| For thousands of years now, dogs have been | | | | the foxhound build. |
| selectively bred to produce varieties with | | | | * Some breeds have the combination of both and |
| characteristics superior to their predecessors. At first, | | | | some don't look like hound dogs at all. |
| the breeding focused on the dog's use, for example | | | | The examples of which are the Basenji, Basset |
| its hunting ability. This resulted in a vast diversity of | | | | hound, English Foxhound, Saluki and the Beagle. |
| dog breeds. But it did not stop there, later dogs | | | | On the other hand, are the non-sporting dogs, also |
| were bred for more distinct and attractive forms. | | | | known as the companion dog breeds. This is the |
| A variety of dogs can be called a breed (distinct kind | | | | most diverse of all dog breeds and is sometimes |
| of family) on the condition that its parents have | | | | considered the catchall for dog types that cannot be |
| offspring of the same characteristics (e.g. behavior | | | | categorized elsewhere. The following are the |
| and characteristics). This is called true breeding. | | | | examples of this dog breed: Bulldog, Boston terrier, |
| Generally speaking, the majority of traditional breeds | | | | Dalmatian, Chinese Shar-pei, French Bulldog, Standard |
| are termed "purebreds". Domestic dogs in general are | | | | and Miniature Poodle, and Tibetan Terrier. |
| called Canis familiaries. | | | | The sporting breed are the modern hunters. In |
| The following are the different classifications of dog | | | | general, they work with hunters to complement the |
| breeds: | | | | hunter's abilities. Setting and pointing breeds work by |
| * Bulldogs | | | | locating game for the hunter. Spaniels are known for |
| * Extinct dog breeds | | | | flushing out the game so the hunter may shoot the |
| * Cur | | | | prey. The retrievers bring the game back to the |
| * Fighting dogs | | | | hunter. Examples of this type are the Labrador |
| * Gun dogs, including Pointers, Retrievers, and | | | | Retriever, Golden Retriever, Chesapeake Bay |
| Spaniels | | | | Retrievers, English Setter, Field Spaniel, Pointer and |
| * Herding, including Sheepdogs | | | | the Sussex Spaniel. |
| * Hounds, including Sight hounds and Scent hounds | | | | The terrier group includes the dogs that hunt for |
| * Sled dog | | | | rodents and other vermin found near the ground. The |
| * Hunting | | | | term terrier actually originated with the word "terra," |
| * Toy | | | | which means earth. Some were later bred to fight |
| * Terrier | | | | against one another. Vermin-catching terriers are |
| * Working (or Utility) | | | | further classified into two types: the long-legged and |
| However, these can be further classified into smaller | | | | the short-legged. |
| but similar dog breeds, such as the Lurchers, Mastiff | | | | Examples of this dog breed are the Irish Terrier, Bull |
| types, Pitbulls and Spitz types. | | | | Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, and the Miniature Bull Terrier. |
| The herding breed is most commonly known as the | | | | The toy dogs are usually comprised of the miniature |
| sheepdogs. They have the ability to control the | | | | version of the other groups of dogs. However, quite |
| behavior (specifically the movements) of other | | | | a number of these types are ancient in origin, which |
| animals. These are usually an intelligent type of dogs | | | | makes it difficult to trace them with other dog |
| and are devoted to their owners, whom they | | | | varieties. This group includes: Chihuahua, Papillion, |
| consider partners, for they normally use their own | | | | Japanese Chin, Poodle, Pug, and the Toy Fox Terrier. |
| judgement as well as their owner's commands. Most | | | | The working dogs on the other hand are known for |
| forms of this breed have the tendency to drive and | | | | their intelligence and hardiness. They are sub-divided |
| to gather the herd. | | | | into: |
| The examples of the herding type are Puli, Briard, | | | | * Sledding breeds |
| German Shepherd, Collie, and Old English Sheep dog. | | | | * Protecting or guarding breeds |
| The oldest dog breeds is the hounds. They are | | | | * Rescue breeds |
| differentiated into two categories: | | | | * Carting breeds |
| * Sight hounds -- which hunt by sight and include the | | | | Examples of this dog breed are the Boxer, Alaskan |
| greyhound build. | | | | Malamute, Bull mastiff, Great Dane, Doberman, |
| * Scent hounds -- which hunt by scent and include | | | | Newfoundland, and Rottweiler. |