Look at That Ugly Dog! A Brief History of Unique Dog Breeds

People often have different opinions on what they consider to be an ugly breed of dog. Some may consider the breed to be just plain ugly, while others define them as distinguished or elegant.

For example, one breed of dog that has caused debate is the Chinese Crested.

The Chinese Crested is a very small breed of dog with a height of nine to thirteen inches and weighing five to fourteen pounds. There are two types, the Hairless with hair only on its head, feet and tail and the powderpuff who is completely covered with hair.

It is believed this breed originated in Africa. From there, they were brought to China by traders on boats. The traders used the Chinese Crested as ratters on their boats and preferred the hairless dog because the traders believed the dog did not carry fleas. There were two distinct species of the breed during the reign of Han Dynasty. One was a "treasure house guardian� and the other was used for food. This type was built heavier and used for food during this time. Through the trade routes aboard Chinese sailing ships, they then found their way into Europe and South America. The Chinese Crested did not appear in the United States until 1960 and was not recognized by the AKC until 1991.

The Chinese Crested are affectionate and intelligent dogs that are good with children and other pets. They may experience eye problems such as glaucoma and Progressive Retinal Atrophy and may suffer from skin allergies. If two hairless dogs are bred, often times the puppies with have health issues which include missing teeth and claws. It is best to breed a hairless and a Powderpuff to avoid these types of health concerns. There have been several dogs that are Chinese Crested that have been named the most ugliest dog in ugly dog contests throughout the world but some people consider this breed to be elegant, graceful and entertaining.

The Bull Mastiff is another breed of dog that some consider ugly, while others consider them a powerful, distinguished breed. The Bull Mastiff is quite large, standing twenty-five to twenty-seven inches and weighing 110 to 130 pounds.

This breed originated in England as a Gamekeeper's dog during the mid 1800's. Often times owners of large estates had problems with poachers coming on their land and stealing their animals. These owners used Mastiff dogs to catch the poachers but realized the dog was too slow and didn't have the drive to catch a poacher who was running for his life. During this time, the penalty for poaching was hanging. The land owners then tried to use Bulldogs to catch poachers. Bulldogs during this time were very different from the Bulldogs of today. Then they were very vicious and too often would catch a poacher and rip them to pieces. So crosses were made between the Mastiff and Bulldog to find the perfect Gamekeeper's dog. Eventually they reached a cross that was sixty percent Mastiff and forty percent Bulldog, known as the Bull Mastiff.

Another breed commonly considered to be ugly is the Pug. The Pug is a small dog with a flat, wrinkled face and curled tail. This breed stands between ten and eleven inches tall and weighs fourteen to eighteen pounds.

Many dogs of this breed suffer from tooth and mouth problems which may be caused by their flat faces. Many Pugs make grunting nasal noises, which increase as they get excited. Their short snouts may contribute to their breathing problems. The Pug is often considered a true lap dog and enjoys nothing more than curling up in their owner's lap.

So, as you can see, ugly dog breeds come in all shapes and sizes and have various histories.

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