Dog Breeds that Start with G

Galgo Español

Garafian Shepherd

Gascon Saintongeois

Georgian Shepherd

German Hound

German Longhaired Pointer

German Pinscher

One of the best-known Pinscher breeds, the German Pinscher dates back to the 17th century, traced to the German Bibarhund and the Tanner of the 14th century. During the 1600s the Rattenfanger, a mix of black and tan terriers, was created to serve as a working ratter and watchdog. The Rattenfanger eventually became the Pinscher.

This Pinscher worked to catch rodents and other small game, specifically around stables, for the next several centuries. In the late 1800s with the rise of dog shows, more and more dog enthusiasts became interested in the Pinscher.

German Roughhaired Pointer

German Shepherd Dog

One of the most popular dogs registered with the American Kennel Club, the German Shepherd (sometimes called the GSD) was originally bred to be the ideal hunting shepherd and guard dog.

Although this breed went through several name changes during World War I, mainly due to its German heritage, it was officially renamed the German Shepherd and recognized by the AKC in 1931.

German Shorthaired Pointer

The active German Shorthaired Pointer (often called GSPs) was bred as a versatile hunting dog, the result of specific blending of breeds during the 17th century.

The first mixes produced a large hound-like dog from combining the Spanish Pointer with the Hannover Hound, able to trail and point.

Many crosses were made with the English Pointer, giving the breed very stylish physical characteristics–but resulted in a dog that disliked water and avoided attacking quarry.

Sometime during the early 1800s, at the German Derby, there were two specific Deutsch Kurzhaars (the name that the Pointer was originally called) that had distinguished themselves from all of the other pointing breeds. Their names were Treff and Nero. These two Pointers are said to be the parents of today’s German Shorthaired Pointer. Their descendants helped get the breed recognized in Germany in the late 1800s.

The first German Shorthaired Pointers started to show up in the United States sometime in the 1920s. The breed gained recognition by the AKC in 1930. Soon enough, the dog’s reputation as being the ideal hunting dog grew in popularity. Due to its hunting skills, combined with its aesthetic look, this dog has become quite popular.

German Spaniel

German Spitz

German Wirehaired Pointer

Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer originated in Germany, out of the the lands of Wurrtemburg and Bavaria.

Cattlemen were fond of the smaller standard-sized Schnauzer but wanted to breed a larger-sized version of the dog to drive cattle. The Schnauzer was mixed with larger, smooth coated cattle driving dogs to create a wire haired drover.

Although the exact breed crosses are not documented, dog historians believe that other dogs including the black Poodle, Wolf Spitz, Wirehaired Pinscher, the Bouvier des Flandres and even the Great Dane may have played a part in the creation of the Giant Schnauzer breed, resulting in a dog known as the Munchener.

The Munchener, with its weather-resistant coat, handled cattle and were used as stockyard dogs, guard dogs, butcher dogs and brewery dogs.

Eventually the name was changed to the Giant Schnauzer, and the breed was used as police dogs around the time of World War I.

Glen of Imaal Terrier

Golden Retriever

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carmel – gończy polski🐾 (@carmelove_dog)

Always holding a strong position as one of the most popular dogs in the United States, the Golden Retriever is known for its affection, friendliness towards strange people and other animals, ease of training and playfulness.

Golden Retrievers were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in the year 1927. Initially valued for its hunting abilities, it soon became an extremely popular household pet, obedience competitor and show dog.

Gończy Polski

Gordon Setter

Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir

Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange

Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

Grand Bleu de Gascogne

Grand Griffon Vendéen

Great Dane

The Great Dane is truly “great” in terms of size; this breed is thought to have been the result of the breeding of Greyhound and the ancient Molossus war dog. These ancestors helped the Great Dane to be a fearless hunter of game; in the 14th century, these dogs were widely known for their agility and strength to hunt down wild boar.

The early name for this dog was “German Boarhounds” because–in spite of what you might have guessed–the Great Dane isn’t Danish but actually a German breed.

In 1880, the German authorities tried to officially claimed its name as the Deutsche Dogge but the name did not stick. The name Great Dane has been the official name since the dogs arrived in the United States late in the 19th century.