You can dress your dog in an England shirt or your cat in a Scotland bandana, but that is no guarantee they will be rooting for your country at this World Cup. Depending on their breed's lineage — which can date back centuries — there is every chance they will secretly support another team entirely. Fortunately, Mike Ward has compiled an essential guide so you will know if your pet is as loyal as they pretend to be.
Labrador Retriever: Canada
The Labrador's roots lie in Newfoundland, which is located on co-host nation Canada's far-eastern edge. It is so far east, in fact, that it is closer to Dublin than to Vancouver. The Lab's ancestors used to help fishermen fetch ropes from the freezing Atlantic.
Poodle: France
Originally, the poodle was another working water retriever — athletic, highly intelligent, and possessing tons of stamina. Its fancy hairdo came later. Should we blame the French for that as well? Yes, let us.
Budgerigar: Australia
The budgie's ancestors used to flutter around Australia in flocks of thousands. The domestic version is more accustomed to human company. Of course, it can also speak — or kind of. You might think you hear it squawk "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!" but that could just mean it is a Black Sabbath fan.
Van Cat: Turkey
Strangely keen on water for a feline, this cat is named after the Lake Van region of eastern Turkey. To be honest, you might have thought a Van Cat was a cat that liked to sleep in a Ford Transit. Me too.
German Shepherd: Germany
Well, yes, obviously.
Golden Retriever: Scotland
Bred in the 1860s by a man named Baron Tweedmouth, who lived on an estate near Inverness. For decades, it was claimed that the breed descended from a troupe of Russian circus dogs the Baron had spotted performing in Brighton and bought on the spot. Sadly, that was nonsense.
Dalmatian: Croatia
Named after Dalmatia, the historic coastal region of what is now Croatia. Bred to run alongside horse-drawn carriages to keep the way clear. Hence, they and horses remain surprisingly chummy.
Hamster: Saudi Arabia
Most domestic hamsters descend from Syrian golden hamsters, first identified near Aleppo. Syria did not qualify for this World Cup, but your hamster will happily switch allegiance to neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Hamsters are pretty shameless in that respect.
Mau: Egypt
This is one of the oldest recognised cat breeds, with links to the cats revered in ancient Egypt. It rarely dines out on its fancy heritage these days, preferring Whiskas Fish Favourites in jelly, but watch its face when Egypt takes the field.
Corgi: Wales
According to legend, Corgis used to be ridden by little Welsh fairy warriors. The saddle-like markings on some Corgis' backs are said to represent — well, take a wild guess.
Water Dog: Portugal
Worked alongside Portuguese fishermen for centuries, carrying messages between boats and fetching gear that had fallen into the water. That, plus no doubt the odd slimy tennis ball.
Forest Cat: Norway
Officially Norway's national cat, it is thought to have travelled on Viking longships, serving in a rat-catching role. It is also ridiculously good at climbing.
Chihuahua: Mexico
This tiny breed dates back to the Aztecs, who believed it could steer the souls of the dead through the underworld. It could probably wake them as well. Named after the state of Chihuahua, which ironically is Mexico's largest.
Akita: Japan
Named after a Japanese prefecture, these dogs are a big deal in Japan. When a child is born, it is customary to buy the parents a little Akita statue to bring health and happiness. I have seen one on Amazon for £10.99, but it looks rubbish.
Spaniel: Spain
As the Oxford English Dictionary confirms, the word Spaniel comes from the old French word Espaigneul, meaning Spanish dog. So yes, your Spaniel is definitely supporting Spain — no doubt about that. Or possibly France.
Canary: Spain
The Canary Islands are Spanish, so this one seems pretty obvious. But funnily enough, the islands were actually named after dogs, from the Latin word canis.
Belgian Malinois: Belgium
Named after the Belgian city of Mechelen, the Malinois is now the breed of choice for police and military forces worldwide. Fun fact: a Malinois is said to have been part of the team that eliminated Osama Bin Laden.
Rabbit: Spain
With the possible exception of the bull community, animals seem to love the Spanish. Here is yet another species on their side: our domestic bunnies descend from the European rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula.
Bernese Mountain Dog: Switzerland
Bred in the Swiss canton of Berne, these dogs were originally used to guard farm livestock and pull carts of cheese and butter to market. Hugely good-natured and reliable. On no account should they be rewarded with Toblerone.
Labradoodle: Australia
While the Labrador is Canadian-ish and the Poodle is French, the Labradoodle was invented in Australia. It was created in 1989 by breeder Wally Conron, who aimed to produce a hypoallergenic guide dog.
Goldfish: Japan
The goldfish was first domesticated in China over 1,000 years ago. Sadly, China is not at this World Cup, so Japan is likely to get its support by proximity. Or, given its poor memory, it may take a look at its kit and assume it is Dutch.
