u/LinnyFabulous

I’ve been taking popular “Which Dog Breed is Best for You” quizzes online from the point of view of the Disney Princesses, trying to answer as they would, and presenting the results here so you could vote on which you believe best suits each character. Last week we decided on the Australian Shepherd for Moana; now what about for Raya?

1. Beagle
   Beagles are a smaller breed of hunting dog, well known for their high energy levels and loyal, playful personalities. They’re relatively easy to train and rather low maintenance when it comes to grooming, but do need a fair amount of physical activity and mental stimulation.

2. Boxer
   Boxers are a larger breed that is much loved for being very good with children, very affectionate, and rather easy to train. Their love for family coupled with their natural vigilance and care makes them excellent guard or watch dogs, particularly in homes with small children. They are very active and tend to adapt well to most jobs and tasks presented to them.

3. Briard
   The Briard is a breed of herding dog known for their long, wavy hair which comes in a variety of colors; these dogs are quite comfortable and confident working with large herds numbering hundreds of livestock and their natural protectiveness lends them to making good guard and watchdogs in the home. They often view their human family as part of their flock, especially children, and will keep a watchful eye over them and attempt to prevent them from straying.

4. Tibetan Mastiff
   Tibetan Mastiffs are large dogs primarily bred as guardians; while affectionate with family and good with children and other dogs, they are naturally very wary of strangers. Despite their size, they’re remarkably agile and light on their feet; while less easy to train and not as playful as other dogs, their loyalty and protectiveness makes them wonderful companions.

5. Alaskan Malamute
   The Alaskan Malamute was bred as sled dogs, meant to pull loads alongside other pack mates. This breed is very willful and intelligent; if training is not done properly and respect is not earned, an Alaskan Malamute will treat their human much as they would another dog: affectionate, but not as an authority. These dogs are quite loving despite their willful nature and can be very protective of their families as well.

Bonus: Kintamani Dog
I’ve been trying to keep in mind the cultural backgrounds of the different princesses during this exercise; while Raya’s home of Kumandra is fictional, it’s based on the real world region of Southeast Asia. Of this regions native dog breeds, I’ve opted to highlight the Kintamani Dog which is from the island of Bali in Indonesia.

The Kintamani Dog is most often a kind of neighborhood companion, usually living outdoors and being fed by multiple members of the community. Their rather territorial nature makes them excellent guard and watch dogs, though they are considered less ‘vicious’ than other breeds for this purpose. They also tend to be gentle and affectionate with people, making them well suited family pets.

Interestingly, likely due to their mountainous origins on Mount Batur, Kintamani are excellent climbers. While it may be a surprising sight elsewhere, towns where Kintamani make themselves at home will see the dogs in the trees, on rooftops, and even napping atop fences—much like a cat. These dogs are fiercely independent, intelligent, and clever, but can also be very loving and affectionate with their chosen humans.

I’ve been taking popular “Which Dog Breed is Best for You” quizzes online from the point of view of the Disney Princesses, trying to answer as they would, and posting the results here for you to vote on which breed you believe best suits each of them. Last week we decided on the Scottish Deerhound for Merida; now what about Moana?

1. Brittany
   Also known as the Brittany Spaniel or Breton Spaniel, the Brittany is a hunting dog primarily bred for bird hunting. They’re generally regarded as being sweet natured and easy to train, often even more so than other hunting breeds; they do well with children and with other dogs and tend to be very playful and energetic.

2. English Setter
   The English Setter is also a birding dog, primarily used in hunting more ground-dwelling bird species like quail and pheasant. They’re people oriented dogs, generally eager to please and easy to train though some have a somewhat mischievous and playful streak. They do very well in families with children that can provide them ample attention and entertainment, though they do equally well when provided jobs or tasks to fulfill.

3. Australian Shepherd
   Also known simply as Aussies, the Australian Shepherd was bred primarily as a herding dog but nowadays is just as often a companion animal. They’re generally considered a highly intelligent breed which needs ample stimulation; if neglected, their high energy level and clever minds can lead to destructive habits. They do very well with children and are tolerant of other dogs; they are well suited to family life or life in a close community.

4. Standard Poodle
   Poodles were originally bred as water and gun dogs, meant to retrieve waterfowl for hunters, but are much more often these days to be instead a family pet. Their breed is considered incredibly intelligent and highly trainable, able to learn and perform a variety of tasks and tricks; they get along very well with people of all ages and are generally amicable with other dogs, too. While usually friendly with strangers, they can be trained as guard and alert dogs as their high intelligence and adaptability lends them to nearly any role a person could desire.

5. Bernese Mountain Dog
   Also called the Berner, the Bernese Mountain Dog was originally bred as an overall farm dog capable of aiding in many tasks from cart pulling to livestock protection to herders and more. They have a tendency to choose a single human to bond and connect with, though this does not prevent them from getting along well with other members of the family including other dogs and pets. While high energy and intelligent, these dogs are very good at entertaining themselves and are less prone to destructive tendencies compared to other intelligent breeds.

Bonus: Kurī Dog
While posting these quiz results, I’ve also been trying to keep in mind the homes and cultures of the various princesses. The specific island Moana comes from is fictional, but her culture and people are based around the various peoples found in Polynesia; unfortunately, there are no extant Polynesian dog breeds. There were several different breeds native to the various islands of the Pacific prior to European colonization; unfortunately, the introduction of and interbreeding with European dogs lead to these breeds’ extinctions. Of the extinct Polynesian breeds, I’ve chosen to highlight the Māori Kurī dog.

According to Maori legend, Māui is responsible for the creation of the Kurī dog; the first was his brother-in-law, a man named Irawaru. There are different versions of the legend, but Māui became irritated with his sister’s husband and turned him into a dog as punishment—sometimes it’s due to jealousy for Irawaru’s fishing prowess, sometimes it’s disgust at his greedy nature. Whatever the reason, these legends leave Māui to thank for the presence of dogs.

Like many other cultures, the Māori used their dogs to aid them in hunting—usually for birds—but this was not the Kurī dog’s primary purpose. First and foremost, the Kurī was a highly prized and valued source of meat. According to one European explorer, the taste was similar to that of lamb; Kurī meat was often used for festivals and celebrations, saved for honored guests and leaders. It wasn’t just their meat which was valuable; nearly all parts of the Kurī served a purpose. Their teeth were made into fish hooks, their fur and pelts made into cloaks for rangatira—tribal leaders—and bones were often crafted into jewelry. Northern iwi valued the Kurī for their trainability and tendency to warn of invaders or raids (interesting note: these dogs did not bark, but howled instead), and considered them to be able to ward off evil spirits.

I’ve been taking popular “Which Dog Breed is Best For You” quizzes online from the point of view of the Disney Princesses, trying to answer as they would, and posting the results here for you to vote on which dog is the best fit for each character. Last week we decided on the King Charles Spaniel for Rapunzel; now what about for Merida? The options are:

1. German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer, as previously discussed, is a type of hunting breed. These dogs are very high energy while also being eager to please, a pairing that makes them relatively easy to train. These dogs tend to get along well with children and other pets, though their hunting instincts mean they will require extra training before being left alone with small animals.

2. Boxer

Boxers are another German breed, originally bred for hunting but more commonly seen today as a companion or protection dog. This breed is naturally patient with children and smaller breeds, though they can be somewhat standoffish or wary toward larger breeds. Their playfulness, train ability and tendency toward gentleness with children make them very popular family dogs.

3. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

As the name suggests, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers were initially bred to retrieve for hunters and fishermen; as such, they tend to be very fond of the water. This breed is very active and intelligent, known to be difficult to train; when done properly, however, they can be taught many skills beyond hunting, such as agility, obedience, tracking, and more. When it comes to those they view as family, they are very affectionate and protective; with others, they have been known to be reserved or standoffish.

4. Harrier

The Harrier is a type of hound dog originally bred to hunt hares; as such, it is very high energy and enjoys rigorous outdoor activities. Like most hounds, it can be distracted by a scent so it should always be kept on a lead if not in a well enclosed area; that said, their cheerful and sweet temperament make them excellent family dogs which do well around children. When brought up from puppyhood around livestock and small animals, they do quite well with them; this breed is not generally known for doing well on its own and should be kept in a pack, regardless of if that’s of other dogs, people, or other animals.

5. Barbet

The Barbet is a rather rare breed of French dog, known to do well as a retriever of waterfowl due to its love of swimming and playing in the water. They’re considered to be a fairly intelligent and easygoing breed, fairly easy to train, and generally get along well with both humans and other dogs. That said, their thick and long coats which protect them in the water do require a fair bit of maintenance.

Bonus: Scottish Deerhound

I’ve been trying to keep in mind the princess’s cultural heritage and environments when putting forth these breeds; luckily, Merida makes this rather easy, as her family already has dogs in her film. King Fergus has a pair of Scottish Deerhounds which can be seen throughout the film, stealing scraps off his plate and lounging on the royal pavilion during the games.

The Scottish Deerhound, also known simply as Deerhounds, is a large breed of sighthound originally bred to hunt red deer. They bear a superficial resemblance to greyhounds, but tend to be larger, more heavily boned, and with thicker, coarser hair. While a greyhound will outrun a deerhound in clear, flat terrain, the deerhound is better suited to rough and often wet ground and will easily outlast the greyhound in this environment.

Deerhounds are incredibly affectionate with family and other dogs, though their large size means they should be minded around especially small children. They can be wary of strangers and if trained properly make great guard dogs, but they can just as easily be socialized to see everyone as their friend. While their energy level is on the higher end, they’re fairly easy to train and eager to please.

I’ve been taking popular “Which Dog Breed is Best for You” quizzes online from the point of view of the princesses, trying to answer as they would, and asking you which would make the best companion for each. Last week we decided the Shetland Sheepdog was the best choice for Aurora; now what about Ariel?

The options are:

1. Clumber Spaniel

The Clumber Spaniel, like most spaniels, was originally bred as a hunting dog. As such they have excellent stamina, but are just as well known for being cozy house dogs. They are loyal and affectionate with family but can be somewhat aloof toward strangers; once their trust is secured they can be expected to always be happiest alongside their person be it indoors or out.

2. Pomeranian

As discussed before, the Pomeranian is a very small breed of Spitz which is known to be very alert and active. They’re often highly aware of their surroundings and often bark when they seem something out of place; this can become excessive, but with proper training shouldn’t be a concern.

3. Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers are a small breed of dog that is well known for their bright, friendly personality. They can be somewhat overprotective of their owners if not properly trained, but when well socialized they are usually able to get along and play with pets and people of all ages and sizes.

5. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is known to be a rather mild breed of terrier, though it does still possess some prey drive and should be introduced early to cats and other small pets. They take very well to a consistent and affectionate training approach; they tend not to be aggressive, but are often quite vocal.

6. English Setter

English Setters are very intelligent and are easily trained, providing the training technique is a positive one. They have been described as both good natured and intensely friendly, known to take well to being lap and family dogs; that said they are a very active breed and require a good amount of daily exercise to prevent negative behaviors caused by boredom.