Contents
The Domestic Dog
Dog Groups and Breeds
The Sporting Group
The Hound Group
The Working Group
The Terrier Group
The Toy Group
The Nonsporting Group
The Herding Group
Crossbreeds
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- Which specific traits are determined by breed
- How and why individual breeds developed
- What to expect from more than 50 popular purebreds and crossbreeds
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The Domestic Dog
More than a third of American households own at least one dog, which makes the dog the most popular pet in the United States today. Although there’s just one species of domestic dog (Canis familiaris), there are more than 300
separate breeds. A dog breed refers to a family of dogs with distinctive traits developed through selective breeding.
The Differences Among Dog Breeds
Each dog breed has a unique history, appearance, and temperament.
History
Each breed’s traits are linked to the breed’s historical use. Over centuries, people bred individual dogs to be able to perform certain tasks, such as hunting. In doing so, they created unique breeds displaying particular traits. Knowing the original use of a breed helps predict how dogs of that breed may behave. For example, Labrador retrievers, which were bred to retrieve prey during hunting trips, are strong runners, respond well to training, and are very reliable.
Appearance
Each dog breed has a specific set of distinct, characteristic physical attributes.
- Size: Dogs are classified as small (up to 25 lbs), medium (25–65 lbs), or large (over 65 lbs).
- Coat: Dog coats differ in length (long, medium, and short) and density (thick, thin, and so on).
- Grooming: A dog’s coat determines the extent of the dog’s grooming requirements. In general, long coats require more grooming than short coats.
Temperament
A dog’s temperament refers to its overall manner. Among the most important facets of a dog’s temperament are:
- Personality: The breed’s most obvious behavioral traits. Words such as “energetic,” “curious,” and “obedient” may be used to describe breed personalities.
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Exercise needs: Each breed’s exercise needs differ in terms of frequency and intensity and are expressed throughout this chart as high, medium, and low.
- High: Requires at least three vigorous activities per day, including running in a park or yard
- Moderate: Needs one or two active sessions per day, such as a brisk walk or a game of fetch
- Low: Requires just a few short walks a day to eliminate waste
- Behavior with children: Some breeds respond well to children, whereas others do best with adults.
The Seven Groups of Dog Breeds
All dog breeds are divided into seven major groups:
- Sporting
- Hound
- Working
- Terrier
- Toy
- Nonsporting
- Herding
In recent years, breeders have also created crossbreeds in hopes of producing dogs with desirable traits from two or more breeds. This chart covers 53 popular purebreds and several crossbreeds.
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