5 dog breeds with European origins

This breed is said to have been established in 1846 by a German called Heinrich Essig. The town councilor of Leonberg near Stuttgart was a dog fan. He aimed to breed a dog that would resemble the emblem of Leonberg — a lion. He crossbred several long-haired breeds, namely Landseers, Pyrenean Shepherds and St. Bernards, coming up with the Leonberger.

The St. Bernard, Switzerland's national dog since 1884, was also named after the place it was bred — in this case, the Great St. Bernard Pass in Switzerland. The Augustinian monks that once founded the Grand St. Bernard Hospice there were greatly supported in their work by dogs. And St. Bernard dogs were found to be particularly useful in attempts to rescue people from avalanches in the Alps.

Rottweilers were once particularly popular with stock breeders. These highly intelligent and alert dogs were trained to guard the herds. Numerous Rottweilers were kept in the town of Rottweil in the state of Baden-Württemberg, which was an important center of the stock trade until the early 19th century. Over time, the breed also became known in other regions in Germany.

This dog breed originates from the Dalmatian region in Croatia. The elegant white dogs with black spots are said to have once guarded the border there. Dalmatians have kept their strong guarding instinct to this day. In the US, they are associated with their traditional role as firehouse watchdogs.

Weimaraner are known for their territorial behavior. And they have proved to be useful in hunting. During the 19th century, they were kept as hunting dogs at the court of Grand Duke Karl August von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, and it's likely that the breed came from there. To this day, breeders sell their puppies mostly to hunters. But the elegant grey dog is also popular as a family dog.