Dalmatian standing in three-quarter view facing forward
Dalmatian

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.

Old English Sheepdog

Old English Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog is the archetypical shaggy dog, famous for his profuse coat and peak-a-boo…

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Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Among the most agreeable of all small housedogs, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a strong, athletic…

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Polish Lowland Sheepdog

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

A shaggy-coated herding dog who thrives on exercise and hard work, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog i…

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Puli

Puli

No other breed can be mistaken for the Puli, a compact but powerful herder covered from head to…

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Pumi

Pumi

A compact, nimble-footed herder of Hungarian origin, the Pumi is easily recognized by a…

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Pyrenean Shepherd

Pyrenean Shepherd

Enthusiastic, mischievous, and whip-smart, the Pyrenean Shepherd is an indefatigable herde…

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Shetland Sheepdog

Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as the Sheltie, is an extremely intelligent, quick, and obedie…

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Spanish Water Dog

Spanish Water Dog

The inexhaustible Spanish Water Dog is a dual-purpose breed whose hallmark is a coat of wooly…

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Swedish Vallhund

Swedish Vallhund

The long and low Swedish Vallhund, Viking Dog of ancient legend, is a smart and sociable herder of…

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