Many breeds familiar to us today were once known by a different name. The one everyone knows is the German Shepherd Dog, whose name was changed to Alsatian during the war because of the German connection. This name persisted for some years, but has now reverted to GSD.

Quite who decides on a name change, or when it occurs is a bit of a mystery, and the following are just some of the names our familiar breeds used to be known as. Some are a nickname or alternative to the more usual name, while others have changed completely.

Affenpinscher		Monkey Dog or Monkey Terrier
Afghan Hound		Oriental Greyhound, Tazi.
Airedale		Bingley Terrier, Waterside Terrier, Wharfdale Terrier or Working Terrier
Akita		Japanese Deerhound, Nippon Inu.Shishi Inu.
Basenji		Barkless Dog, Congo Terrier
Bedlington Terrier		Gypsy Dog, Rothbury Terrier,
Bichon Frise		Teneriffe
Bloodhound		Sleuth Hound or Slot Hound, Saint Hulbert.
Border Terrier		Reedwater Terrier
Borzoi		Russian Wolfhound
Cairn Terrier		Shorthaired Skye Terrier
Chesapeak Bay Retriever		American Duck Retriever or Ducking Dog
Cocker Spaniel		Cocking or Woodcock Spaniel
Dalmatian		Coach Dog, Firehouse dog
English Setter		Laverstoke Setter
German Shepherd		Alsatian, Alsatian Wolf Dog
Irish Setter		Red Setter, Nodder Rhu, Red Spaniel.
Italian Spinone		Italian Griffon, Italian Pointer.
Keeshond		Dutch Barge Dog.
King Charles Spaniel		English Toy Spaniel,Carpet Dog,Comforter Dog,Spaniell Gentle
Labrador		St. John's Dog.
Old English Sheepdog		Bobtail
Papillon		Butterfly Dog.
Rhodesian Ridgeback		Rhodesian Lion Dog
Pug		Carlin, LoSze, Mopse
St. Bernard		Alpine Mastiff
Schipperke		Belgian Barge Dog
Scottish Terrier		Aberdeen Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog		Sheltie, Toonie
Welsh Springer Spaniel		Red and White Spaniel, Starter, Tarfgi.
West Highland Terrier		Poltalloch Terrier, Rosenath Terrier.
Whippet		Lightning Rag Hound, Snap Dog.