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.
Leonberger
The Leonberger is a lush-coated giant of German origin. They have a gentle nature and serene…
See MoreNeapolitan Mastiff
The Neapolitan Mastiff is a huge, powerful guarder whose astounding appearance has intimidated…
See MoreNewfoundland
The massive Newfoundland is a strikingly large, powerful working dog of heavy bone and dignified…
See MoreOld English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is the archetypical shaggy dog, famous for his profuse coat and peak-a-boo…
See MoreOtterhound
Big, boisterous, and affectionate, the Otterhound was bred in medieval England for the now-outlawed…
See MorePresa Canario
The Presa Canario has a calm appearance and attentive expression. He is especially suited to…
See MorePyrenean Mastiff
A centuries-old, rare breed from the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, this livestock guardian protected…
See MoreRafeiro do Alentejo
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is an excellent farm and estate watch dog. He is also a very useful…
See MoreRedbone Coonhound
The streamlined Redbone Coonhound, an American original, is even-tempered, mellow, and kindly a…
See MoreRhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is an all-purpose 'Renaissance hound' whose hallmark is the ridge, o…
See More