The Curious Compendium 2023-2025: The end!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Irish wolfhound, Bloodhound, Scottish deerhound, Portuguese water dog, flat coated retriever, Rhodesian ridgeback, grand griffon Vendeén, and American English coonhound!



Irish wolfhounds are commonly attributed to be the world's tallest dog breed standing at 30-34 inches at the shoulder. The original rendition of the breed dates back to early Rome, but via a significant loss in popularity they nearly extinct until in the 1800s the last remnants of them were crossed go other breeds in an attempt to save them (i.e. Scottish deerhounds, Great Danes, Borzoi, etc.). They have excellent temperaments but come with several big dog related maladies including dysplasia, PRA, and bone cancers to only name a few.

Bloodhounds were perfected in the 7th century by St. Hubert of Belgium and his fellow monks. Initially only used for hunting game animals, they weren't used for tracking people until the 16th century. The breed is of course well known for their sense of smell and tracking abilities- they have successfully tracked trails over 12 days old, over and through bodies of water, as well as a number of things whether they be human, animal, or object. In many countries, a proven bloodhounds trailing can be used as evidence in court. They have easy going and friendly attitudes but do have an excercise requirement! Their skinfolds need extra attention as well to be kept healthy.

Scottish deerhounds date back to the 1500s and helped track and harvest deer for their owner. They are considered adaptable, highly and easily trainable, as well as even tempered. They require some grooming and are mostly healthy- they do have tendencies for bone cancer anx heart disease such as the Irish wolfhound.

The Portuguese water dog is very old- records show as early as 700 B.C. they were "herding" fish, retrieving nets, and sending messages between boats. They are energetic and playful, great family dogs and watchdogs! They are considered "hypoallergenic" and have webbed feet. They do have some common eye issues, and rarely may suffer from fatal juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy.

The flat coated retriever came from 19th century England and were used for hunting game. Today they can be used as drug sniffer dogs or as aides for the blind. They are affectionate and smart, often described as "youthful" in personality. They are quite healthy but can suffer from bloating, and some get very early onset types of cancer.

Rhodesian ridgebacks were created by Boer farmers in the 16th century to hunt large game such as lions and gaurd their farmsteads. They have a "zipper" on their back which is simply a ridge of fur that grows in the opposite direction of the rest. This breed is very independent but are devoted companions. They are also fence jumpers- known to clear a 5 foot fence without a running start.

The grand griffon vendeén came to us in tge 16th century and is the oldest of the griffon breeds from Vendeé. And unfortunately I can't find anymore info on my brief research tonight on these besides a very small Wikipedia blurb (it would seem the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeèn is much more popular).

The American English coonhound specializes in well... hunting raccoons (but also foxes). George Washington is reported to have helped develop the breed; these guys are made further unique by the facts they can and will climb trees! They are energetic but very sweet, very talkative, but also mellow in personality. They are one of 6 coonhound breeds and are today rather rare.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Pomeranians, Papillion, and Bichon Frisé!



Pomeranians descend from the German Spitz amd get their name from a region significant in their development (albeit not their origin)- Pomerania, Poland. They were around much earlier than their first literary mention in 1764, but documentation early on was very poor for the breed.They were larger dogs orginally, but Queen Victoria's fascination with them led to a shrinking in size from 20-30 lbs to the toy breed we know today. 2 of them survived the sinking of the Titanic! They make great family dogs though special considerations need be made for their small size around children. The breed is well known for having knee problems.



The Papillion is much older- dating approximately back to the 13th century in France or Belgium. Their name means "butterfly" in French, referring to their ears. The original look, with "drop" ears (drooping) were called "phalene" dogs which means moths. Today, some countries consider these separate breeds- but the AKC considers them a variant of the Papillion. They have graced the laps of numerous famous royals including Marie Antoinette. The breed is friendly and active as well as agile- they do well in competition. The breed does have health concerns including patellar luxation, seizures, dental issues, invertebral disk disease, and allergies.



The Bichon is thought to descend from the water spaniel and date as far back as the middle ages. At one time, they were favorite for use in side shows and circuses! The breed itself is friendly and curious (they don't make good watchdogs) but are also well known for being cheerful. They are smart and learn fast- making them very easy to train!

[bmathison1972]

I'd like a Pomeranian figure but would like the 'classic' look (like in the very upper left), not the 'teddy bear' cut of Safari's newest. Maybe CollectA will add one to their newer dog line!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

My black and tan Pom is a vintage model I repainted for the same reason- I like the older look myself rather than the "teddy bear cut". But you're right, maybe CollectA will do one sometime!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Alaskan husky, malamute, Samoyed, and Keeshond!



Alaskan huskies have been around for an estimated 10,000 years. They are a modern admixture of greyhound, Siberian husky, German shorthair pointer, and Eskimo dog. They're built to withstand extreme weather with durable paws and thick coats, as well as being extreme athletes that can tolerate excercise and fatigue. They are very smart but also stubborn- they need a persistent but fair owner. They love nothing more than pulling sleds and their families.

Malamutes are another ancient breed; believed to have crossed the Bering Strait with their human clans thousands of years ago. They originally were the ultimate survival companion as they- hunted seals, scared off polar bears, and were a mode of transport and messaging. Known for their luch coat, the insulating layer can be 2 inches thick! They are loyal, confident, and loving, but also strong willed and need firm training at a young age.

Samoyeds are named after their Siberian clan of the same name; they used them to herd reindeer, gaurd, and pull sleds for transport. Their hyper fluff coat needs lots of grooming to maintain; just as their strong willed personalities need training to maintain. They are personable and friendly to humans and other animals. Their famous smile- present even when their mouth is closed- actually keeps saliva contained in their mouth instead of having drooping jowls; this feature prevents drool-cicles from forming.

The Keeshond is named for Kees de Gryselaer; the leader of the Dutch patriots party in the 18th century. Its exact origins are unknown but believed to be similar to breeds like the Samoyed and Pomeranian. Given its ties to politics the breed nearly went extinct around 1814, but clung on until the 1920s when it gained support and was revived. The breed is largely considered a companion dog given its gentle nature- they bond closely to people, mske great therapy dogs, and are highly intelligent and trainable.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

And the other half of my domestic cats!
Mixed brands-


And Eyscota, Toymany, and Blip Toys-


It is thought that cats were first domesticated around 10,000 years ago in Turkey- but a 2018 study suggests an Asian ancestry and possibly earlier than that too. They were domesticated from Felis sylvestris lybica- a wild cat species found in the Eastern portion in the region. The oldest known cat burial was found in Cyprus and dates back to 9,500 years ago. The firsy evidence of the "blotched" or "tabby" coat occurred in the 14th century in Turkey. Today, there are approximately 45 cat breeds (compared to 450+ dog breeds depending on which organization you ask).

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Airedales, Bostons, and Cairn terriers!


Airedales were created in the Aire of England in the 1800s and were bred to hunter otters and badgers. Created by crossing the black and tan terrier with otterhounds, amongst others. They are noted as having been used during WWII as messenger dogs, as well as by the Red Cross for search and rescue. Three consecutive US presidents owned them- Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G Harding. The breed is smart and strong-willed, requires lots of attention, but bonds closely to its family.

The first breed developed in the US, early Boston terriers were much larger and stronger than today's dog and were popular in dog fighting.  Helen Keller owned one and the breed is nicknamed "the American gentleman" for its tuxedo coat (most of the Bostons I've met are anything but!). The breed excels at dog sports which speaks to its athleticism, trainability, and love of fun.

Cairn terriers and Scottish and are named for the rock piles they would flush out foxes and other game from. They were very popular hunting companions since the 1400s, notably well known on the Isle of Skye and the highlands. They have a thick weather proof coat to cope with the harsh conditions of their homeland. They became popular in the 1930s with the release of the Wizard of Oz. The breed is intelligent, loyal, energetic, and they LOVE to dig.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Greyhounds and Whippets!


Greyhounds date back 8,000 years ago and are recorded as being hunting dogs for Pharaohs. They lost popularity until the Middle Ages when monks began breeding them for royalty, at this time hare hunting and lure coursing became very popular activities. These dogs are the second fastes mammal in the world; after the cheetah of course. They can spend up to 75% of the time in the air while running full speed.  They are the only dog mentioned in the Bible. Reserved around strangers, these dogs love their families! They are docile and relaxed until its time to go! They are generally healthy but can suffer from bloat and heart issues.

Whippets were greyhounds that were bred down into a smaller package during the 1800s in England. Another "poor man's racehorse", coursing and hunting were popular sports for Victorians and these dogs. These little dogs, reaching speeds of 35 mph, are known as being the fastest accelerating mammal in the world! This is partly achieved by a "double suspension gallop"- when they are fully airborne at 2 points in one lunge. In 2012 a whippet, Davy, is known for the longest flying disc catch at 402 feet! The breed is much like the greyhound in being reserved except around family, but are smart and devoted companions.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Ovcharka, Tibetan mastiff, Newfoundland, Great Pyrenees, and Carpathian Shepherd!


Caucasian shepherd/Ovcharka date back 2,000  years at least and were used to herd and gaurd livestock in the Caucasus mountains. They are believed to descend from Asian mastiffs and Balkan sheepdogs. There are two typesthe Mountain type has longer hair and heavier bodies, and the Steppe type with a lighter frame and shorter fur. These dogs are large- about 170 lbs and 30 inches at the shoulder. This breed is confident, brave, loyal, and fearless! They do have tendencies for joint dysplasias and eye problems.

Tibetan mastiffs are thought to be the descendants of modern mastiffs and mountain dogs. They date back as early as 1100 B.C.E. Gaurd dogs by heritage, they are usually aloof with their families but fiercely protective and territorial. Socialization while young helps this breed be more open in personality. A dog named "Big Splash" holds the record for most expensive dog ever bought at 1
5 MILLION in 2011!

Newfoundlands are thought to be descended from sailor stock dogs crossing with native dogs in Newfoundland, Canada circa the 1600s. The breed is famous for its water navigating skills such as retrieving fishing nets and sailors drownung at sea. A famous member of the breed was Seaman who traveled the uncharted US with the Lewis and Clark company.

Great Pyrenees have been around since 1000 B.C.E. being used for livestock (including domestic reindeer) herding and gaurding. They were very popular with French royalty and King Louis XIV called them the "Royal Dogs of France". This breed has double dewclaws (a fairly rare feature though not the only breed known for it) that is used to help gain traction in difficult terrain. The breed is calm, loyal, and great with kids, but can be independent.

The Carpathian shepherd comes from Romania and is a very rare breed. The breed originated with farmers in the region and was held to no phenotypic standard- it was recognized in 1979 at a dog show in Bucharest. The breed is intelligent, playful, loyal, and devoted to their master.

[bmathison1972]

I've been eyeing that Papo Great Pyrenees for a while now...

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Papo really should do more dogs as they do them so well! The Pyrenees would be an excellent model to add Blaine, and I'd be surprised if it gets made by another brand anytime soon.

[sbell]

Papo really should do more dogs as they do them so well! The Pyrenees would be an excellent model to add Blaine, and I'd be surprised if it gets made by another brand anytime soon.

If anyone would know, you would -- has anyone ever made a decent Norwegian Elkhound? We had one and it's the only breed I'd get...!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

@sbell, the only one marked as an elkhound is the Panini, I think its a bit smaller than a "standard" sized figure. Unfortunately, they're not a very well known breed. But with that being said, it'd be easy to repaint one! Just need a husky or malamute figure that has the right body type.

[sbell]

@sbell, the only one marked as an elkhound is the Panini, I think its a bit smaller than a "standard" sized figure. Unfortunately, they're not a very well known breed. But with that being said, it'd be easy to repaint one! Just need a husky or malamute figure that has the right body type.

I don't know. They're more stocky and short bodied than huskies or malamutes, with big chests.

But at least one exists if I can find it

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Ok, the last not canine presentation is for generic rabbits!


Rabbits are thought to have been first domesticated in the South of France around the 5th century by monks. They were domesticated as a meat substitute by the monks for the event of Lent. Today rabbits have become refined from their wild ancestors in a variety of ways; they live up to 12 years which is much longer than the average of one or two years in the wild, the American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes 50 breeds while the British Rabbit Council recognizes more than 75. The largest domestic breed is the Flemish Giant at an average 15 lbs (but can be 50!) and the smallest is the Netherland Dwarf at 2 lbs. Compare this to their wild counter parts where the Alaskan hare gets to be about 15.9 lbs and the smallest is the Pygmy rabbit at only 16 oz. And a few more facts- rabbits have "open root" teeth and never stop growing and must be worn down. They are unable to vomit as their esophagus muscles only move downward. Rabbits can move their ears in a full 360° circle.

Now there are only 3 presentations left before we move into a new category!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Weimaraner, Vizsla, German wirehaired pointer, and Munsterlander!


The Weimaraner comes to us from 19th century Germany and was developed by the Weimar court in the region. Bloodhounds, Great danes, and German pointers were used fi develop it. They were usually uses for big game hunting including bears! The breed is nicknamed "the gray ghost" for its coloration and subtle hunting tactics. Its athletic build, loyalty, and friendly nature have made it a popular breed.

Bred from the Transylvanian hound, Turkish yellow dog, and the German shorthaired pointer; the Viszla dates back to the 9th century witu the Magyar people. These dogs were also hunters, trackers, and retrievers; bred to be tough, athletic, fast, and agile. They nesrly went extinct after WWII but luckily some were kept and bred until they regained popularity in later decades. One helped rescue people during the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York.

German Wirehaired Pointers come from, well, Germany of course! During the 1800s locals wanted a more versatile hunting dog and thus began crossing Wirehaired pointing griffons, Pudelpointers, Stichelhaar, and Deutscher-Kurzhaar dogs. The breed was developed to be all terrain, hunt, track, retrieve, and even tackle vermin. Their dinstinctive coat is in part what made all this possible. Being very active they benefit from having active owners; they can be independent and will not work with a hunter they determine is unfit as a human partner.

The munsterlander was first documented in 1870 but is believed to be much older (circa the 13th or 14th century) and descended from longhaired pointers and spaniel dogs. There are two sizes- large dogs are about 23-25 inches tall and small ones 19-23 inches at the shoulder. The large was recognized as a breed first in 1929 while the small was not until 2006. This breed excels at both upland game as well as waterfowl. The breeds are smart and confident, naturally cleanly and nondestructive.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Bully breeds!


The Dogo Argentino is a young breed that originated in Córdoba, Argentina in the 20th century. Their primary use was for hunting large dangerous game animals like peccaries, boars, and pumas. Development of the breed involved lots of breeds including the Viejo perro de pelea cordobés, bull dogs, bull terriers, the Mastín del pirineo, to name a few. Despite their ferocious reputation they are known for being able to have a brave adventure hunting and then come home to cuddle the kids that are part of their family. Because of their coat color they are highly predisposed to being born deaf.

The Cane Corso is thought to be descended from the extinct Molossus dog and date back to ancient Greece and Rome. Their origin lies in being a "pugnax" or a ferocious gladiator dog pitted against wild animals such as lions; all for so called "entertainment". Later they were used as gaurdians for livestock. A rather rare breed today, they have gained some popularity worldwide.

American bulldogs are descended from the English bull dog circa the 17th century. As a bull dog they were used as gaurdians and as hands when handling dangerous livestock- notably feral pigs. There are two distinctive types called the
"Johnson" (bully type- blockier build) and "Scott" (standard- more agile and lean) lines. But many of these dogs today are hybrids of the two. Today, 43 universities have a bulldog as their mascot.

Staffordshire terrier get their name from their home- Staffordshire, England. Developed in the 1800s from the now extinct white terrier and bull dogs of the time. Primarily used for farmwork such as ratting, they too were used in pit fights against other dogs and even bears (despite their small size). Once these fights were banned they became world famous as the "nanny dog" given their sweet and loyal nature.

The American bully or "pocket pitbull" is a very new breed that began development in the 1980s. Created by crossing the American Pit Bull Terrier, with the Staffordshire Terrier, English bulldog, and Olde English Bulldogge. The result was a heavily muscular, athletic, bit still very family loving and friendly dog. The UKC recognized the breed in 2013, but the AKC still has not. They do have some health concerns depending on the size of dog you get (depending on who you ask there may be as many 6 different sizes to choose from!)

The American Pit Bull Terrier are believed to be another Mollossus descendant that was used to help handle dangerous livestock such as bulls for butchers and farmers, and to hold boars for hunters. This is likely the breed that comes to mind with baiting or pit fights; they also get mistaken for other bully breeds and vice versa often which complicates political and social conflicts when breed specific legistlation or breed discrimination is at hand. The repuation is turning around though- and they are becoming more and more popular as family companions. Some famous dogs of the breed include Seargant Stubby feom WWI, Nipper the RCA dog, the Buster Brown shoe mascot, and Petey from the Little Rascals.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

And here is my very last presentation not only for pets but for domesticated animals altogether! Here are the mixed breeds, the mutts, and the Heinz 57's as we call them here in the US.

Crossbreeding dogs has been a deliberate practice in order to create new breeds since at least the 14th century but likely longer. Mixed breeds have many benefits- they often live longer than purebreed dogs due to the genetic diversity it provides which also neutralizes genetic recessive disorders. There are specific mixes that are becoming more and more popular, these "designer dogs" can also be expensive- mixes like labradoodles, goldendoodles, cockapoos, pomskys, chiweenies, maltipoos, pomchis, and aussiepoms are only a few. There can always be risks to these kinds of crosses though; they can support industries such as puppy mill breeding, poor breeding practices that prioritize profit over aninal health, these dogs can end up in shelters once they outgrow their cuddly years, and even though hybridization is often good- it can still go wrong. Mixed breeds have proven to test better than many purebred dogs when it comes to adaptability, problem solving, and general temperament. And you never know what a one in a million jackpot you might win by adopting one!

This is the very last domestic animal post- I will be skipping Friday but we will start the next category next week!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

And the pets page is liiiive!
https://thecuriouscompendium.wixsite.com/curiouscompendium

[Saarlooswolfhound]

We are now moving on to the aquatic portion of my collection. This is a category that generally is a "catch all" for my collection and has figures that don't comfortably sort into other themes in my opinion (i.e. I have seals here but my sea otters are in my "North America" theme). Its not perfect and I do reevaluate periodically but haven't come up with a happy solution in my head for some of these. I have mostly marine animals here, but I do have freshwater fish too. I am going back to the previous info blurbs especially with mixed species photos- I don't have the time to do synopsis on all. I made an effort with my domestics and most collector's I know don't actively collect them and thought I could present some useful info. But at any rate- lets go!

Walruses!


Their scientific name is Odobenus rosmarus which means "tooth walking sea horse". They can live to be 40 years old! In the polar water their blood vessels will contract in an effort to retain warmth and this makes them appear paler in color; on land these vessels expand and they will appear pink skinned and with cinnamon brown fur. They have "pharyngeal pouches" in their throats that inflate with air- this enables them to remain floating uprighr in the water while they take a nap.