What’s in a Name? The Eponymous Breeders Who Brought Great Dogs to Life Down and Back: AKC Dog Podcast

In this podcast episode, we recall the stories of the individuals who brought about great dog breeds and how some famous breeds came to be named for individuals.
The world’s beloved dog breeds are the product of careful, patient breeding by many people over many years. But, occasionally, a great breed is the product of years of painstaking work by an individual. Some of these people are fondly remembered by generations of dog fanciers. Others are forgotten and some live on through their canine namesakes. They are the hobbyists, scientists, even tax collectors whose purpose-bred dogs make the world a better place. This is a short history of how some dogs got their names.
Bonafide Bits:
In the early 1950s, a Doberman Pinscher named Storm won Westminster’s Best in Show, two years in a row. The Gordon Setter was among the breeds recognized when the AKC was founded in 1884. Hollywood elites Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, and Cary Grant all kept Sealyham Terriers. The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is the only breed named after a fictional character. North Carolina’s state dog, the Plott Hound, was bred to be a big game hunter. Sir Edwin Landseer’s painting ‘Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler’ hangs in the AKC Museum of the Dog. Featured Breeds:
Doberman Pinscher Sleek and powerful, possessing both a magnificent physique and keen intelligence, the Doberman Pinscher is one of dogkind’s noblemen. This incomparably fearless and vigilant breed stands proudly among the world’s finest protection dogs. Discover more about Doberman Pinschers at AKC’s Doberman Pinscher Breed Biography. Manchester Terrier
The Manchester Terrier is named after the English city where much of the breed’s early development took place. Sleek, racy dogs who possess a terrier’s ratting instinct and the graceful contours of coursing hounds, Manchesters are spirited, bright, and athletic. They combine the streamlined grace of a coursing hound and the instincts of a fearless rat terrier. These racy dogs come in two size varieties:  Standard (not exceeding 22 pounds) and Toy (not exceeding 12 pounds). Discover more about Manchester Terriers at AKC’s Manchester Terrier Breed Biography. German Pinscher
The sleek, no-frills German Pinscher is among Germany’s oldest breeds and the prototype of other pinscher breeds. This energetic, super-intelligent dog was at first used as a rat catcher but can be trained for all types of canine work. Discover more about German Pinschers at AKC’s German Pinscher Breed Biography. Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a robust working breed of great strength descended from the mastiffs of the Roman legions. A gentle playmate and protector within the family circle, the Rottie observes the outside world with a self-assured aloofness. Discover more about Rottweilers at AKC’s Rottweiler Breed Biography. German Shepherd Dog
There are many reasons why German Shepherd Dogs stand in the front rank of canine royalty, but experts say their defining attribute is character: loyalty, courage, confidence, the ability to learn commands for many tasks, and the willingness to put their life on the line in defense of loved ones. German Shepherd Dogs will be gentle family pets and steadfast guardians, but, the breed standard says, there’s a “certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.” Discover more about German Shepherd Dogs at AKC’s German Shepherd Dog Breed Biography. Yorkshire Terrier
Beneath the dainty, glossy, floor-length coat of a Yorkshire Terrier beats the heart of a feisty, old-time terrier. Yorkies earned their living as ratters in mines and mills long before they became the beribboned lapdogs of Victorian ladies. Discover more about Yorkshire Terriers at AKC’s Yorkshire Terrier Breed Biography. Maltese
The tiny Maltese, “Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta,” has been sitting in the lap of luxury since the Bible was a work in progress. Famous