Although some breeds look so similar it’s hard to tell them apart, such as Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes, others you’d likely be surprised to learn are related. In case you’ve ever wondered a little bit about your breeds closest relatives, we’ve compiled a short list here!
#1 – Great Dane & Irish Wolfhound
Originally considered the German Mastiff, the ancestors of the Great Dane were used to hunt boar and other large game. These dogs were crosses between English Mastiff and Irish Wolfhounds, to create a large breed that was suitable for both guarding and hunting.
#2 – Tibetan Spaniel & Pug
The Tibetan Spaniel is not actually a spaniel at all, and shares a common ancestry with Japanese Chins and Pekingese. These breeds look pretty similar, but you might be surprised to know they’re all related to the Pug, too!
#3 – Labrador Retriever & Newfoundland
Both the Labrador Retriever and the Newfoundland share a common ancestor that lived as recently as the early 1980s. The St. John’s water dog, as it was called, was used to create these two Canadian breeds, making them very close relatives.
#4 – Hovawart & German Shepherd D0g
The Hovawart is a relatively rare German dog breed, and looks more like a Golden or Flat-Coated Retriever. That said, the breed shares no similar ancestry with either of them, and is in fact much more closely related to the German Shepherd Dog, which was used in the creation of the breed.
#5 – Bull Terrier & Dalmatian
While these breeds don’t really look anything alike other than sharing a white coat, the Dalmatian was used in the creation of the Bull Terrier. This is because the original breeders wanted to add better agility and more elegance – something most other bull breeds lacked.
