below zero degrees temperature of the Arctic. The first expedition
17:04 to the South Pole was led by a Samoyed dog. Today, the Samoyed is used as a pet dog as it has evolved
17:12 into a more friendly dog to even visitors making it a poor guard dog. They have earned the name
17:19 "Smiley Dog" due to their happy facial expression. They make excellent companions for small children
17:27 and remain playful through their lifetime. The first Samoyed to enter Europe was in the 1800s
17:34 and one was even gifted to Queen Alexandra which helped increase the popularity of the breed.
17:42 Onto number 6. Tibetan Terrier
17:48 Like the Tibetan Mastiff, the Tibetan Terrier is also not considered as a true terrier.
17:58 It is also referred to as the "Holy Dog of Tibetan". This medium-sized dog originates from
18:05 the remote Himalayan mountains and has been in existence for more than 2,000 years.
18:12 For many centuries, this breed was widely used by the Tibetan monks for companionship
18:18 as watchdogs and even as good luck charms. The latter is the reason why these dogs were
18:25 not up for sale or inner-bred for many years. During those times, you could only acquire a
18:32 Tibetan Terrier if someone gifted you one. These fun-loving dogs were also used in herding sheep
18:40 along the narrow mountain passes and would gladly fetch things that fell on the mountain sides.
18:48 The Tibetan Terrier is said to be an ancestor of the curly-coat Puli. It first got to Europe
18:55 in 1922 when Dr. Agnes Grieg was given a Tibetan Terrier after performing a successful operation
19:04 on a Tibetan patient.
19:06 Number 5. Japanese Chin
19:10 These tiny graceful lapdogs bear the name of Japan and they actually originate from China.
19:21 They were bred and owned strictly for companionship as early as 600 AD. Ownership
19:28 of the Japanese Chin was only allowed to those of royal and noble bloods. During the 732 AD,
19:36 Japanese royalty were gifted the breed by Korea rulers and it's believed that this led to their
19:44 publicity and hence their name being more of a Japanese than their origin. They were considered
19:52 one of the cat-like dog breeds with reference to their attitude, independence, and use of paws to
20:00 wash and clean their face. The first Japanese Chin into America was in the mid-19th century
20:07 and was gifted to the then President Franklin Pierce.
20:12 Number 4. Poodle
20:14 Regal attitude, impressive hairdos, proud, elegant, clever, and blue ribbons are what truly defines
20:25 the poodle. Poodles look like the epitome of a luxurious life but make no mistake, they are the
20:32 dogs that you can train to do literally anything thanks to their intelligence. In ancient times,
20:38 poodles were used as water retrievers where they would jump into the water ponds to flush out
20:45 and fetch water fowls for hunters. They are believed to be the progenitors of the modern
20:51 retriever dogs. Artistic works by various German artists which date back as far as the 17th century
20:59 depicted a dog resembling the poodle. Today, the poodle dogs are no longer worn by the
21:05 poodles but rather used as companion dogs and also as circus performers and in dog competitions.
21:12 They are capable of performing all manner of tricks thanks to their intelligence and
21:18 trainable nature. Number 3. Catahoula Leopard Dog
21:23 The Catahoula Leopard Dog is one of the rarest and most ancient dog breeds in the world.
21:32 The breed hails from wolf-like dogs of the Native Americans that were crossbred with herding dogs
21:39 of the French settlers in Louisiana in the mid-1700s. This crossbreeding produced the
21:46 Catahoula Leopard Dog which was a better working dog. They were used for hunting large game as well
21:53 as herding livestock. Today, the Catahoula is used as a search and rescue dog due to their
21:59 natural and unique traits as a hunting dog. They are loyal companions and can be found
22:05 in a few households as pets in guarding their masters.
22:09 Their pets have patches of deeper or different colors from the main coat,
22:22 collar hence the name Leopard Dog. The 20th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt
22:29 is said to have a Catahoula in the early 1900s when hunting.
22:34 Number 2. Afghan Hound
22:41 Also known as Tazi, the Afghan Hound Dog breed is said to be originated from the deserts of
22:49 Egypt but its name suggests that they first existed in the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan.
22:56 They were originally used as hunting dogs and they would even go as far as hunting antelopes
23:02 and leopards. These powerful dogs would grab their prey by the neck thereby severing its spine.
23:10 To date, they still exhibit a high prey drive. The Afghan Hound Dog breed is said to have
23:18 the Afghan Hound is said to be closely related to Saluki and can be very independent and stubborn,
23:26 hence very difficult to train. What's more interesting is that these dogs don't like
23:32 petting. Unheard of, right? Well, they were introduced in England in the 1800s by British
23:39 soldiers who were drawn towards them. They were later exhibited in dogs under other names such
23:46 as Persian Greyhound and Barazuki Hound among others.
23:50 Number 1. Exolotoitski Kulinti
23:57 Ceramic sculptures depicting a hairless dog breed have been discovered in burial sites
24:04 in ancient West Mexico dating back as early as 3500 years ago. The Exoloitski Kulinti are among
24:13 the oldest dog breeds in the world and were so sacred that the Aztec people of native Mexico
24:20 worshipped it. Exoloits were held in high esteem and were often sacrificed and then
24:27 buried with their owners to act as soul guides in the underworld. The breed was also believed
24:34 to have the capability to heal and it has been used in remote Mexico to cure and ward off
24:40 ailments like toothache, asthma, and insomnia till today. They are hairless dogs and are today used
24:48 for companionship and as therapy dogs. The first Exolo to cross the Mexican border into the U.S.
24:56 was in the 1880s. And that's it for the 20 most ancient dog breeds in the world. So,
25:06 which of the dogs do you think is the oldest? Let us know in the comments below
25:12 and we'll see you on the next one!
25:22 [Music]