The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a unique breed of pariah dog that was brought to Hawaii by Polynesian settlers around 300-800 AD. This small to medium-sized dog was bred specifically for food production and religious ceremonies in ancient Hawaiian culture.

Named after poi, the traditional Hawaiian staple food made from taro root, these dogs were intentionally fattened on a vegetarian diet of poi and other starches. Their meat was considered a delicacy and was reserved for royalty and special occasions. The breed became extinct in the late 19th century due to interbreeding with imported dogs and changing cultural practices.

Poi dogs played an important role in Hawaiian society beyond just food. They were considered spiritual protectors and were sometimes sacrificed in religious ceremonies. Their bones were used to make fishhooks and other tools, and their skins were used for drum coverings.

The Hawaiian Poi Dog had several distinctive features:

• Size: Small to medium, standing about 35-45 cm (14-18 in) at the shoulder
• Weight: 15-25 kg (33-55 lbs) when fully grown
• Coat: Short and coarse, typically brown or black
• Head: Broad and flat with a short muzzle
• Tail: Short and often curled
• Legs: Short and stout due to the starchy diet

The breed's most notable feature was its barrel-shaped body, resulting from the high-carbohydrate diet it was fed. This gave the dogs a distinctive pot-bellied appearance unlike any other dog breed.

The English White Terrier was a breed of small, all-white terrier that existed in Britain during the 19th century. Developed as a show dog and companion animal, this breed is notable for being one of the foundation breeds for many modern terriers, including the Boston Terrier and the Bull Terrier.

First recognized in the 1860s, the English White Terrier was bred to be an elegant companion dog with pure white coat and distinctive rose or button ears. Despite its popularity in dog shows, the breed was plagued by genetic health problems and fell out of favor by the 1890s. The last known specimens died in the early 20th century.

Today, the English White Terrier is remembered primarily through historical records and its influence on modern breeds. Its genetic legacy lives on in several popular terrier breeds that descended from it.

The English White Terrier had several distinctive features:

• Size: Small, standing about 25-30 cm (10-12 in) at the shoulder
• Weight: 5-7 kg (11-15 lbs)
• Coat: Short, fine, and pure white
• Head: Narrow with a wedge-shaped muzzle
• Ears: Characteristic rose or button ears
• Tail: Moderately long and tapered

The breed was known for its elegant appearance and refined features, quite different from the more robust working terriers of the time. Its most distinctive feature was its pure white coat, which was maintained through careful breeding.

The Moscow Water Dog (also known as the Moscow Diver) was a Soviet-era working breed developed in the 1940s-1950s for water rescue operations. Created by the Red Star Kennels, this large, powerful dog was intended to be the USSR's answer to breeds like the Newfoundland and Portuguese Water Dog.

The breed was developed by crossing Newfoundlands, Caucasian Shepherds, and East European Shepherds. While initially successful, the project was abandoned in the late 1950s when most of the dogs proved too aggressive for water rescue work. Some specimens were incorporated into the breeding program that eventually produced the Black Russian Terrier.

Today, the Moscow Water Dog is remembered as an ambitious but ultimately failed Soviet breeding experiment. Its brief existence provides interesting insights into the state-controlled dog breeding programs of the USSR.

The Moscow Water Dog was an imposing working breed:

• Size: Large, standing 65-75 cm (25-30 in) at the shoulder
• Weight: 45-65 kg (100-145 lbs)
• Coat: Thick, water-resistant double coat, usually black or brown
• Build: Powerful and muscular with strong limbs
• Head: Broad with strong jaws
• Tail: Thick and otter-like for swimming

The breed was specifically designed for cold water rescue, with webbed feet and a dense undercoat to protect against frigid temperatures. Its large size and strength allowed it to pull drowning victims to safety.