Havanese standing outdoors.
Havanese

What's a dog breed?

People have been breeding dogs since prehistoric times. The earliest dog breeders used wolves to create domestic dogs. From the beginning, humans purposefully bred dogs to perform various tasks. Hunting, guarding, and herding are thought to be among the earliest job…

What's a dog breed?

People have been breeding dogs since prehistoric times. The earliest dog breeders used wolves to create domestic dogs. From the beginning, humans purposefully bred dogs to perform various tasks. Hunting, guarding, and herding are thought to be among the earliest jobs eagerly performed by the animal destined to be called “man’s best friend.”

For thousands of years, humans bred dogs toward the physical and mental traits best suited for the work expected of them. The sleek Greyhound types bred to chase fleet-footed prey, and the huge mastiff types used as guard dogs and warriors, are two ancient examples of dogs bred for specific jobs.

As humans became more sophisticated, so did their dogs. Eventually, there emerged specific breeds of dogs, custom-bred to suit the breeders’ local needs and circumstances. The Greyhound, for instance, was the foundation type for the immense Irish Wolfhound and the dainty Italian Greyhound. All three have a distinct family resemblance, but you’d never mistake one for another.

So, then, when is a breed a breed and not just a kind or type of dog? The simplest way to define a breed is to say it always “breeds true.” That is, breeding a purebred Irish Setter to another purebred Irish Setter will always produce dogs instantly recognizable as Irish Setters.

Each breed’s ideal physical traits, movement, and temperament are set down in a written document called a “breed standard.” For example, the breed standard sets forth the traits that make a Cocker Spaniel a Cocker Spaniel and not a Springer Spaniel.

The AKC standard for each breed originates with a “parent club,” the AKC-recognized national club devoted to a particular breed. Once approved by the AKC, a standard becomes both the breeder’s “blueprint” and the instrument used by dog show judges to evaluate a breeder’s work.

There are over 340 dog breeds known throughout the world. The American Kennel Club recognizes 200 breeds.

Bergamasco Sheepdog

Bergamasco Sheepdog

Generally happy with kids and other animals, the low-maintenance and robustly healthy Bergamasco i…

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Berger Picard

Berger Picard

The Berger Picard is a lanky herding dog of strong bone and sturdy build. Picards spent centurie…

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Black and Tan Coonhound

Black and Tan Coonhound

Large, athletic hunters who work nights, Black and Tan Coonhounds are friendly, easygoing hound…

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Black Russian Terrier

Black Russian Terrier

The Black Russian Terrier is a large, immensely powerful worker of heavy bone and coarse all-black…

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Bloodhound

Bloodhound

The world-famous 'Sleuth Hound' does one thing better than any creature on earth: find people who…

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Bluetick Coonhound

Bluetick Coonhound

The sleekly beautiful Bluetick Coonhound is a sweet and affectionate charmer who might enjoy…

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Bouvier des Flandres

Bouvier des Flandres

They don't build 'em like this anymore. Burly and broad-chested, the tousle-coated dog of Flandre…

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Boxer

Boxer

Loyalty, affection, intelligence, work ethic, and good looks: Boxers are the whole doggy package…

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Bracco Italiano

Bracco Italiano

The Bracco Italiano is one of the oldest of the pointing breeds. It was introduced into the United…

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Briard

Briard

The Briard packs so much loyalty, love, and spirit into its ample frame that it's often described…

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Cane Corso

Cane Corso

Smart, trainable, and of noble bearing, the assertive and confident Cane Corso is a peerle…

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Catahoula Leopard Dog

Catahoula Leopard Dog

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is a multi-purpose working dog that is well-muscled and powerful, bu…

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