Dog Breeds That Are Now Extinct
Dogs are known as man's best friend for a reason: In addition to providing companionship and unyielding loyalty, they can also be put to work and bred to exacting specifications.
It stands to reason, then, that certain breeds of dogs have been bred into existence to fulfill certain tasks. As time passes, certain breeds become tried-and-true successes, while others become less necessary and eventually go extinct. The descendants of these breeds are still with us today — even if the original breed is long gone.
St. John's Water Dog
Newfoundland dogs are still with us today, but their relative the St. John's water dog — also known as the lesser Newfoundland — has been extinct since the early 1980s.
These dogs were known for their love of water and were originally exported from Newfoundland to England in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They're the ancestor of modern retrievers, including the Labrador, Golden, and Chesapeake Bay retriever.
Paisley Terrier
These small terriers were named the Paisley Terrier in honor of the Scottish town where they were first bred. Unlike many dogs on this list, they were bred as a pet and showdog, rather than to fulfill a specific job.
These dogs were popular for their small size and docile nature, but other terriers soon began to overshadow them and the Paisley Terrier eventually declined.
English Water Spaniel
The last English Water Spaniel was seen in the 1930s, and the breed has been considered extinct ever since. These dogs were adept at aiding waterfowl hunters, and were similar to modern-day collies.
It's believed that Shakespeare referenced this breed in Macbeth, and its influence also includes descendants such as the American Water Spaniel and Curly Coated Retriever.
English White Terrier
Breeders in 1860 England were eager to create a new breed from the prick-eared working terriers that were popular at the time. The result was the English White Terrier, a breed that's continued to evolve ever since.
While the era of the English White Terrier was short-lived — it was in decline just three decades after it was first bred — it's the ancestor of various popular modern terriers.
Cumberland Sheepdog
Similar to modern-day Border Collies, the Cumberland Sheepdog was a hard-working, companionable dog that was effective at corralling cattle and sheep.
Sometime in the early 20th century, the Cumberland Sheepdog became less common, and is now considered extinct. It's likely that the breed was largely absorbed into the Border Collie breed.
Kurī
This dog originated with the Māori people of Polynesia and was introduced to New Zealand as they first settled that land in the 13th century.
In addition to being used to hunt birds, the Kurī was also eaten for its meat. While it was seen by early European explorers such as James Cook in 1769, it was extinct by the 1860s.
Salish Wool Dog
Also known as the Comox Dog and Clallam Indian Dog, the Salish Wool Dog was named for its luxurious coat.
The breed was developed by the Coast Salish people of the Pacific Northwest and its fur was shaved and collected for use in textiles — much like modern-day sheep. As the use of dog wool declined, the breed declined as well, and it became extinct around the turn of the 20th century.
Toy Bulldog
Some modern bulldogs are referred to as Toy Bulldogs, but the original Toy Bulldog is a now-extinct breed that was popular in England during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The breed was a result of efforts to tone down aggressive bulldogs and make them smaller. Breeding programs were not particularly successful, and efforts dwindled within a few decades.
Hawaiian Poi Dog
A descendent of the Polynesian dogs originally brought to the Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaiian Poi Dog was described as a "pot-bellied, short-legged" dog by Captain James Cook.
The dog was considered a lucky charm and was also eaten for its meat. As the use of dog meat declined, the breed interbred with feral dogs brought into Hawaii. It had disappeared as a distinct entity by the early 20th century.
Bull Biter
Officially known as the Bullenbeiser or German Bulldog, the bull biter was a ferocious breed of bulldog that existed up until the mid-20th century.
While these dogs were helpful for hunting large game, the decline of big-game hunting (and big game in general) spelled doom for these dogs. By the end of World War II, it had been effectively replaced by the modern Boxer.
Alpine Mastiff
Modern Saint Bernards owe a lot of their lineage to the Alpine Mastiff, which was not a bona fide breed, but rather a type of mastiff.
While "Alpine Mastiff" and "Saint Bernard" were often used interchangeably, they're different dogs with the same lineage. Over time, the Saint Bernard proved to be more popular, and the Alpine Mastiff was absorbed into the breed.
Talbot
Various hunting hounds that existed during the Middle Ages are long gone today, and one such breed is the Talbot, which was also known as the St. Hubert Hound.
These small-to-medium-sized dogs are likely the ancestors to modern-day beagles. It continued to exist until the end of the 18th century, but seems to have become extinct at some point around the turn of the 19th century.
Moscow Water Dog
The Moscow Water Dog was a particularly short-lived breed. It was developed solely by Red Star Kennels, a state-operated breeding program, after the end of World War II and was derived from the Newfoundland and other water dogs.
The breed can be seen as a prototype or progenitor, as it led to the establishment of breeds like the Moscow Newfoundland, Moscow Great Dane, and Black Russian Terrier.
Dogo Cubano
True to its name, the Dogo Cubano was a bullmastiff-type dog that originated in Cuba. Like many other mastiffs, the breed was adept at bull-baiting and dog-fighting, but its main job was capturing runaway enslaved people.
When Cuba abolished slavery, usage of this purpose-bred dog declined, and it was absorbed into various other breeds of dog on the island.
Argentine Polar Dog
Certain inhospitable climates have spurred the breeding of dogs that can handle the cold, and the Argentine Polar Dog is one such example.
This breed came from several hardy breeds, including the Spitz, Malamute, and Siberian Husky, and was intended to haul freight around Argentina's bases in Antarctica. With a 1991 mandate that foreign flora and fauna be removed from Antarctica, the Argentine Polar Dog faded into extinction.
Braque Dupuy
A type of pointer hailing from the Poitou region of France, the Braque Dupuy was similar in appearance to sleek racing dogs such as greyhounds.
The breed was popular among the French aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries, but was seen less and less as this trend shifted. It's now believed to be extinct as a unique entity.
Córdoba fighting dog
The purpose of the Córdoba fighting dog is right in its name: These dogs were bred in Córdoba, Argentina for the purpose of fighting.
Related to various mastiffs, these fierce dogs were the preferred choice in dog-fighting and bull-baiting in the early 20th century. When dog fighting was outlawed by the Argentine government in 1954, this already-rare breed swiftly went extinct.
Hare Indian Dog
The Hare Indian Dog had a fascinating lineage, as its ancestors likely included not just Tahitian bear dogs, but also dogs brought to North America by Viking explorers. It was used by the Hare tribe of Northern Canada for hunting.
It was similar in appearance to a coyote, and had some of the feral attributes of coyotes but could also be domesticated. As aboriginal hunting declined, so too did the Hare Indian Dog.
Turnspit Dog
Many dogs are bred for a specific job, but the Turnspit Dog may have had the most specific job of all. True to its name, it was bred solely to run on a wheel — called a turnspit — which would turn meat as it cooked.
Of course, kitchen technology soon outpaced the need for a turnspit, and this lowly dog went extinct by the end of the 19th century.
Bull and Terrier
The odd name "Bull and Terrier" was commonly used in England to describe bulldog-terrier crossbreeds in the early 1800s.
Bull and Terrier dogs were often used for bull- and bear-baiting, as they combined the toughness of bulldogs with the tenacity of terriers. As bull-baiting was banned, Bull and Terrier crossbreeds declined in popularity and were absorbed into other breeds.
Norfolk Spaniel
A springer-type spaniel, the Norfolk Spaniel was similar in appearance to modern-day Cocker Spaniels. While they could be effective as hunting dogs, they were also notoriously difficult to train.
By the turn of the 20th century, time was almost up for the Norfolk Spaniel. The Kennel Club of England introduced the New English Springer in 1903 and the Norfolk Spaniel was no longer bred as a separate entity.
Chien-gris
A scent hound with origins dating back to the Medieval period, the Chien-gris (literally "grey dog") was a favorite of French monarchs for its hunting abilities.
It's thought that they were brought back to France from the Crusades, and the Chien-gris enjoyed centuries of popularity. By the 19th century, though, as dog breeding increased, it became impossible to find an authentic Chien-gris.
Tahitian Dog
While the Tahitian Dog was related to various other Polynesian dogs, it was still a distinct breed. Tahitians bred the dog for its meat and coat, and the breed was described by early European explorers.
Like other dogs bred for their meat, the Tahitian Dog declined after dog meat fell out of favor. It's long since been absorbed into other breeds.
Tweed Water Spaniel
The Tweed Water Spaniel no longer exists, but anyone with a Golden Retriever or Curly Coated Retriever can trace their dog's lineage back to this extinct breed.
These athletic dogs were bred in Scotland and were helpful for hunting, like other water dogs. The breed eventually was crossbred with other types of dog, and ceased to exist as a distinct entity.
Old Welsh Grey Sheepdog
The Old Welsh Grey Sheepdog, or simply Welsh Grey, looked similar to other long-haired sheepdogs like the Bearded Collie.
Welsh Greys were used as working dogs by shepherds and farmers, but they were largely replaced by the Border Collie by the early 20th century. This breed was sighted as recently as the 1980s, but is likely now extinct.
Southern Hound
A dog with murky origins and an unclear fate, the Southern Hound likely descended from the Talbot and perhaps the Greyhound as well.
Southern Hounds were known as slow dogs with an excellent sense of smell. Because of its slow speed, hunters came to favor the faster Foxhound, and the remaining feral Southern Hounds likely interbred with other breeds.
North Country Beagle
The North Country Beagle was similar in appearance to modern Beagles, and is in fact one of the ancestors of that popular breed.
The North Country Beagle was known for being an excellent hunter of small game like rabbit and hare, but lacked the olfactory aptitude of the Southern Hound. After its use in hunting waned, it likely interbred with other dogs, including other beagles.
Old English Bulldog (original)
While a modern recreation breed (the Olde English Bulldogge) now exists, the original Old English Bulldog has been extinct since the 19th century.
The original breed was a compact and tough fighting dog. Like other fighting dogs, it went extinct after this practice was outlawed. Breeders slowly bred this fighting dog into friendlier, more docile breeds like the English Bulldog.
Tesem
A truly ancient breed, the Tesem was recorded in ancient Egypt as a hunting dog with prick ears, long legs, and a curled tail.
It's difficult to trace the lineage of the Tesem, but depictions exist dating from around 3,000 BC. Sometime in the next 1,500 to 2,000 years, the dog seemed to have been replaced by a different breed of the Saluki/Sloughi type.
Smithfield Dog
The Smithfield Dog, known as a muscular herding dog of the collie type, was named for London's Smithfield Market, where these dogs were used to drive cattle.
This breed of Smithfield Dog is believed to be long extinct, there are similar dogs known as Smithfields in Tasmania, Australia.
