Dog Facts: Dog Breeds & Groups

Terrier Group Hound Group A breed is a relatively homogeneous group of animals People familiar with this Most hounds share within a species, developed and maintained by man. All Group invariably comment the common ancestral dogs, impure as well as pure-bred, and several wild cousins on the distinctive terrier trait of being used for such as wolves and foxes, are one family. Each breed was personality. These are feisty, en- hunting. Some use created by man, using selective breeding to get desired ergetic dogs whose sizes range acute scenting powers to follow qualities. The result is an almost unbelievable diversity of from fairly small, as in the Nor- a trail. Others demonstrate a phe- purebred dogs which will, when bred to others of their breed folk, Cairn or West Highland nomenal gift of stamina as they produce their own kind. Through the ages, man designed White Terrier, to the grand Aire- relentlessly run down quarry. dogs that could hunt, guard, or herd according to his needs. dale Terrier. Terriers typically Beyond this, however, generali- The following is the listing of the 7 American Kennel have little tolerance for other zations about hounds are hard Club Groups in which similar breeds are organized. There animals, including other dogs. to come by, since the Group en- are other dog registries, such as the United Kennel Club Their ancestors were bred to compasses quite a diverse lot. (known as the UKC) that lists these and many other breeds hunt and kill vermin. Many con- There are Pharaoh Hounds, Nor- of dogs not recognized by the AKC at present. tinue to project the attitude that wegian Elkhounds, Afghans and they’re always eager for a spir- Beagles, among others. Some ited argument. Most terriers have hounds share the distinct ability Sporting Group Non-Sporting Group wiry coats that require special to produce a unique sound Naturally active and alert, Non-sporting dogs are a care known as stripping in order known as baying. Sporting dogs make like- diverse group. Here are to maintain a characteristic ap- able, well rounded com- sturdy animals with as pearance. In general, they make Afghan Hound panions. Members of the Group different personalities and ap- engaging pets, but require own- Basenji include pointers, retrievers, set- pearances as the Chow Chow, ers with the determination to Basset Hound ters and spaniels. Remarkable for Dalmatian, French Bulldog, and match their dogs’ lively charac- Beagle their instincts in water and Keeshond. Talk about differ- ters. woods, many of these breeds ac- ences in size, coat, and visage! Black and Tan Coonhound Bloodhound tively continue to participate in Some, like the Schipperke and Ti- Airedale Terrier Borzoi hunting and other field activities. betan Spaniel are uncommon American Staffordshire Terrier Potential owners of Sporting sights in the average neighbor- Dachshund Australian Terrier dogs need to realize that most hood. Others, however, like the Foxhound (American) Bedlington Terrier require regular, invigorating ex- Poodle and Lhasa Apso, have Foxhound (English) Border Terrier ercise. quite a large following. The Greyhound Bull Terrier breeds in the Non-Sporting Harrier Cairn Terrier American Water Spaniel Group are a varied collection in Ibizan Hound terms of size, coat, personality Dandie Dinmont Terrier Brittany Irish wolfhound Chesapeake Bay Retriever and overall appearance. Fox Terrier (Smooth) Norwegian Elkhound Clumber Spaniel Fox Terrier (Wire) Otterhound Cocker Spaniel American Eskimo Dog Irish Terrier Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Curly-Coated Retriever Bichon Frise Kerry Blue Terrier Pharaoh Hound English Cocker Spaniel Boston Terrier Lakeland Terrier Rhodesian Ridgeback English Springer Spaniel Bulldog Manchester Terrier English Setter Saluki Chinese Sharpei Miniature Bull Terrier Field Spaniel Scottish Deerhound Chow Chow Miniature Schnauzer Flat-Coated Retriever Whippet German Shorthaired Pointer Dalmatian Norfolk Terrier German Wirehaired Pointer Finnish Spitz Norwich Terrier Golden Retriever French Bulldog Scottish Terrier Gordon Setter Keeshond Sealyham Terrier Irish Setter Lhasa Apso Skye Terrier Irish Water Spaniel Poodle Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Labrador Retriever Schipperke Staffordshire Bull Terrier Pointer Shiba Inu Welsh Terrier Sussex Spaniel Tibetan Spaniel West Highland White Terrier Vizsla Weimaraner Welsh Springer Spaniel Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Toy Group Herding Group Working Group Miscellaneous Class The diminutive size and The Herding Group, Dogs of the Working Authorities acknowledge winsome expressions of created in 1983, is the Group were bred to per- that in total throughout the world Toy dogs illustrate the newest AKC classifica- form such jobs as guard- there are several hundred dis- main function of this Group: to tion; its members were formerly ing property, pulling sleds and tinct breeds of purebred dog. embody sheer delight. Don’t let members of the Working performing water rescues. They Those officially recognized for their tiny statue fool you, Many Group. All breeds share the fabu- have been invaluable assets to registration in the Stud Book of are tough as nails. If you haven’t lous ability to control the move- man throughout the ages. The the American Kennel Club. The experienced the barking of an ment of other animals. A remark- Doberman Pinscher, Siberian AKC, however, provides for a angry Chihuahua, for example, able example is the low-set Corgi, Husky and Great Dane are in- regular method of development well, just wait. Toy dogs will al- perhaps one foot tall at the cluded in this Group, to name for a new breed which may re- ways be popular with city dwell- shoulders, that can drive a herd just a few. Quick to learn, these sults in that breed’s full recogni- ers & people without much liv- of cows many times its size to intelligent, capable animals make tion. Briefly stated, the require- ing space. They make ideal apart- pasture by leaping and nipping solid companions. Their consid- ment for admission to the Stud ment dogs & terrific lap warm- at their heels. The vast majority erable dimensions and strength Book is clear and categorical ers. Incidentally, small breeds of Herding dogs, as household alone, however, make many work- proof that a substantial, sus- may be found in every Group, pets, never cross paths with a ing dogs unsuitable as pets for tained nationwide interest and not just the Toy Group. Some farm animal. Nevertheless, pure average families. And again, by activity in the breed exists. This will advise to consider getting a instinct prompts many of these virtue of their size alone, these includes an active parent club, small breed, to minimize some of dogs to gently herd their own- dogs must be properly trained. with serious and expanding the problems inherent in canines ers, especially the children of the breeding activity over a wide such as shedding, creating family. In general, these intelli- Akita geographic area. Breeds in the messes & cost of care. Training gent dogs make excellent com- Alaskan Malamute Miscellaneous Class may com- aside, it’s still easier to control a panions and respond beautifully Bernese Mountain Dog pete in AKC obedience trials and ten-pound dog than it is one ten to training exercises. Boxer earn obedience titles. They may times that size. also compete at conformation Bullmastiff Australian Cattle Dog shows, but here are limited to Affenpinscher Doberman Pinscher competition in the Miscella- Australian Shepherd Giant Schnauzer Brussels Griffon Bearded Collie neous Class and are not eligible Chihuahua Great Dane Belgian Malinois for championship points. Chinese Crested Great Pyrenees Dogs currently in the Mis- Belgian Sheepdog Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Greater Swiss Mountain Dog cellaneous Class include: English Toy Spaniel Belgian Tervuren Komondor Italian Greyhound Border Collie Kuvasz Anatolian Shepherd Japanese Chin Bouvier Des Flandres Maltese Mastiff Havanese Briard Newfoundland Jack Russell Terrier Manchester Terrier Canaan Dog Miniature Pinscher Portuguese Water Dog Lowchen Collie Papillon Rottweiler Spinone Italiano Pekingese German Shepherd Dog Saint Bernard Pomeranian Old English Sheepdog Samoyed Poodle Puli Siberian Husky Pug Shetland Sheepdog Standard Schnauzer Shih Tzu Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) Silky Terrier Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) Yorkshire Terrier

MIXED BREEDS Although organized dog clubs generally fo- parents and may be created deliberately to pro- cus on the maintenance of recognized “pure duce dogs with mixed skills or physical attributes. breeds,” most dogs in the world today are mon- Since mongrels combine a more varied mix of grels. Purebred dogs constitute a category that genetic traits, they generally do not suffer from has been created through human intervention by purebred ailments. Since interbreeding can lead the selective breeding of dogs with very similar to a variety of breed-specific weaknesses and characteristics. Crossbred dogs result when two diseases, mixed breeds are often more hearty and dogs of different pedigree mate and produce off- healthy. spring. Nearly every breed has been created by In theory, any domestic dog, and many wild combining dogs and fostering a new line, mean- dogs, can interbreed with one another, though ing that even pedigreed dogs began their evolu- physical size and geographic range may limit this tionary journeys as mongrels. Today, a new possibility. Sometimes, purebred dogs are delib- breed can become a recognized group if the re- erately outcrossed with other breeds to add sta- peatability of the genetic line is established and bility, strength or variety to the existing breed. it is proven that inbred weaknesses have been Mongrel offspring combine the traits of both eliminated or diminished.