Breeds of Dogs Articles | Dogs

If you asked almost anyone, most people like dogs or have had a dog at sometime in their life. As we all know too, they come in so many different sizes, shapes, temperaments, dispositions, and breeds. As of right now the American Kennel Club, AKC, has classified over 150 different breeds of dogs. Although, there may be as many as over 400, since there are many that are not actually recognized as of yet as a breed. All breeds can be assigned to one of eight groups which are sporting, hunting, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting, herding, and miscellaneous.

· Sporting: these are great hunting dogs. They are able to pick up the scent in the air and ground. There are gun, game, and bird dogs and each works best in the correct environment, either land or water. Sporting dogs are considered one of the most intelligent, are very active, and require a lot of exercise. They are very people orientated and get along well with children. A few examples are English and American Cockier Spaniels, English and Irish Setters, and Golden Retrievers.

· Working: these were originally used as to guard homes and livestock. They are very strong and many times assist police and rescue workers. This is a very large dog that will require training, due to their domineering nature. Otherwise they can be very difficult to manage, however they do train easily and are very intelligent. Great Danes, St. Bernards, Dobermans, and Rottweilers fall into this category.

· Terriers: these are good at hunting and killing pests, such as rats, mice, and predators. They are usually small to medium in size and can be very feisty and difficult to train. However, they are very loyal and friendly pets. Irish Terriers, Scottish Terriers, and Miniature Schnauzers all fall into this area.

· Toy: this is the smallest breed of dog. These dogs are great for small living areas and can be very affectionate too. Even though they are small, they are still very protective and will bark and let you know if there was a stranger approaching. A few of the breeds are Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, and Cockapoo.

· Athletic: there are two types in this group, there is sight or smell. The sight dogs typically are long legged and have thin, agile bodies. A few of these are Hound, Afghans, and Greyhounds. The scent dogs obviously have a well developed nose and are strong and also energetic. They will vary in size from Basset Hounds to Beagles. These are used many times when finding people.

· Herding: these are very smart and active dogs that were made to heard. They are able to control and direct other animals, even animals that are much larger than they are, in the way that the owner wants. They heard, drive, and protect flocks from predators also. They do so by running and barking along side the animals to get them moving in a particular direction. A few breeds are Collies, German Shepherds, Shetland Sheep Dogs, and Old English.

· Non-sporting: these vary in size, shape, personality, and appearance. They usually are medium sized, but have no unique characteristics. These are usually the breed you would have as a pet and are very obedient. These breeds are Poodle, Lhasa Apso, Dalmatian, and Bulldog.

· Miscellaneous: this includes any and all breeds that are awaiting AKC approval. They need to have their own characteristics, features, the job they do, along with health, temperament, and care needed.

Whichever dog you choose will probably end up being based more on personality and the available room you have. Either way, having a dog is a wonderful experience, everyone should try at least once.