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Dogs have been around humans for over 30,000 years and have earned themselves the title of humans’ best friends. Since being domesticated, the species has undergone dramatic changes due to selective breeding. People have bred dogs for their advantage, sometimes causing the animals severe health problems. However, only in the 20th century did the selective breeding of dogs become more sophisticated as new methods were discovered.

What Is Selective Breeding, and When Did It Start?

Selective breeding means selecting the species with desirable traits for breeding to increase those qualities in a population. This is usually done to benefit humans and might not always be favorable to the particular animal in its natural environment.

Some of the earliest examples of selective breeding can be found more than 9,000 years ago in Mesoamerica. Humans used to breed teosinte plants, which had a large number of kernels, and this gave rise to corn. 

Why Did Humans Start Selectively Breeding Dogs?

It is believed that when humans shifted toward agricultural societies, they started selectively breeding dogs for a smaller size and more docile behavior. This was done to make living together more comfortable for humans and dogs.

Domestic dogs first emerged as early as 30,000 years ago in Southeast Asia thanks to the selective breeding of wolves. This resulted in over 450 globally recognized dog breeds today.

What Did The Original Dogs Look Like?

Many well-known dog breeds look pretty different from how they did a century ago. We compiled this list of dog evolution comparison pictures with the help of the ‘Dogs of All Nations’ book. Scroll down to see the interesting changes in these dog breeds, and let us know which one surprised you the most.

#1

Pugs 100 Years Ago

Then and now: Pug breed evolution from 100 years ago to today, showcasing selective breeding impact.

Pugs before breeding were roughly the same size a century ago. 100 years ago, original pugs had longer legs and noses and a slimmer build. They were bred to have bigger eyes and flatter noses. Unfortunately, this led to malformed and sick pugs with breathing problems and other health issues.

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kate h
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pugs are such great little dogs - happy, friendly, funny and loyal. It's a shame what people have done to this breed and many others. :(

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    #2

    Bull Terrier 100 Years Ago

    Side-by-side images showing the changes in dog breeds from 100 years ago to today due to selective breeding.

    If you look at the bull terrier before and after, you’ll notice that the face has become shorter, while the jaws and the bridge of the nose have become more prominent. The body shape also became more muscular with shorter legs. This build was created explicitly so the breed could function as a fighting dog during the Victorian era.

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    #3

    Irish Setter

    "Selective breeding effects shown in Irish Setter, then in black and white, now in color, highlighting breed changes."

    Irish setters were imported from Ireland to Spain. They haven’t changed much over the years. Now, they have a longer and thicker coat colored a rich, mahogany red. They also have a slightly thinner body.

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    #4

    West Highland White Terrier

    Selective breeding results: comparison of a dog breed from 100 years ago and today, highlighting physical differences.

    This adorable dog breed hasn’t changed much. All-white terriers were selectively bred in the 19th century in Poltalloch in Argyll, which led to the development of the West Highland White. The few changes that occurred were their fur becoming a little bit longer and thicker.

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    Up All Night
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The old one looked almost like a Cairn terrier. I have read that Westies, Cairns and Scottish terriers were bred together and the breed of the pup was decided at birth - by its color. Quite hilarious, if you ask any modern dog breeder.

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    #5

    Old English Sheepdog

    Selective breeding impact: Old English Sheepdog breed comparison, past vs present.

    The Old English sheepdog used to be much shaggier than it is today. Apart from that, this is one of the most consistent dog breeds from 100 years ago.

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    #6

    Basset Hound

    Selective breeding impact: Old vs modern Basset Hound, showcasing physical changes over 100 years.

    There are quite a few recognizable changes to the Basset Hound’s build. The hind legs became shorter, the ears became longer, their face became droopier, and their skin now had more folds.

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    #7

    Dobermann Dog Evolution

    Then and now comparison of dog breeds showing effects of selective breeding over 100 years.

    This dog was originally bred in Thuringia in 1890 by Louis Dobermann. The Dobermann dog breed has a more slender build than before. Their ears used to be cropped and their tail docked, which is now illegal in many countries. They are also not as aggressive as they were before.

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    Call Me AJ
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yay! His tail is not docked! Cheers for animal rights!

    Ruth Mayfly
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And the ears are not cropped. I'm sure the first dog's ears were cut to look like that.

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    Karin Gibson
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ears are different as they have not been mutilated, plus the tail is not docked.

    Kim
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ears in the first picture are clipped, mutilated. The ears in the second picture are intact.

    greenbean
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ears are different becaus they haven't been cut in the second pic (which is obviously great).

    Joshua Howard
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had one in the 70's. They were still considered "dangerous" at the time, but he was the sweetest thing... used to try and sit on my lap, slept at the foot of my bed... Then a group of boys from the neighborhood threw rocks at him, injuring his paw bad enough he needed treatment at the vet. He never trusted another child, including me. Little hoodlums took away my best friend. Yes, I hold a grudge.

    Diana Dodd
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thanks to animal rights ... Their ears and the tails are no longer being cropped. Otherwise they look the same!

    Johanne Trudeau
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Glad they stopped docking the tail and shaping the ears... They look much kinder now and they are.

    Renate Stargardt
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If dogs are aggressive, it's because of the the owner, not the breed. I doubt this has changed, since dogs became domestic / work animals.

    Coco
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the american dobermann is a joke. European dobbies are still working dogs, and very handsome.

    naylene hess
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I mean most dogs arent working dogs and this one is clearly a show dog considering the unnatural pose. We still have working dogs...

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    Mumof1
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The upright ears are achieved by cropping, which thankfully, is illegeal in the UK. The ears are cut when they are puppies, they're then proped up with splints, and bound in placeuntil they are "set". I think the cropped ears make them look much more agrressive than they acrually are.

    Kat
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ears look different because they are not cropped otherwise they’re basically the same. Happy to see this dog is in its natural state with no docking or cropping.

    Grumble O'Pug
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ears are cropped that's why. And the tail is not docked. So yay!

    Micah Pettit
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like others have said, the tail of the dog in the first picture was docked (meaning surgically cut off), as were the ears. People still do this to dobermans as well as to other breeds like pit bulls and such. It's an awful thing to do to an animal.

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    Lauren Williams
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tails and ears are not always docked and cropped for their asthetic. Doberman tails are quite thin and have a high risk of breaking during play and exercise. This can be immensely painful for the dog. Although cropping the ears can be avoided with proper care of Doberman ears, it is cleaner to crop them. The Doberman is very prone to ear infections due to the humidity of their ears. Their ears are also very thin and tend to bleed a lot when torn or bitten during play. At the end of the day check with your vet and do what is best for the dog to give them a happy healthy life.

    Ezra Kramer
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is there any evidence of an epidemic of ear infections in countries where cropping is illegal? Mine’s ears were not cropped and ear infections have not been an issue.

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    Amy Grant
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    His ears are clipped, chopped off for beauty. So now we are just more humane.

    Dorothy Cloud
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think his ears were docked in 100 yr old picture and some do it today.

    Bean53
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It appears the ears have not been cut, and the tail is still intact. This is good; this dog is so beautiful!

    Grace Note
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ears looked different in the before photo because they have been docked along with the tail. It's a horrible thing to do to an animal.

    Heather Hayllar
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely the present day dog is the better dog in my opinion anyway

    Jane Petersen
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They culled the bloodlines of the man-biters. All breeds should have had that done.

    Kat
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ears are different bc they are not cropped and tail is not docked. Happy to see it.

    Shiritoru
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The description for the photos makes me wonder if author even look on them. The modern Doberman have obviously deeper chest.

    SaltyFØxx
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, a dobermann killed my grandfather, so the aggressiveness is highly debatable.

    Dilly Millandry
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's very sad. It's not really about a breed though - that's about an individual dog that was probably not handled right from the word go. All powerful dogs should be treated with the greatest of respect by their owners and fully trained. You can, of course, still get the odd rogue dog in the same way there are awful people. The only time I have ever been in danger from a dog was from a psychotic collie that had the neighbourhood living in fear. It does happen unfortunately. I am so very sorry about your grandfather though, that is a tragedy.

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    Up All Night
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They've been also hit by the "hyena disease" plus those unelegant, rigid looking backs... (Btw, I'm sure the first picture is of a German Pinscher.)

    Marlowe Fitzpatrik
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hmm, not really. They#re actually very elegant-looking when not posed lke this. Not my type, and wayyyyyyyyyyyyy too many health-issues, but the back is straight and should be strong, as do the legs.

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    Maryam Abdur-Rahim
    Community Member
    4 years ago

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    PauPain
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What on earth are you talking about? Dobermann is not a natural bobtailed breed. The breed does not have the genes for that. Same thing goes for the ears. You may have seen a mixed breed, but it definitely was not a pure bred Dobermann.

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    #8

    Dachshund

    Selective breeding impact: comparison of Dachshund dog breed now and 100 years ago.

    The adorable dachshunds you know today were initially bred to be hunting dogs during the 15th century in Europe. Today, the sausage dogs have a longer face and body. Also, a chest that’s slightly wider and hind leggies that are shorter.

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    #9

    Newfoundland

    Selective breeding: Comparison of a Newfoundland dog 100 years ago and today, showing physical changes.

    While they appear similar, Newfoundlands were likely much smaller than they are today. ‘Dogs of All Nations’ writes that the breed weighed around 100 pounds in 1915, whereas Newfoundland males can weigh up to 150 pounds today. With so much shaggy fur, you can make different hairstyles for your Newfoundland!

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    Lord Mysticlaw
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fun fact: In Disney's 1953 Peter Pan, Nana is a Newfoundland. At the time they were often used as "babysitters" because they're so gentle, but protective of their family.

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    #10

    German Shepherd Dog Breeds 100 Years Ago

    German Shepherd showing selective breeding changes over 100 years, from historical to modern appearance.

    German shepherd puppies and dogs have become larger. Their fur has also become longer and thicker. Their skeletons have changed, and their chests are now wider. Studies have shown that these dogs are predisposed to health conditions like arthritis because of how they have been bred in recent decades.

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    Forrest McCanless
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate that modern ones' back legs have been tailored to make them appear crouching and cowed.

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    #11

    Scottish Terrier

    Old vs modern dog breed, showing changes in Scottish Terrier from 100 years ago to today.

    The coat of the Scottish terrier is now much longer, softer, and has a slightly different texture. 100 years ago, their coat used to be more wiry.

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    #12

    Airedale Terrier

    "Selective breeding impact: comparison of a dog breed from 100 years ago and today."

    These sporting and playful dogs haven’t changed much over the years. They have a shaggier coat and a longer face with more fur. These dogs are considered to be the largest of all terriers.

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    #13

    Rottweiler

    Historic vs modern Rottweiler showing selective breeding effects over 100 years.

    There have been quite a few physical changes in the Rottweiler breed. They have a shorter snout, a more robust jaw, and a different head shape. They also don't have a docked tail anymore, and their coat is now coarser than it was before.

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    #14

    Shetland Sheepdog

    Comparison of dog breeds affected by selective breeding: vintage vs modern.

    Although the Shetland Sheepdog is considered a tiny dog, it has doubled in size over the years. Its fur also became longer to help it cope and survive harsh weather conditions.

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    #15

    Boxer Breed 100 Years Ago

    Comparison of dog breeds from 100 years ago to today, highlighting changes from selective breeding.

    Boxers are the weirdest and most adorable dogs because of their energetic personalities. This breed emerged due to the selective breeding of smaller Mastiff breeds and bulldogs. Their original body shape was altered, while their faces, which used to be longer, are more downturned. 

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    #16

    Great Dane

    Selective breeding impact: comparison of a dog breed 100 years ago and today, showing physical changes over time.

    Great Danes are huge! These long-legged dogs used to weigh less than they do today. According to “Dogs of All Nations,” they used to weigh around 120 pounds, while today, males can reach up to 175 pounds. They also used to be used as hunting dogs.

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    #17

    Chow Chow

    Selective breeding effects: a dog breed comparison from 100 years ago and today, highlighting changes in appearance.

    These adorable fluff balls weighed around 50 pounds a century ago. Today, they weigh up to 75 pounds. In addition to this, the faces of Chow Chows have become more wrinkly. Humans bred the Chow Chow with thicker coats to be better suited for work in the snow.

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    jevais
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What happened to this once beautiful dogs? Why a shorter jaw and make them so wrinkle? Stupid breeders!

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    #18

    Saluki

    Comparison of dog breed from 100 years ago to today, showing effects of selective breeding.

    The Salukis have become even taller than they were before. Today, they are also thinner, with longer ears and legs. These dogs love companionship and enjoy being around people.

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    Which Selective Breeding Example Shocked You the Most?

    Seeing how popular dog breeds have transformed over 100 years is fascinating. Although selective breeding has added many great qualities, it has complex harmful effects on some dog’s health. That’s why it is crucial not to encourage breeders to cut corners due to high demand. The best way to keep dogs safe and healthy in the long run is to adopt, not shop