10 Awesome Dog Breeds that Start with “B”

Bulldog

There are hundreds of dog breeds. For example, the AKC recognizes around 200 dog breeds. Meanwhile, PetKeen says the FCI does the same for more than 350 dog breeds. Due to this, people looking for a new canine companion should learn more about their options to maximize their chances of finding the perfect match. Dog breeds that start with “B” are as good a place to start as any.

Basenji

1. Basenji

Most dog breeds are close relatives of one another. However, a small number of basal dog breeds are more distinct from the general dog population than most of their counterparts. The New York Times reported the Basenji as one of the original six basal dog breeds.

The Basenji traces its roots to Central Africa. As a result, Europeans didn’t describe it until 1895. Subsequently, interested individuals made several attempts to bring the Basenji over to the United Kingdom, which failed because of diseases killing the dogs. It took until the 1930s for these dogs to become established in the United Kingdom and then the United States. That population became the basis of the dog breed throughout the west until the last three decades when dog breeders imported more dogs from Central Africa.

In any case, the Basenji is an unusual dog in many respects. For example, it produces a sound best described as yodeling. Similarly, it likes to stand up on its hind legs when it feels curious. On top of these things, the Basenji is less trainable than most dog breeds. That doesn’t mean that it is stupid. No, it is more accurate to say that the Basenji doesn’t care for human commands. We know this because these dogs are good at puzzle-solving when working on their self-assigned goals. Under these circumstances, it is no wonder that some people call the Basenji a cat-like dog.

Basset Hound

2. Basset Hound

Dogs have better noses than humans. Even so, one dog breed isn’t the same as another in this regard. Some dogs have much better noses than others, which is why they see the most use for detection work. Basset Hounds aren’t at the top of such lists. Instead, these dogs tend to be next to the top.

With that said, interested individuals might recognize the Basset Hound because of its appearance. For starters, these dogs are short, long, and solidly built. Furthermore, the Basset Hound has a sad-looking face because of its loose skin. Those thinking about getting one of these dogs should know that these features affect what they can and can’t do. To name an example, the Basset Hound is a terrible swimmer because it can’t hold itself above the water’s surface for very long. Thanks to that, close supervision is even more critical for them when they are in the water than for other dogs.

Moving on, the Basset Hound has a likable personality, though it isn’t without its flaws. Generally speaking, these dogs are active, affectionate, and downright playful. They are pack hunters, so they may or may not get along with other pets. On the one hand, Basset Hounds are amicable; on the other hand, Basset Hounds have hunting instincts. If people are concerned about their dogs getting along with their other pets, they need to provide proper socialization. Besides this, Basset Hounds have a well-earned reputation for stubbornness, meaning that Basset Hound owners must handle them in a firm but patient manner.

Bloodhound

3. Bloodhound

Speaking of which, the Bloodhound tops the list of dog breeds with the best noses. It is one of several dog breeds descended from the St. Hubert Hound bred at the St. Hubert Monastery. As the story goes, the monks used to present several pairs of these animals to the King of France yearly until the 19th century. By that point, the St. Hubert Hound had lost its prestige. Furthermore, it had taken two major blows. One was the interruption of the tradition from the French Revolution to the Bourbon Restoration. The other was the availability of other hounds, meaning that the St. Hubert Hound faced increased competition with a weakened reputation. Some people tried to save the dog breed, though their effort proved too little too late. Fortunately, the Bloodhound was well-established by that point, so it stuck around even though its predecessor did not.

Nowadays, there is no risk of the Bloodhound going anywhere. They are popular working animals because their nose makes them well-suited for police work and other scenting-based work. On top of this, Bloodhounds make pets because they are gentle, good-natured dogs. Admittedly, they are willful, thus making them harder to train and handle. That is nowhere near enough to outweigh the rest of these dogs’ virtues.

Bichon Frise

4. Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise is a shortened version of a French name meaning “curly-haired small dog.” Originally, the dog breed’s ancestors were Spanish working dogs. Later, the French developed those dogs into companion animals. Said dogs proved so popular that French and non-French sailors spread them throughout the world. For proof, consider how the Bichon Frise is a relative of Cuba’s national dog, the Havanese. Coat-wise, these dogs are pure white. They can show other colors such as grey, brown, and apricot. The issue is that showing too much of a non-white color means that a dog can’t be recognized as a Bichon Frise. Regardless, the Bichon Frise is a popular pet because it is smart and sociable. Be warned that they can become territorial when they are encouraged, so interested individuals should watch out for that tendency.

Border Collie

5. Border Collie

The Anglo-Scottish border was once a very rough place. This is because the two countries were often enemies. England would seek to dominate its smaller, weaker neighbor. Meanwhile, Scotland would counter-balance that by seeking out continental allies. Like Historic UK says, the most famous of these relationships would be Scotland’s Auld Alliance with England’s traditional rival of France. Due to these conflicts, the Anglo-Scottish border saw much raiding back and forth before King James VI and I united the two countries by first inheriting the Scottish throne and then the English throne.

Border Collies are descendants of a British landrace of herding dogs. They are named thus because they came into existence on the Anglo-Scottish border. However, Border Collies did so in more peaceful times, thus explaining why they are herding dogs rather than livestock guardian dogs. Personality-wise, Border Collies are smart but come with some serious caveats. One, they have strong herding instincts, so interested individuals must account for that when training them. Two, they have an enormous amount of energy because they are meant to remain active throughout the day. Anyone who can’t provide a Border Collie with the stimulation that it needs should give up on the idea of owning one. Persistence earns them nothing but a very bored, very destructive dog. Luckily, Collie Perfect and other resources can help out people short on ideas.

Border Terrier

6. Border Terrier

Border Terriers are also named for the Anglo-Scottish border. In their case, they aren’t named for the place where they came into existence. Instead, they are named for the Border Hunt in Northumberland. Before that, these dogs bore the names Coquetdale Terriers and Redesdale Terriers because they came into existence in those places. Anyway, Border Terriers are both like and unlike other terriers in various respects. They are small because they needed to fit into their prey’s burrows. However, they also have long legs because they needed to keep up with both horses and hounds on the move. That was necessary because fox hunts used Border Terriers to drive foxes out of their burrows into waiting nets.

Boxer

7. Boxer

Germany was once home to a dog breed called the Bullenbeisser. It was a formidable animal, as shown by how its name meant “bull-biter.” Supposedly, the Bullenbeisser didn’t die out from a lack of interest. Instead, people crossbred the dogs with the Bulldog to create the Boxer. The dog breed’s size and power are apparent in a single glance. Moreover, the Boxer possesses one of the most powerful bites among dogs. All of these things were useful for a hound aimed at bears, boars, and other big animals.

Nowadays, the Boxer sees more use as companion animals. It is a smart, affectionate, and playful dog that gets along with every single one of its human family members. On top of that, the Boxer is protective without being excessively aggressive, thus making it a great choice for people concerned about their family’s safety. When trained properly, this dog can even make independent judgments. Of course, Boxers are also energetic. Thanks to that, they need regular exercise to remain in a healthy mental and physical state. Without that, people won’t enjoy having a bored Boxer around in their home, to say the least.

Brittany

8. Brittany

Chances are good that interested individuals can guess this dog breed comes from the French region of the same name. In short, numerous Britons immigrated to the European mainland after the weakening of the Western Roman Empire. Thanks to this, the place of their settlement transformed into Brittany, a clear reference to their ancestral homeland of Britannia. The region became a part of France through marriage in the early modern era. However, Brittany retained its distinct culture. Even now, its people are considered one of the six Celtic nations of modern times.

Brittanys are Breton gun dogs. Once, they were called Brittany Spaniels. That was misleading because these dogs are closer to Setters than to Spaniels. As a result, they received a renaming to Brittanys. Being gun dogs, Brittanys are both easy to train and eager to please. Their one issue is their abundance of energy, meaning that interested individuals will need to give them plenty of physical exercises and mental stimulation. Bored Brittanys are as problematic as other bored dogs.

Brussels Griffon

9. Brussels Griffon

Brussels Griffons are toy dogs from the city of Brussels. Originally, their ancestors were working dogs. The Smousje was a small, coarse-haired ratter that lived in the stables. Later, Brussels workers bred them with imported toy dogs, thus causing them to become more and more popular. In the late 19th century, royal support enabled the Brussels Griffon to spread beyond the borders of Belgium. This was good because the Brussels Griffon came close to extinction in its homeland during the Second World War, meaning that its survival there was made possible by the dogs that had spread to other countries.

Interestingly, Brussels Griffons don’t come in a single shape. Instead, there are three kinds of these dogs that are either three varieties of the same dog breed or three separate dog breeds. As a result, interested individuals can choose the one that is best suited to their particular preferences. Most Brussels Griffons get along well with humans and other animals. This is reliant on them receiving proper socialization, which can prevent other potential problems as well.

Bulldog

10. Bulldog

Bulldog often refers to the English Bulldog. This makes sense because bulldogs originated in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, bulldogs have a strong association with that country, so much so that they are a national symbol for it in the same way that the bald eagle is a national symbol for the United States. Historically speaking, the ancestors of bulldogs were meant for bull-baiting. Now, Bulldogs are companion animals that can no longer perform in said role. They lack the durability needed to survive such activities. Simultaneously, their muzzles are too short for them to latch on in the same way that their ancestors did. On top of these, Bulldogs just aren’t aggressive enough, which is good because aggression isn’t exactly a good thing for companion animals. These dogs retain some of their ancestors’ famous stubbornness, though, for the most part, they are much nicer, much more even-tempered animals.

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