How These 10 Popular Dog Breeds Got Their Name

Have you ever wondered how dog breeds got their name? Who the heck is Jack Russell and why is the dog breed named after him? In some cases, the name has to do with their country of origin, others are named after the people who bred them, while still others are named in honor of someone or something. The origins of many breed names are not so clear, while many dog breed names could have fascinating and even heroic origins.  Here is the origin of the name of several popular dog breeds. 

Dachshunds 

Dachshunds are a mixture of hound dogs and terriers that were originally bred to hunt badgers. So it’s no surprise that in German “dach” translates to badger while “hund” translates to “dog”. 

Beagles

Beagles aren’t named after their breeder or their location but instead are named for the distinctive sound they make when they howl! Beagle comes from the French word “beugler” which means to bellow In English. 

Saint Bernards

Saint Bernards are strong loyal dogs with a reputation for saving Swiss travelers trapped in the snow. Their name comes from the Saint Bernard Hospice which was run by monks in the 1600’s as well as the Saint Bernard Pass where many a traveler was rescued by one of these amazing pups. 

Corgi

The Corgi breed of dog is very likely named after its small stature. The word Corgi is the Welsh word for “dwarf dog”. These dogs were bred to be herding dogs for cattle because they were low enough to the ground to avoid being trampled. 

Doberman Pinscher

The Doberman Pinscher is named after its breeder Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a German tax collector who wanted an intimidating-looking dog breed to go with him while he made his his collections. Dobermann bred Manchester terriers with Pinschers and Rottweilers with Greyhounds until eventually the Doberman Pinscher was born. 

Jack Russell Terrier

The Jack Russell terrier breed of dog and the Parson Russell terrier are both named after Reverend John Russell. He loved fox terriers so much that he decided to breed some with shorter legs so that they could hunt in the hilly areas where he lived. 

Leonberger

The Leonberger breed of dog is a combination of a Saint Bernard, a Pyrenean Mountain dog, and a Newfoundland. These large, loyal, and obedient dogs were bred specifically to represent the city of Leonberg, Germany. They wanted a dog that would resemble the lion on their coat of arms. 

Basset Hounds

Basset hounds are named after the French word “bas” which means low-slung which they certainly are with their short, but adorable stubby legs. Basset hounds have been sniffing out prey since the 6th century in France!

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler breed of dog gets its name from the German town of Rottwiell which was named after all of the red tile roofs in the town. The word “rote” in German means read while “weill” means tile. 

Bull Dogs

Bull dogs most likely got their name from the British who bred and trained them to fight bulls as a form of entertainment. The practice was outlawed in the 1800s but the name for the breed remained the same. 

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