The Tibetan Spaniel originated over 2,500 years ago in the Himalayan mountains of Tibet. It shares ancestry with the Pekingese, Japanese Chin, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Terrier and Pug.

The Alpine Spaniel is an extinct breed of dog which was used in mountain rescues by the Augustinian Canons, who run hospices in the region around the Great St. Bernard Pass. The spaniel was a large dog notable for its thick curly coat.

Although Nixon's cocker spaniel never lived in the White House, Checkers became quite a celebrity after then-Senator Nixon mentioned the dog in a televised speech on September 23, 1952. Nixon used the new medium of TV to take his case to the people to deny any alleged misuse of $18,000 in campaign contributions. During the speech, he stated that regardless of what anyone said, his young daughters, Julie and Tricia, were keeping one campaign gift: a black-and-white puppy from a supporter in Texas.

When two dogs carrying the merle-gene are bred and produce a litter, the puppies have an increased risk of blindness and deafness. For this reason, the Great Dane Club of America considers intentional breeding of merles unethical.

If you rub your Chihuahua's head and feel an opening in his skull, try not to panic. Known as a molera or "soft spot", approximately 80% to 90% of all Chihuahuas are born with this anatomical feature. It was once even considered a mark of purity in the breed.

The breed has a number of now-extinct ancestors, including the Tweed Water Spaniel, the St. John's water dog, and the Russian Retriever.

St. Bernards are often portrayed, especially in old live action comedies and classic cartoons, wearing small barrels of brandy around their necks. Avalanche victims supposedly drank the brandy to stay warm while awaiting rescue. The monks of St. Bernard deny that their dogs ever carried wine or brandy, though some were trained to bring milk from cowsheds. They attribute this stereotype to an 1820 painting by Charles Landseer called Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveller.

The breed's herding trait has been deliberately encouraged by selective breeding for generations. If a Border Collie doesn't have sheep to manage, it may satisfy its need to herd with small children, cats, and other dogs.