---
title: "The Seven Oldest Breeds of Dogs"
id: "242695"
type: "post"
slug: "the-seven-oldest-breeds-of-dogs"
published_at: "2023-02-17T16:07:00+00:00"
modified_at: "2023-02-17T16:07:00+00:00"
url: "https://www.petlandbatavia.com/the-seven-oldest-breeds-of-dogs/"
markdown_url: "https://www.petlandbatavia.com/the-seven-oldest-breeds-of-dogs.md"
excerpt: "They are known as man’s best friend and recent research indicates that they may have been given this title longer than we first believed. Although many dog breeds date back centuries, there are a few that date back well before..."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Petland"
---

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# The Seven Oldest Breeds of Dogs

February 17, 2023 ·  3 min read ·  Petland Batavia, Illinois

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They are known as man’s best friend and recent research indicates that they may have been given this title longer than we first believed. Although many dog breeds date back centuries, there are a few that date back well before that. Below is a list of the oldest dog breeds on record and a little information about each breed.

## Dating Back 10,000 Years – Akita Inu

The Akita Inu is a historic breed of dog who originated in the mountains of northern Japan. The two separate varieties of Akita are a pure Japanese strain, also known as Akita-ken and a mixed American strain, commonly larger. This breed has a short double coat similar to northern spitz breeds. The Akita Inu is a very strong, loyal and focused dog who’s been around for a long time.

## Dating Back 9,500 Years – Greenland Sled Dog

The Greenland Sled Dog is a sturdy, powerful and heavy-built dog with a wedge-shaped head, slightly tilted eyes and small triangular ears. This breed is covered with a thick coat which helps to prevents frostbite. This breed has a very long history of being a loyal and hardworking dog known for its incredible stamina.

## Dating Back 8,000 Years — Afghan Hound

While many believe that the Afghan Hound was originally from the deserts of Egypt, its name suggests otherwise, and a more realistic theory is that they were originally bred by the nomadic people of Afghanistan and its neighboring regions. This breed was used to hunt animals such as antelopes and leopards. They are very fast and focused dogs that have a very long history.

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## Dating Back 8,000 Years — Greyhound

The original primary use of Greyhounds, both in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe, was in the coursing of deer for meat and sport. Over thousands of years, this breed has become a very popular family pet due to their gentle and loving demeanor. Greyhounds are also extremely fast and are able to maintain great speeds over long distances. As of today, the Greyhound is known as the fastest breed of dog in the world clocking in at 45 mph.

## Dating Back 5,000 Years — Basenji

The Basenji is an ancient dog breed tracing their lineage from pariah dogs to the Egyptians and then to hunting dogs for the tribes in the Congo. Running in silent packs, the Basenjis often wore bells to alert their human partners to their whereabouts in the deep jungle. This breed of dog was a tremendous hunter whose stamina and loyalty won the hearts of humans for thousands of years.

## Dating Back 5,000 Years – Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan mastiff is a large-size dog breed that originated in China. They are often described to be as magnificent and alert as a lion. This breed was used in Tibet for thousands of years as powerful and imposing estate guard. They are very protective and loyal dogs whose appearance can be intimidating. Despite being very intelligent dogs, they can be stubborn and at times difficult to train. Many would suggest training at a young age will yield the best results.

## Dating Back 5,000 Years — Saluki

The Saluki is a very old breed of dog dating back thousands of years. Images of this breed with have been found on various artifacts in the Middle East, such as tomb paintings and mosaic sculptures. The Saluki was bred to hunt and unlike many dogs that utilize scent to do so, this breed utilizes its amazing vision. These are strong, alert, and fast dogs that have a long and proven history of helping mankind.

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      AVERAGE     Based on 358 reviews                    Posted on Google        Kevin     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing staff. All very nice and answered all my questions. I loved all the dogs but I had to see the dog named Kevin! I went in with a completely negative view on petlands but the staff really changed my mind by going over all the breeder info, If I am ever in need of a puppy I will go there and you should too.         Posted on Google        Cecilia Caballero     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We came at a time they were very busy and never once did we feel rushed, or given attitude while asking questions. The two on staff were amazing and sweet!         Posted on Google        Noelle Chaney     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I went in to get my dogs nails trimmed and was met with a smile and warm greeting from an employee, Dean. The trimming was quick and they really showed my scared dog good care. It was the most pleasant experience I’ve had when it comes to some of these pet places!         Posted on Google        Shayna V     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We just went for a walk”puppy therapy.”
Look at how cute they are.
I was a little surprised that considering how few customers were in at the time & yet we only got a “let us know if we can help you with anything” and that was it.  There were plenty of employees in store, as it was probably the beginning of the Friday night shift, before families started coming in.
I had made an appointment, just in case we decided to see any of the dogs.
I guess I’m accustomed to the employees being more personal and wanting to tell me things based on the conversation my group is having without me having to reach out to them.              
```
