Truffles, among the world’s most expensive delicacies, are fungi that grow under the soil and leaf litter at the roots of several tree species. They require dogs or pigs to find them. The Italian dog known as the Lagotto Romagnolo is specifically bred for truffle hunting, but other breeds are suited to learning the task. Not only must you train these dogs to find truffles, but you must train them not to eat the little fungus fruits. The same canines that hunt for truffles can also find morels.

Truffle and Mushroom Hunting

Any dog can potentially become a truffle or mushroom hunter, but not every breed is perfectly suited to the task. You can try out your dog’s skills at truffle hunting clinics held throughout the country. The training period for “professional” truffle hunting canines lasts between two and four months. If you want to purchase a well-trained dog specifically for truffle or mushroom hunting, expect to pay in the six figures.

Lagotto Romagnolo

Originally used as a water dog in the Italian marshes, the Lagotto Romagnolo has been used for truffle hunting since at least the 19th century. Between the end of World War I and the start of World War II, the breed was used by virtually all Italian truffle hunters. The medium-size, curly-haired canine appears in various shades of brown. Besides his keen nose for mushrooms, this smart dog is easy to train and makes a good family pet.

Detection Breeds

Dogs that shine at detection work often succeed in truffle hunting. These breeds include the German shepherd and Belgian malinois, dogs used by law enforcement and security agencies worldwide. Not only are these dogs talented truffle hunters, but they’re also smart and easily trained, and they possess a good work ethic. While scenting is paramount in truffle training, it’s of little use unless the canine is also obedient and cooperative. The same sort of discipline required for truffle hunting is needed for the more serious pursuits of bomb detection or search-and-rescue.

Sporting Breeds

Dogs bred specifically for sport, such as Labrador and golden retrievers, can excel as truffle hunters. So can various types of setters and pointers. Even beagles can make good truffle hunters, since they’re especially ruled by their noses. If you want to train a sporting breed for the task, choose a dog from field lines rather than from show lines: Breeders of the former make a special effort to pass on hunting talent in their dogs.

Water dogs are inherently strong swimmers. They have waterproof coats and some have webbed feet. Originally, water dogs such as water retrievers, decoys and the all-purpose Newfoundland, were bred to assist fishermen. Some of these dogs still carry out the tasks they were bred for, while others, with their intelligence and desire to please their handlers, have become popular pets for active families who don’t mind living with dogs that simply love to swim.

Water Retrievers

Today’s flat-coated retrievers and Labrador retrievers used to work as fishery dogs, retrieving fish and other objects from the water. Labradors helped to pull small fishing boats. With improvements in firearms, however, hunters shot birds in flight and needed dogs to find and retrieve fallen birds. As the fishery dogs were efficient swimmers and natural retrievers, they were crossed with pointers, setters and other retrievers to hone their bird skills. Other water retrievers include the tough and curly coated Chesapeake Bay retrievers, that navigated the chilly waters of the Chesapeake Bay to retrieve birds. American water spaniels and Irish water spaniels continued to be bred mainly for hunting, and are now rare compared to other water dog breeds. A surprising member of this group is the standard poodle. Poodles were bred in Germany as water retrievers, and their salon style hairdos, originally helped them in the water. The close clip made swimming easier, but the poodles’ coats were left longer on their chests for warmth and around their joints and tail tips for protection.

Pied Pipers of the Shoreline

Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers have webbed feet and are powerful swimmers. They were developed in Canada in the 19th century as decoys. The dogs would chase sticks and play along the shore, sometimes disappearing from view and then reappearing — an activity called tolling. Their antics lured the curious waterfowl closer to the shore and into waiting nets or within shooting range. The dogs also retrieved fallen birds from the sea. These high-energy, playful dogs make great pets, but they need long walks and a daily play session.

The Fisherman’s Friend

Portuguese water dogs have long, curly waterproof coats, webbed feet and can work all day. They were once found all along Portugal’s coastline, herding fish into nets, retrieving lost equipment from the sea and taking messages between ships and back to shore. In the early 20th century the dogs started to disappear, along with traditional fishing methods. A wealthy Portuguese shipping magnate saved the breed and these robust water dogs arrived in the United States in the 1950s. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America has created water trials — modern day water work activities — to help develop and promote the breed’s historical water abilities.

Heroes and All-Purpose Dogs

The massive Newfoundlands, with their heavy black or brown coats, large webbed feet, powerful hindquarters and well-developed lungs cope easily with long distance swimming, even in the coldest conditions. They were developed in Newfoundland as all-purpose dogs. They rescued people from drowning, carried lifelines to ships in trouble and helped fishermen, by hauling their heavy fishing nets through the cold sea. Back on land, Newfoundlands pulled carts and acted as pack horses and still serve as draft dogs today. Newfoundlands can also be found patrolling beaches in Britain, France and Italy, where they continue to save lives. The Newfoundland Club of America in 1973 started a program of water tests comprised of exercises designed to develop and demonstrate the Newfoundlands’ instinctive lifesaving abilities in the water.

Some of America’s most popular companions were bred as working dogs in Scotland. Without the collie breeds — collie is Scottish for sheepdog — herding the millions of sheep on Scotland’s rough hills would have been impossible. Development of other breeds such as terriers and golden retrievers reflect the importance of game sport to Scotland’s economy and culture, past and present.

Herding Dogs

The bearded collie, as far back as 1600s, was bred for hill shepherding. His elegant, long coat provided protection against harsh weather, like that of of the rough collie or Lassie dog. A miniature Lassie lookalike is the Shetland sheepdog. The iconic herding dog, the intelligent and energetic border collie, originated in the wild Scottish/English border country.

Sporting Dogs

Another old breed from Scotland is the rough-coated border terrier. The West Highland white terrier was bred to be visible in the heather on shoots. The cairn terrier was named after the stone cairns across Scotland. Three U.S. presidents have owned Scottish terriers, affectionately known by enthusiasts as Scotties. Other sporting breeds from Scotland include the golden retriever, bred as a gun dog to retrieve duck and upland game, the Gordon setter and the Scottish deerhound, the hunting dog of the Scottish Chieftains.

All dogs show a little sagging around the neck and jowls when they age. But for some droopy pooches, loose skin is a breed characteristic. Loose skin has benefited certain breeds in their working past, making them better at tracking scent and at avoiding injury, although nowadays, it is the cosmetic aspect of loose skin that appeals most to owners. In some cases, loose skin can lead to health and hygiene problems for dogs.

Loose Skin, Tough Background

He may have the look of a dopey and adorable pooch, but the shar-pei’s tough guy history explains exactly why he’s got loose skin. The shar-pei was bred for fighting and his loose skin protected him in two ways. It’s tough, bristled texture deadened the impact of bites and the loose folds enabled him to move about, even if another dog had a good grip on his skin. Modern shar-peis can have somewhat exaggerated skin folds, which affect them negatively in a number of ways. They are more prone to skin infections and in extreme cases, the heavy folds can impede their vision.

Neapolitan Mastiff: Big Skin, No Bite

The Neapolitan mastiff may look fearsome, but it’s been a long time since this gentle giant was used for guarding and protection work. His deep, loose folds give him the distinctive look of a dog wearing a jacket several sizes too big, but like the shar-pei, those wrinkles had a purpose. If called upon to protect people or livestock, his loose skin would reduce his chances of suffering injury from a bite.

Scent-Tracking Skinfolds

Like the Neapolitan mastiff and shar-pei, the bloodhound’s loose skin has an important purpose and if you’re ever on the run from the law, you might just find out about it. His famous scent-tracking abilities wouldn’t be what they are without those loose folds around his jaw and neck. While this pooch patrols the ground for scent, his skin folds capture scent that he’s missed, enabling him to double-check his work and find what he’s looking for.

Bulldog’s Bullbaiting History

Bulldogs have a flattened face because they descend from breeds used for bullbaiting. Those breeds benefited from having a flat face because it enabled them to grip onto their prey while breathing clearly. Today’s bulldog carries the legacy of those dark days, his wrinkled jowls a reminder of his ancestry. Although they serve no practical purpose, those sloppy, wrinkled chops sure are cute. However, there’s also a downside. His skin folds are a haven for infection.

Frenchy’s Wrinkles Are a Fashion Statement

The French bulldog has a shared ancestry with the bulldog and also carries the wrinkly legacy of days gone by. However, his loose skin is also a product of human desire. Many breeders seek to exaggerate the trait of wrinkled skin to give their dogs a distinctive appearance. The French bulldog’s head and shoulder wrinkles should be moderate, but some examples of the breed have excessively loose skin.

Guard dogs have personality traits that make them effective at defending their owners and properties. Intelligence, bravery, loyalty and a defensive instinct make breeds like the German Shepherd suitable as guard animals. Other than the shepherd, plenty of other breeds have these same instincts along with extra attributes that are beneficial.

Dogue de Bordeaux

The Dogue de Bordeaux is a large, powerful breed. It grows to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 100 lbs. The dog has a stout, muscular body and an imposing look. It is a naturally loyal and protective breed but is not overly aggressive. It is gentle with children and its family but will not back down from a threat posed by an intruder.

Akita

The Akita is a large, powerful breed, growing to 28 inches at the shoulder. It is heavily muscled, has a thick, two-layer coat and a curled tail. It is a natural guardian and will raise the alarm loudly if it detects an intruder. The breed’s temperament can differs from dog to dog so it is not ideal for families with small children.

Bouvier des Flandres

The Bouvier des Flandres is a large breed that grows to 27 inches at the shoulder. It has a sturdy, square body type with a long, double-layer coat. It is a brave, loyal and protective breed which makes a good family companion. It requires a lot of exercise and may become too playful around small children if not supervised.

Rottweiler

The rottweiler is an imposing, muscular breed, growing to 27 inches at the shoulder. If trained well and socialized, the dog is a loving pet. It enjoys time with its family and will defend its people from strangers with intense courage. The dog needs to be introduced to new people before it will trust them.

Kuvasz

The kuvasz is a large breed that grows to 30 inches at the shoulder. It originated from Tibet and has a thick, double-layer coat. Its natural guarding instinct makes it a good flock protector and it was used for centuries to defend sheep and cattle from wild predators. It is a reserved breed and does not show huge amounts of affection, but will protect its family courageously.

Komondor

The komondor is a large breed, growing to 25 inches at the shoulder. It has a distinctive, two-layer, corded coat which looks very much like a mop. This coat protects it from the bites of other animals. It, like the kuvasz, is a livestock protector. It is loving with its family but is suspicious and defensive towards strangers.

If you like dogs with squished-in faces, you’re a fan of the brachycephalic breeds. Brachycephalic or “short head” canines come in various sizes. Their head shape make them prone to respiratory issues, and many airlines won’t allow them on board.

Small Dogs

Many of the brachycephalic breeds are relatively small and portable, weighing under 20 pounds. These include the Pekingese, the pug, the Boston terrier, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, the Japanese Chin, the Brussels griffon, the Shih Tzu, the Lhasa apso and the French bulldog.

Medium-Size Dogs

Brachycephalic breeds are better represented among the smaller and larger canine spectrum, only a couple purebreds falling in the midsize dog range. If you’re in the market for a dog maturing between 20 and 50 pounds, brachycephalic breeds fitting the bill include the English bulldog and the American bulldog.

Large Dogs

Big brachycephalic dog breeds include some of the largest of all dogs: mastiffs. These giant canines, some of which can top the scales at 200 pounds and up, include the English mastiff, Neapolitan mastiff and bull mastiff. Boxers, large but not huge, are also brachycephalic. So are the extremely wrinkled Chinese Shar-Peis.

If you’re interested in welcoming a small canine into your life, you have many exciting options, including toy and non-sporting dog breeds from all over the globe. Though many people appreciate small dogs for their size, the pups also are beloved for their dispositions. Small dogs are diverse not only in cuteness, but also in temperament and behavioral characteristics.

Easygoing Small Dogs

Dogs large and small run the gamut in terms of temperament, although some are more mellow and easy going than others. Small canines who are known for having easygoing dispositions include Japanese chins, Shih Tzus, pugs, Chihuahuas and French bulldogs. If hyper dogs who are constantly on the go aren’t exactly your cup of tea, you might want to look into a pet from one of these breeds.

Lively Small Dogs

While some dogs are mellow and tranquil in nature, others are bundles of vitality and vigor. Small dogs who tend to have exuberant and bouncy natures include miniature pinschers, Cairn terriers and Yorkshire terriers. If spirited play sessions at the park and in your backyard are more your speed than cozy evenings in front of the television, then these small breeds might be most suited for you. In general, terriers are usually pretty tireless canines.

Small Dogs Who Love Other Dogs

Some dogs are eager to share in the company of their fellow canines, while others are more like loners — or they strongly prefer to be around human beings than other dogs. Certain small dog breeds are known to be more social in temperament than others. These breeds include Norfolk terriers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels and Havanese pooches. If you’re interested in a friendly small dog who doesn’t get too territorial or possessive around other animals, you just might find the canine of your dreams in one of these furry guys.

Fast Learning Small Dogs

Although properly and thoroughly training a dog isn’t always the easiest job, it has to be done. Some canines make the process a breeze, though. Small doggie breeds that are known for being training dreams include miniature poodles, papillons and Brussels griffons. Dog training typically involves everything from showing the furry cuties how to fetch to housebreaking them as puppies. Small dogs from these breeds often make those jobs easy, but remember, all dogs are individuals and some might be easier to train than others within these breeds.

Benefits of Little Dogs

When considering what kind of dog to add to your home, become familiar with all the ins and outs of the specific breed. Several advantages exist with dogs from smaller breeds. Tinier dogs tend to lead longer lives. They often can manage in smaller living environments better than larger dogs. Transporting them from one place to another also is often a simpler task, whether your destination is the groomer or the vet.