My four favorite dog breeds may surprise you!
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Feb. 9, 2026
One of our loyal Inner Circle members asked me a fun question,
“What are your favorite dog breeds?”
You might be surprised at how I responded.
Apart from the American Dirus™ dog, which is my life’s work and passion, my top four dog breeds are tied together by philosophy more than appearance.
The first is the Chinook. What I love about the Chinook has almost nothing to do with how it looks and everything to do with how it came into being. Arthur Treadwell Walden proved that a single, disciplined breeder with clarity of purpose could create an entire population of dogs built for extreme conditions, stable temperament, and real work. He bred across many breeds to keep genetic diversity high, tolerated variation like drop or erect ears without concern, and selected relentlessly for mental soundness and cooperative sled-dog temperament. Following a disagreement, the Chinook dogs eventually passed to Milton and Eva “Short” Seeley who maintained the breeding stock until the breed was sold intact to Perry Greene. That kind of long-view breed-wide preservation maintained the breed’s integrity for many years as it developed. I also deeply respect modern Chinook breeders who later used DNA to reconnect with the breed’s original genetic roots and reintroduce diversity rather than doubling down on closed registries. That is science used correctly for breed preservation.
The second is the Border Collie, specifically true working Border Collies, not show lines. To me, they are the clearest example of intelligence that exists for a reason. Their brilliance is not ornamental. It is disciplined, instinctual, and grounded in work with heart. I watched working Border Collies on a farm as a child, and seeing them move sheep with calm authority, precision, and restraint was unforgettable. What I admire most is that many working breeders fought fiercely to keep their dogs out of the AKC, even writing contracts with huge financial penalties to protect the breed from registry dilution. That willingness to defend function over recognition aligns deeply with my own values. When Border Collies are bred for work and temperament disregarding outward appearance, they are kind, loving, and emotionally balanced. When bred for the show ring, much of that is lost.
The third is the Eurasier. I love the Eurasier because it represents something very difficult and very rare: intentional temperament design done ethically. The founders took working and guardian-type dogs, including Chow ancestry, and deliberately selected away from aggression, dominance, and excessive independence toward calm, affectionate, family-oriented behavior. That kind of shift does not happen by accident, and must be cultivated carefully over a long period of time. It requires patience, restraint, and an understanding of canine behavior across generations. Their success mirrors much of what we are trying to do ourselves. It proves that temperament can be guided thoughtfully without breaking the dog or erasing its dignity.
The fourth is the old-style American Cocker Spaniel, the kind that existed before show breeding altered it beyond recognition. I grew up with those incredible dogs. They were true little gun dogs, capable hunters with sweet, stable temperaments and sound bodies. What happened to them under AKC influence still makes me sad. Function and heart gave way to exaggerated coats, structural problems, chronic health issues, and behavioral instability. What I admire most, though, is the group of breeders who saw that happening and acted to save a dying breed. By preserving the old type through what became the Field Spaniel, they chose the living dog over an exaggerated appearance. They outcrossed when necessary, restored hunting ability, and accepted criticism in order to save something that should never have been lost. That kind of courage is rare, and it resonates deeply with me.
So my favorite dog breeds are really stories of resistance. They are dogs shaped by work, environment, and ethical human restraint rather than fashion or status. I’m drawn to breeders who protect dogs from big institutions that reward exaggerated appearance over health, and to breeds that still carry the quiet intelligence of the purpose for which they were originally bred.
MOVIE MONDAY
This week, I share the story of the Solar System litter I rescued last week and you’ll meet all of their sweet faces.
Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.