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Here Are 18 Photos Showing Dog Breeds Today Vs. 100 Years Ago
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Dogs have been around humans for over 30,000 years now and have earned themselves the title of humans' best friends. But ever since they were domesticated, the species has gone through dramatic changes due to selective breeding. Whether the changes were physical or mental, people have bred dogs for their own advantage, sometimes causing the animals some severe health problems.
However, it was only in the 20th when the process became more sophisticated as new methods of selective breeding were discovered. Hence, the way popular dog breeds look today may differ greatly from how they did a century ago. Therefore, Bored Panda has made you a short list comparing how these 18 popular dog breeds looked 100 years ago versus how they look today. Scroll down below to see the full list!
More info: Dogs of All Nations
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Pug
These cuties are roughly the same size they were a century ago, but they were bred to have bigger eyes and flatter noses. Unfortunately, it has been linked to breathing problems and other health issues.
Bull Terrier
The face of the bull terrier became shorter, while the jaws as well as the bridge of the nose became larger. The body shape became more muscular and legs—shorter.
Irish Setter
Irish setters haven't changed much, except for a longer and thicker coat they now have and a slightly thinner body.
West Highland white terrier
This cutie hasn't changed a lot during the years (probably because he was already so darn cute), but the fur became a little bit longer and thicker.
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.
Old English sheepdog
The Old English sheepdog used to be much shaggier than it is today. Apart from that, the looks haven't changed much over the last 100 years.
Basset Hound
The hind legs of the basset hound became shorter, while the ears became a lot longer. Their face also became shorter, and the skin now has more folds than it did before.
Dobermann
The body shape of Dobermann became more slender, while the ears look slightly different, too. Also, they're not as aggressive as they used to be a century ago.
Dachshund
Today, the sausage dogs have a longer face and body. Also, a chest that's slightly wider and hind leggies—shorter.
Longer body and shorter legs. In other words, more health issues.
Newfoundland
While they appear rather similar, Newfoundlands were likely much smaller than they are today. "Dogs of all Nations" writes that the breed weighed somewhere around 100 pounds back in 1915, whereas today, Newfoundland males can weigh up to 150 pounds.
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.
German Shepherd
Over the course of 100 years, German shepherds became larger, while their fur became longer and thicker. The skeleton has changed slightly too, while the chest of these majestic dogs is now wider.
I hate that modern ones' back legs have been tailored to make them appear crouching and cowed.
Scottish Terrier
The coat of the Scottish terrier is now much longer, and also has a slightly different texture, which makes it softer. 100 years ago, their coat used to be wiry.
Airedale Terrier
These cuties haven't changed much, except for a shaggier coat and a longer face with more fur.
Rottweiler
As you can see, Rottweilers today don't have a docked tail anymore. Also, their coat is now coarser than it was before.
Shetland Sheepdog
During 100 years, the Shetland Sheepdog has doubled in size, while its fur also became longer.
But... they're tiny NOW, how have they been even smaller back then?
Boxer
The body shape of the Boxer was obviously altered, while their faces used to be longer and more downturned than they are today.
Great Dane
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.
Again with weaker headquarters and back and now a squarer, more jowly jaw
Chow Chow
These adorable balls of fluff weighed around 50 pounds a century ago. Today, they weigh up to 75 pounds. In addition to this, the faces of Chow Chows became more wrinkly.
Saluki
The Salukis have become even taller than they were before. Today, they are also thinner, have longer ears, and legs that are thin and long.
I'm glad the cutting of tails and ears is no longer in fashion/allowed!
Sadly enough, there are enough countries that still do it.
It is sad, like how it's still legal and common here in the U.S. :( Luckily it's becoming more fashionable to keep them natural, but it's still done every day here, and it's even legal to do it without anesthesia or a vet.
scrappyrat what
countries that still allow it... yeah, Mexico it's one of them :( (it's now frowned upon but legal)
People. Not countries.
Yes, from here in Germany, but also from Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and other countries where the ear- and tail-cropping´s illegal now take their dogs to Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Serbia etc,) to get that MUTILATION done there and then take their crippled dogs back home... I hate it.
Dark Pigeon lol
It's still common here in the US and makes me feel bad every time I see a mutilated dog. A teacher at my high school just got a breeder puppy who has 1/2 of his tail cut off. Poor little boy.
It's so cruel. In Belgium and the Netherlands it's forbidden by law - for dogs, farm animals can still be cut. Dogs look so much better with ears and tails. But the way some dog breeds are overbred is sickening.
Claire follower
@RainyDayWolf, in most Eastern European countries ear- and tail-cropping´s still legal either, unfortunately...
Caroline Nagel ?
Whatsup?
Feel like this was written by someone that doesn't know what she is talking about. Some breeds have changed drasticly, which is not mentioned in this artical. Shame, could be so much more interesting.
"The ears look slightly different" under the Dobermann, and "tail got longer" under the Rottweiler 😂 She thinks it's a natural change?!
Not to mention the pics they used for "comparisons" aren't great standards of the breed either! I hate posts like this.
Yea- if they had used examples of the breed standard and not random photos it would have been a better comparison. I feel that overall dog breeding has declinded significantly over the years- they used to be more robust and bred for a purpose- now it's all about aesthetics, and some very questionable ones at that.
Yep, seems like the writer is basing her comparison on only two photos, old vs new, and has no idea about natural variations or different poses and cites them as being key differences. There are so many experts who could have advised on this article to make it more meaningful, but I guess this is BP, every article is a throw-away commentary on a subject that they've covered dozens of times before in a slightly different way.
Malcontent -
This comment has been deleted.
didnt mean to comment on this one, lol.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Then write a post like this yourself! Complaining about what someone else has put the effort into actually doing is easy. You have declared yourself more knowledgeable than the poster and that, in your opinion, it "could be so much more interesting." Let us enjoy your future post then.
Respectfully, a movie reviewer who judges a movie to be lacking isn't expected to go make a better movie. If an author posts an article, it should be up to the challenge of taking on the scrutiny of the readers.
Never give feedback and let someone know they can do better? Great advise!
I despise breeders that have handicapped animals only for their personal glory and money. They don't respect or love animals. The real ugly creatures are this race of breeders.
that's probably the only logical ultimate goal of any pure breed since it relies on inbreeding... with no genetic variety the breed will keep deteriorating
And yet, just one crossbreed with a different breed or a mutt can mitigate a lot of the defects in the puppies.
I realize that humans have been selectively breeding dogs since they first partnered up but a lot of these are harmful cosmetic changes. I feel like we've kinda let our best friends down.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Kenny Kulbiski haha
kes ?
kes haha
pugs..... god I am dissapointed in humanity
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It's good to see that less tails are docked now 🥰
It is illegal in some countries, shame it isn't in all.
I bought an old black and white cat breeders book from a church fair when I was little. I was so confused looking at the pictures that mum had to explain selective breeding to me, as best as I could understand it at that age. I remember staring at the photos of Persian cats: beautiful delicate nose and lovely profile. Not any more though, it shows how fast we can mutate these beautiful creatures
I know! Persians were so gorgeous before!
https://www.catbg.ne...fulmarzaida.jpg
TheSneakyNinja follower
We've gone way too far, breeding dogs into caricatures of themselves, but with worse health issues.
So many dogs were better before!!!
averageperson +
I understand that many breeds were for specific working purposes but nowadays most aren't and are only bred for 'looks' Maybe we should reassess what we're doing to our furry friends and make sure that they're healthy and happy as a priority..
I'm wondering how many of the "coats are longer now" ones are more just to how the dogs are/were groomed? And maybe just some difference in individual dogs? I'm sure there have been a lot of changes in many breeds in the last 100 years, but I'm not sure some of these comparison photos prove how.
They’re cute, but I wish the breeders didn’t make them “look better”. 🐕
Harmful breeding should be outlawed.
Martha Meyer easy
No offence, but today's rotweiller have not longer tails, in the present days foto its tail ,and ears, has not been mutilated, the same goes for the Dobermann.
Roberto Ruziscka what
Roberto Ruziscka what
I'm seeing a pattern of shorter legs. :/
It's sad people still have to have the perfect breed while so many are put down because no one wants them
Irene Walton easy
This seems to have been written by someone given the pictures to comment on, never having had any experience or knowledge of dogs in their lives. The GSD comments in particular ignore the cruelty imposed on the breed. Anyone can compare two pictures, and say "The legs are longer in the dog on the right."
Very sad for the dogs. They were only changed for human pleasure. The dogs got only worse
Dee easy
I think the whole idea of changing ANY animal, whether it's tail docking, ear cropping, or manipulating the skeletal frame in any way is monstrous. Most of it is done in the name of "fashion". For heaven;s sake - these aren't fashion accessories, but living, breating, sentient creatures. How dare we!
Where's the English Bulldog? They have changed massively, poor bastards.
Sad to see how breeding causes so many health problems in modern breeds.
Can everyone please go and downvote Thomasin Grace? She has horrible opinions of pit bulls and should really educate herself and take her comment down. Talking and thinking like that are the reason why so many pit bulls spend months in the shelter. I once knew a sweet old pittie named Baby (12 yrs) who loved everyone, never showed the slightest sign of aggression, was extremely clean (all the other dogs needed their kennels cleaned in the morning but Baby's was always perfectly tidey), and was literally the perfect dog. What's sick is that Thomasin would have Baby killed just because of her breed. And, Thomasin, pit bulls DO NOT kill babies! They love and protect their humans' children and are doubtlessly better and kinder creatures than you are.
I hear you. But then I come across information like this: https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2020.php
All those with longer or "fluffier" coats require a lot of maintenance so they suffer a lot when abandoned which sadly keeps happening
I'll take them all and we can go live on an abandoned golf course. There's many of them for sale in America. We'll roll in the sand, jump in the ponds and run around the grass where old rich white men with huge asses and funny looking pants used to pay good money to get into.
I'm curious about how they change specific traits :)
They breed ones with the preferred traits, or a start at the preferred traits, over and over and over and over and over and over... until you get what you want to see/have. Side effects include: breathing issues; hip dysplasia; disposition changes; higher cancer risk... And so on. *sigh*
Sasha Kuleshov easy
It seems like less dogs have a specific purpose other than companionship anymore, which is why they were probably bred more for looks and aesthetics, and less for functionality. Hence the more square skulls, shorter noses, and weaker back legs.
Aileen what
Where's the English Bulldog? They are rhe epitome of changes in dig breeds.
this was a cool article some of the dogs look sad though so
Still Beautiful Creatures!✨💖🐕
Dog breeders are disgusting people. Adopt, don’t shop!
I hate what the USA has done to the German Shepherd Dog. The darn things practically walk on their hocks and the back is roached and too long. If you ever watch a dog show you will see that the handlers of GSD always move them at a very fast pace. That's because the dog wobbles at slower speeds. Most GSD handlers have to wear knee braces due to the constant running in circles. A darn shame and cruel too. The GSD should be more square and level.
What does this have to do with the USA? It wasn't done there.
marianne eliza no
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Genetically modified dogs, that’s great. Pit bulls need to be exterminated completely, horrible creatures. No it’s not the owner it’s biologically inside the dna of these creatures. Now idiots think it’s cute to breed them with normal dogs such as golden retrievers. That’s sick. Most dogs at shelters have some pit bull in them. No one besides ghetto people want them. Countries, states, counties, towns and apartment buildings are banning them. These idiot 20 year olds posting photos of their newborn baby with their pit bull is great until there’s another dead baby. Sick.
Thomasin Grace +
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It's remarkable how many of the "original" versions posted here just look like mixes with 20% Lab.
Yes, if by that you mean that they look more like "normal" healthy dogs. Shorter snouts and huge, easily infected eyes are IMHO, malformations, defects, that lead to unnecessary suffering. Changing the standards of a breed according to what some people find 'cute' (meaning, in the final analysis, that they are more easily sold, i.e. the profits are secured) is despicable.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
M O'Connell follower
sirielia follower
sirielia Good response!
I'm glad the cutting of tails and ears is no longer in fashion/allowed!
Sadly enough, there are enough countries that still do it.
It is sad, like how it's still legal and common here in the U.S. :( Luckily it's becoming more fashionable to keep them natural, but it's still done every day here, and it's even legal to do it without anesthesia or a vet.
scrappyrat what
countries that still allow it... yeah, Mexico it's one of them :( (it's now frowned upon but legal)
People. Not countries.
Yes, from here in Germany, but also from Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and other countries where the ear- and tail-cropping´s illegal now take their dogs to Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Serbia etc,) to get that MUTILATION done there and then take their crippled dogs back home... I hate it.
Dark Pigeon lol
It's still common here in the US and makes me feel bad every time I see a mutilated dog. A teacher at my high school just got a breeder puppy who has 1/2 of his tail cut off. Poor little boy.
It's so cruel. In Belgium and the Netherlands it's forbidden by law - for dogs, farm animals can still be cut. Dogs look so much better with ears and tails. But the way some dog breeds are overbred is sickening.
Claire follower
@RainyDayWolf, in most Eastern European countries ear- and tail-cropping´s still legal either, unfortunately...
Caroline Nagel ?
Whatsup?
Feel like this was written by someone that doesn't know what she is talking about. Some breeds have changed drasticly, which is not mentioned in this artical. Shame, could be so much more interesting.
"The ears look slightly different" under the Dobermann, and "tail got longer" under the Rottweiler 😂 She thinks it's a natural change?!
Not to mention the pics they used for "comparisons" aren't great standards of the breed either! I hate posts like this.
Yea- if they had used examples of the breed standard and not random photos it would have been a better comparison. I feel that overall dog breeding has declinded significantly over the years- they used to be more robust and bred for a purpose- now it's all about aesthetics, and some very questionable ones at that.
Yep, seems like the writer is basing her comparison on only two photos, old vs new, and has no idea about natural variations or different poses and cites them as being key differences. There are so many experts who could have advised on this article to make it more meaningful, but I guess this is BP, every article is a throw-away commentary on a subject that they've covered dozens of times before in a slightly different way.
Malcontent -
This comment has been deleted.
didnt mean to comment on this one, lol.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Then write a post like this yourself! Complaining about what someone else has put the effort into actually doing is easy. You have declared yourself more knowledgeable than the poster and that, in your opinion, it "could be so much more interesting." Let us enjoy your future post then.
Respectfully, a movie reviewer who judges a movie to be lacking isn't expected to go make a better movie. If an author posts an article, it should be up to the challenge of taking on the scrutiny of the readers.
Never give feedback and let someone know they can do better? Great advise!
I despise breeders that have handicapped animals only for their personal glory and money. They don't respect or love animals. The real ugly creatures are this race of breeders.
that's probably the only logical ultimate goal of any pure breed since it relies on inbreeding... with no genetic variety the breed will keep deteriorating
And yet, just one crossbreed with a different breed or a mutt can mitigate a lot of the defects in the puppies.
I realize that humans have been selectively breeding dogs since they first partnered up but a lot of these are harmful cosmetic changes. I feel like we've kinda let our best friends down.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Kenny Kulbiski haha
kes ?
kes haha
pugs..... god I am dissapointed in humanity
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It's good to see that less tails are docked now 🥰
It is illegal in some countries, shame it isn't in all.
I bought an old black and white cat breeders book from a church fair when I was little. I was so confused looking at the pictures that mum had to explain selective breeding to me, as best as I could understand it at that age. I remember staring at the photos of Persian cats: beautiful delicate nose and lovely profile. Not any more though, it shows how fast we can mutate these beautiful creatures
I know! Persians were so gorgeous before!
https://www.catbg.ne...fulmarzaida.jpg
TheSneakyNinja follower
We've gone way too far, breeding dogs into caricatures of themselves, but with worse health issues.
So many dogs were better before!!!
averageperson +
I understand that many breeds were for specific working purposes but nowadays most aren't and are only bred for 'looks' Maybe we should reassess what we're doing to our furry friends and make sure that they're healthy and happy as a priority..
I'm wondering how many of the "coats are longer now" ones are more just to how the dogs are/were groomed? And maybe just some difference in individual dogs? I'm sure there have been a lot of changes in many breeds in the last 100 years, but I'm not sure some of these comparison photos prove how.
They’re cute, but I wish the breeders didn’t make them “look better”. 🐕
Harmful breeding should be outlawed.
Martha Meyer easy
No offence, but today's rotweiller have not longer tails, in the present days foto its tail ,and ears, has not been mutilated, the same goes for the Dobermann.
Roberto Ruziscka what
Roberto Ruziscka what
I'm seeing a pattern of shorter legs. :/
It's sad people still have to have the perfect breed while so many are put down because no one wants them
Irene Walton easy
This seems to have been written by someone given the pictures to comment on, never having had any experience or knowledge of dogs in their lives. The GSD comments in particular ignore the cruelty imposed on the breed. Anyone can compare two pictures, and say "The legs are longer in the dog on the right."
Very sad for the dogs. They were only changed for human pleasure. The dogs got only worse
Dee easy
I think the whole idea of changing ANY animal, whether it's tail docking, ear cropping, or manipulating the skeletal frame in any way is monstrous. Most of it is done in the name of "fashion". For heaven;s sake - these aren't fashion accessories, but living, breating, sentient creatures. How dare we!
Where's the English Bulldog? They have changed massively, poor bastards.
Sad to see how breeding causes so many health problems in modern breeds.
Can everyone please go and downvote Thomasin Grace? She has horrible opinions of pit bulls and should really educate herself and take her comment down. Talking and thinking like that are the reason why so many pit bulls spend months in the shelter. I once knew a sweet old pittie named Baby (12 yrs) who loved everyone, never showed the slightest sign of aggression, was extremely clean (all the other dogs needed their kennels cleaned in the morning but Baby's was always perfectly tidey), and was literally the perfect dog. What's sick is that Thomasin would have Baby killed just because of her breed. And, Thomasin, pit bulls DO NOT kill babies! They love and protect their humans' children and are doubtlessly better and kinder creatures than you are.
I hear you. But then I come across information like this: https://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2020.php
All those with longer or "fluffier" coats require a lot of maintenance so they suffer a lot when abandoned which sadly keeps happening
I'll take them all and we can go live on an abandoned golf course. There's many of them for sale in America. We'll roll in the sand, jump in the ponds and run around the grass where old rich white men with huge asses and funny looking pants used to pay good money to get into.
I'm curious about how they change specific traits :)
They breed ones with the preferred traits, or a start at the preferred traits, over and over and over and over and over and over... until you get what you want to see/have. Side effects include: breathing issues; hip dysplasia; disposition changes; higher cancer risk... And so on. *sigh*
Sasha Kuleshov easy
It seems like less dogs have a specific purpose other than companionship anymore, which is why they were probably bred more for looks and aesthetics, and less for functionality. Hence the more square skulls, shorter noses, and weaker back legs.
Aileen what
Where's the English Bulldog? They are rhe epitome of changes in dig breeds.
this was a cool article some of the dogs look sad though so
Still Beautiful Creatures!✨💖🐕
Dog breeders are disgusting people. Adopt, don’t shop!
I hate what the USA has done to the German Shepherd Dog. The darn things practically walk on their hocks and the back is roached and too long. If you ever watch a dog show you will see that the handlers of GSD always move them at a very fast pace. That's because the dog wobbles at slower speeds. Most GSD handlers have to wear knee braces due to the constant running in circles. A darn shame and cruel too. The GSD should be more square and level.
What does this have to do with the USA? It wasn't done there.
marianne eliza no
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Genetically modified dogs, that’s great. Pit bulls need to be exterminated completely, horrible creatures. No it’s not the owner it’s biologically inside the dna of these creatures. Now idiots think it’s cute to breed them with normal dogs such as golden retrievers. That’s sick. Most dogs at shelters have some pit bull in them. No one besides ghetto people want them. Countries, states, counties, towns and apartment buildings are banning them. These idiot 20 year olds posting photos of their newborn baby with their pit bull is great until there’s another dead baby. Sick.
Thomasin Grace +
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
It's remarkable how many of the "original" versions posted here just look like mixes with 20% Lab.
Yes, if by that you mean that they look more like "normal" healthy dogs. Shorter snouts and huge, easily infected eyes are IMHO, malformations, defects, that lead to unnecessary suffering. Changing the standards of a breed according to what some people find 'cute' (meaning, in the final analysis, that they are more easily sold, i.e. the profits are secured) is despicable.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
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sirielia Good response!