Looking to get a dog? Check out our Dog Breeds Library for breed characteristics and traits.
Dogs come in lots of different shapes and sizes and have been bred for so many different purposes. There are over 200 recognized dog breeds worldwide and that doesn’t include all the recent designer mixes. The American Kennel Club currently registers 195 dog breeds.
So how do you go about choosing the right breed for you and your family? Too often, people do not do their research and look for the wrong qualities in dogs. This just increases the number of dogs in shleters.
Read here for 13 Questions to ask before you foster or adopt a puppy.
All dogs are different but each breed has their own history and typical traits, exercise requirements, sizes and personalities.
The American Kennel Club classifies dog breeds into eight main groups:
- Hound group
- Terrier group
- Working group
- Herding group
- Sporting group
- Non-sporting group
- Toy group
- Miscellaneous group
Herding dogs are smart and active and enjoy herding, working dogs like to have mental and physical stimulation or a job, sporting dogs like sports, water dogs usually like swimming, retrievers like retrieving, toy and companion dogs like their people (we call Kilo the Pug our velcro dog).
However there are many other things to evaluate depending on your needs like shedding/allergies, size, compatibility with kids.
It is very important to get a dog that fits your family, lifestyle, budget, level of activity, accomodation and personality.
Check out what we have learned from experts and friends about the most popular dog breeds on Talent Hounds in our Dog Breed Library.
Submit your photos on our Facebook Page to have your dog featured and add your experience in comments.
This information is subjective and interactive and is meant to complement information from vets, experts, trainers and resources like the CKC and AKC.
SEARCH by BREED NAME :
American Bulldog Dog Breed
American Bulldog American Bulldogs were originally used as utilitarian workers with little pedigree employed by working class families in the American South. They were preserved from extinction and standardized through the efforts of two men, John D. J …
American Eskimo Dog Breed
American Eskimo The American Eskimo (also lovingly referred to as the Eskie) is a descendant of the ancient Spitz, originally from Germany – not Alaska, as many presume. The breed apparently adopted the American moniker during World War I when anti-Ger …
Australian Cattle Dog Dog Breed
Australian Cattle Dog Developed in Australia by stockmen, a number of different breeds contributed to the Australian Cattle Dog’s ancestry. The most significant was the native Dingo. Energetic, muscular and highly intelligent, Australian Cattle Dogs re …
Australian Shepherd Dog Breed
Australian Shepherd Though the name suggests something different, the Australian Shepherd is believed to have had its beginnings in Spain and Andorra, where it worked with Basque shepherds. Basque shepherds then moved to Australia and brought their dog …
Basset Hound Dog Breed
Basset Hound The Basset Hound originated in France where its name means “low set.” Historians believe the breed may have descended from the now-extinct St. Hubert Hound. Basset Hounds work in packs to trail hare and deer where their low, sturdy frame i …
Beagle Dog Breed
Beagle The Beagle is thought to have evolved from small foxhounds. It originated in Britain and was bred to hunt rabbits and hares. The Beagle is the most popular of its classification with its lively and easy-going personality. A pack dog by nature, t …
Belgian Malinois Dog Breed
The Belgian Malinois is a working dog breed. It was originally bred around the town of Malines for sheep herding and protecting the farm and livestock. It was recognized by the AKC in 1959. It is smart, proud, high energy and loyal. It is a muscular, l …
Bichon Frisé Dog Breed
Bichon Frisé Originating in Spain, the Bichon Frisé’s cheerful disposition gained him popularity among the aristocracy until fashions in pampered lapdogs changed. The Bichon continued to flourish as a dog of the streets and a pet of the common people. …
Border Collie Dog Breed
Border Collie The Border Collie is recognized by many as the finest sheep-herding dog in the world. They have long been valued by farmers in the border region between Scotland and England. Border Collies are medium sized dogs with strong and muscular b …
Boston Terrier Dog Breed
Boston Terrier The Boston Terrier originated in (of course!) Boston in the 1800s. Originally bred for pit fighting, the breed is a combination of the early Bulldog and Bull Terrier. When the blood sport was outlawed, a group of individuals who loved th …
