Sporting Group
The sporting group comprises some of the most popular breeds, including
pointers, setters, retrievers and spaniels. Both routinely in the top five
breeds, the Labrador retriever and the golden retriever together account for
nearly one-quarter of the more than 1 million dogs registered with the AKC
every year. Alert, active and intelligent, sporting dogs have historically been
used by hunters to locate, flush or retrieve game from land or water. Many
sporting dogs are still used as hunting companions today, although their gentle
natures and high level of trainability have also earned them the reputation of
being among the best family dogs. These same traits often lead to some of these
animals being recruited into service positions, either as helper dogs for the
disabled or as bomb and drug sniffers for law enforcement agencies.
Non-Sporting Group
This is the catchall group for breeds that didn't seem to
fit in elsewhere, from the cuddly Bichon Frise, a little too big to be
considered a toy, to the striking Dalmatian and the stunning but difficult Chow
Chow. Their individual skills, original purposes and temperaments are almost as
varied as their origins. The poodle is by far the most popular of the
non-sporting breeds. The poodle's opposite may be the bulldog. The national
symbol of England,
known for its strength and determination, it has been out of work since
bull-baiting went out of fashion in the late 19th century. It now serves only
as a loving, albeit somewhat sedentary, companion.
Herding Group
The sheepdogs and cattle dogs of the world are here, including the
much-loved collie breeds and those royal favorites, the corgis. Unlike the
livestock guardians that simply stand sentry, herding dogs actively round up
cattle and sheep with frantic running, eye contact and aggressive barking. Some
of the more intelligent dog breeds belong to this group, including the popular
German shepherd dog, perhaps most famous for its police work, and what is
arguably the most intelligent of all breeds, the Border collies.
Although most of these are now simple companion dogs that have never even
seen a sheep, the instinct to herd in some of them can be strong. They require
owners who are skilled at training and willing to give them "work"
that rewards their instincts.
Hounds Group
The hounds are the original hunting dogs. There is a great deal of
diversity, both behavioral and physical, within this group, a history of
hunting assistance often being the only common bond among some of the hound
breeds. In size, they range from the tall and lanky Irish wolfhound to the
short-legged dachshund.
For the most part, these breeds originally assisted hunters in the field
with either excellent scenting abilities or exceptional speed. Scent hounds
such as bloodhounds, beagles and foxhounds have historically aided hunters by
following the scent trails left by their quarry. Today the slow, prodding
bloodhound is commonly used by law enforcement to track fugitives or missing
persons. Some of the oldest breeds of domestic dogs are the speedy sight
hounds. Saluki and pharaoh hounds, in particular, can trace their origins back
to antiquity. Images of dogs closely resembling these breeds are depicted on
the walls of the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. Even the famous racer, the greyhound,
has proved to be a popular family pet.
Working Group
The Akita (Japan), the Komondor (Hungary), the Portuguese water dog, the
Newfoundland, the Saint Bernard (Switzerland), the Alaskan Malamute, the
Bernese Mountain dog (Switzerland) and many more make this group a veritable
United Nations of dogs. A diverse group skilled in a number of disciplines,
most working breeds are robust, intelligent and headstrong, often unsuitable
for novice owners. Made up of guardians of livestock and property, police dogs,
sled dogs and rescue dogs, these workers come in all shapes and sizes, from the
standard schnauzer to the Great Dane. But for the most part, these are large,
powerful dogs. Without the right training, some working dogs can be difficult
to handle, even dangerous.
Terriers Group
Feisty is the word most often used to describe terriers. Let loose in your
backyard, a terrier can build an entire golf course in a day — the 18 holes at
least. Too large to go to ground, the popular Airedale terrier puts its
strength and stubborn streak to use as a surprisingly ferocious watchdog. Like
most terriers, this "king of terriers" has little time for other
dogs, and if not properly supervised may engage in some street brawling. If it
weren't for the fact that most terriers, such as the cairn and the Norfolk, are fairly
small, their tenacious nature and boundless energy would make them hard to
control.
Due to some unscrupulous breeders and un-mindful owners, a few breeds within
the terrier group have developed rather notorious reputations. The crossing of
bulldogs and terriers for the express purpose of creating fighting dogs has
produced several dog breeds that can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Combining
the taut muscles and compact power of the bulldog with the tenacity and
aggressiveness of the terrier, some controversial bull terrier breeds have been
involved in some highly publicized biting incidents. Unfortunately, these
incidents tarnish the reputations of what can be friendly, stable, even calm
pets.
Toy Group
Luckily for the toy breeds, providing companionship for humans has counted
as suitable employment through the ages. This has ensured the survival of
breeds without practical skills, such as the Chihuahua, Pug and Pomeranian. Many toy
breeds, such as the miniature pinscher, the toy poodle and the English toy
terrier appear to be miniaturized versions of larger breeds. Ranging between
under 6 pounds (3 kilograms) in the tiniest Chihuahua and 20 pounds (9 kilograms) in the
stockiest of pugs, these diminutive dogs have made for loving companions since
they were first bred centuries ago. Today their stature makes them excellent
pets for people without a lot of extra space in their homes. And despite their
tendency toward yappiness, they are considered the best dogs for novice owners,
though their fragility can make them less than ideal pets for families with
small children. This breed's love of attention serves them well outside of
their loving homes too. Loyal and intelligent, they are great at learning tricks,
and many excel in obedience competitions.
Mixed Group
If you can't decide between a shepherd, a setter or a poodle, get them all —
adopt a mutt. The world's most popular breed of dog is no breed at all. Mixed
breeds, random breeds, mongrels, mutts or curs — call them what you will, they
make up the majority of the worldwide dog population. Rare is the country where
dogs of mixed and usually unknown heritage do not outnumber their blue-blood,
purebred relations. In true mixed breeds, the dog's ancestry is next to
impossible to predict, although many people can't help but try to guess. That's
part of the fun.
Often used interchangeably, the terms "mixed breed" and
"crossbreed" have slightly different meanings. Unlike mixes,
crossbreeds have clear roots — often evident by looking back just one
generation. Sometimes produced randomly, but most often planned by breeders,
crossbreeds result from the mating or crossing of two dogs with a different but
identifiable lineage. Two purebred dogs are sometimes deliberately crossed in
hopes of creating a new breed such as the cockapoo, which is one part cocker
spaniel, one part poodle. But despite what those who breed and sell crossbreeds
might try to tell you, these are not, nor will they likely ever be, recognized
as purebred dogs.
