NON-SPORTING DOGS

Nursery Rhymes

Non-Sporting Dogs

All of the dogs in our list below belong to the collection of dogs referred to as Non-Sporting Dogs, these are all fail to fit the specified criteria of the other existing breed groups.

Picture of a Non-Sporting dog

General Information about Non-Sporting Dogs

All of the dogs listed below belong to the collection of dogs referred to as Non-Sporting Dogs.

Dogs in the Non-Sporting Group are a diverse group which do not fit the specified criteria of the other breed groups. In addition, the Non-Sporting Group may no longer perform the tasks they were originally bred for.

These dogs vary in every conceivable way from size, temperament, features and coats! Some are well known and some are less common. There is no unifying theme with these dogs!

Times, fashions and societies have changed and so have the need for breeds to assist in what was once considered entertainment, or sport, such as bull or bear baiting.

Dog Breeds - ABC List

Bay Dog - Hog Dogs
There are Hog Dog Rodeos which feature Hog-dogs that simulates wild boar hunting with dogs. It requires specially bred Bay Dog (hog dogs) that are used to bay a hog, wild pig or boar.

Bay Dogs - Curs and Cur Breeds
The word "cur" dates from the Middle English of the 13th century derives from the word "curren", meaning "to growl" - when saying word "Cur" actually sounds like a growl. Many Curs and Cur Breeds have been given the encompassing title of Bay Dogs. A cur dog is a non specific or a mixture of different breeds of dogs. Bay dogs are popular in America and Australia and the different types were descended from European dogs brought over by immigrants. These cross breeds of dogs were then mixed with the native dogs with the intention of producing the qualities of hunting dogs and to some extent herding dogs combining features of speed, power, and endurance. Curs often have a wide chest and very little body fat.

Non-Sporting Breed - Past Duties
The characteristics and features of Non-Sporting Dogs cannot be generalised. Each breed would have originally have been introduced and strengthened by breeding with animals who already demonstrated the desired traits. Breeding for appearance was only introduced in the 19th Century. Before this time dogs and puppies were bred to increase useful abilities and traits helpful for the duties they were intended for. Because of the diverse nature of these breeds it is not possible to detail every task they were involved with but here are a few:

Hunting game birds - the Finnish Spitz

Hunting waterfowl

Hunting small game - the Shiba

Truffle hunter - the Poodle

Bull Baiting - the English Bulldog

Coach Dog - the Dalmatian

Circus Performers

Guarding duties

In this day and age only a few of the breeds might undertake these tasks, but nevertheless, they still harbour the skills and characteristics that made the original breeding programs so successful. These dogs generally fall into the medium to large size groups and make popular family companions. Information about Non-Sporting Dogs
To discover more about specific breeds of Non-Sporting Dogs, their origins, history, temperaments and characteristics please follow one of the following links: