As long as man has been around, he has had canine companions for company. Canines have traveled through many centuries with their owners and have evolved into the dogs we have today. Even if you are not a hardcore animal lover, it is hard to not be moved by a dog’s loyalty and eagerness to please.

The most popular dog breed by far is the Labrador Retriever. Labradors are a well-balanced, friendly and versatile breed, athletic, love to swim and are good with young children. As the name suggests, they are excellent retrievers, and instinctively enjoy holding objects with great gentleness, which is important when retrieving ducks or other game birds.

Gary Smith, of Lewiston, who owns a six year old Chocolate Lab named Wyndy, chose this breed because of their “personalities” and affectionate nature and also because he wanted a dog that loved to be outdoors. “Wyndy loves to travel with my wife and I, even to New York City. She hikes, boats and swims with us. She LOVES frisbee, but hates fetching tennis balls – go figure. If we didn’t gate the pool, she would be in it 24/7. She is a very head strong, cuddly and spoiled best friend,” said Smith. “Wyndy will sit back-to in front of you, which means ‘back rub,’ and she will stand on her hind legs and box you if not given biscuits now. She is everything we want from man’s best friend… and then some.”

Dogs have long had roles in movies as well, proving that the bond between human and canine is unbreakable – from old classics we’ve grown to love like Old Yeller, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin and Benji to the movies we think fondly of from recent past, Beethoven and Turner and Hooch.

Another breed, that is not seen very often, but definitely worth mentioning, is the Great Pyrenees, which is a very old breed, and has been used for centuries by shepherds who inhabit parts of the region in and around the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and northern Spain. Males can weigh up to 120 pounds, and they live an average of 10 to 12 years.

When asked what it was about the Great Pyrenees that made John Desrosiers, of Litchfield, want to own this breed of dog, he replied, “We wanted a ‘big guy’ to watch over the yard plus watch over our little dogs. He makes us feel safe in the house and he’s always free in the yard. He guides us to our shop where we work late at night.”

Desrosiers explained the special things that he and Fate do together that reinforce the special bond that they share. “Walking and hiking in the woods together… being one-on-one in his world. We have a routine at night before his feeding when he waves his big paw until I hold it in my hand and scratch his chest before he will eat his food. Fate is a big “woolly bear” with a big heart and a lot of love for people. I love him, what more can I say? He does a good job for what he was intended to do.”

Forest Clark, of Greene, owns two six-and-a-half-year-old Great Pyrenees, Julie and Loki. “My first Great Pyrenees was a rescue dog. I had seen a fair number of Pyrenees in my practice and I liked the breed. Both of them are couch potatoes and love to sit or lay with us while we’re watching TV. They also love to go for rides with us,” said Clark. “They are very intelligent and often know what I am going to do before I do. They love to go camping – they just like spending time with us and enjoy being with us. They are so happy when we get home, that they run through the house with huge smiles on their faces.”

Clark explained why he thinks Julie and Loki are intelligent. “They have a very good sense of humor and understand when they’ve played a joke on us and have been able to fool us.” He continued, “They are very obedient, but, at the same time, stubborn. They let you know that they are only behaving because that’s what they want to do, but at the same time, they do want to please you.”

The Rottweiler is good-natured, fond of children, very devoted, obedient, and eager to work. Their appearance is natural and rustic; their behaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. They react to their surroundings with great alertness.

A calm, confident and courageous dog with a self-assured aloofness, it has an inherent desire to protect the home and family with a strong willingness to work, making them especially suited as a companion and guardian.

Rottweilers are a relatively healthy, disease-free breed. As with most large breeds, Hip Dysplasia can be a problem. Shawn Jordan, of Auburn, owns Georgia, a three year old Rottie. “My dog and I bond by sharing my recliner – she is my lap dog, or so she thinks. We also play football, although she makes me work harder to get the ball back from her. We also chase each other around the house.”

Jordan said he didn’t pick this breed, “it picked me. My brother had a Rottweiler about 10 years ago and he had to get rid of her. I took her in and she was like my best friend – followed me everywhere and was protective.” Jordan found she was nice to children and was calm around people unless she felt threatened or “thought that I was threatened. I later had to re-home her and I knew when I got another dog, that it would be a Rottweiler.” Jordan explained that he thinks this breed is beautiful “with their block heads and stump tails wagging. Georgia is loving and playful. She is very needy when it comes to attention and she is also protective when it comes to my four year old son.”

One of the top small breed dogs owned by Americans today is the Yorkshire Terrier, a breed developed in the 1800s in the historical area of Yorkshire, England. The defining features of this breed are its small size and its silky blue and tan coat. The Yorkshire Terrier is bold and active and surprisingly brave for such a small breed. They are also quite loyal and affectionate.

Don Wardwell, of Auburn, owns a six year old Yorkie that he bought for his wife. They go to the ocean every summer and take long walks. “I never thought I would love a small dog, but boy was I wrong. She is very spoiled and bossy. She gets what she wants, that’s for sure. Every Saturday and Sunday she goes with me to Dunkin Donuts to get her munchkins.”