Distinct dog breeds have existed since man first decided that it might be a good idea to selectively breed dogs in order to accentuate certain desirable characteristics.
In the most liberal interpretation of the term, a breed is a group of individual dogs that look the same and have similar behavior patterns. They generally come from a set of ancestors with those same characteristics. And they also ‘breed true’, meaning that they pass those characteristics on to their young.
A dog is identified as a member of a breed through a written record of ancestry called a stud book, which is dog breed info normally maintained by breed clubs or organizations.
There are literally hundreds of dog breeds of every conceivable size, build, coat color and texture, making dogs unique among all animals in terms of diversity. Amazing when you consider that they all share a common ancestor.
In addition to their similar appearance dogs of the same breed also display similar behaviors primarily due to the job they were originally bred for. So a Labrador Retriever will chase and retrieve a ball almost to the point of exhaustion, while a Bulldog wouldn’t bother unless you toss it next to him on the couch!
Check out this list of the most popular dog breeds, together with dog breed info regarding classification and country of origin.
Breed | Origin | Classification |
Afghan Hound | Afghanistan | Hound |
Airedale Terrier | England | Terrier |
Akita Inu | Japan | Working |
Alaskan Malamute | United States | Working |
American Akita | Japan | Utility |
American Cocker Spaniel | United States | Gundog |
American Pit Bull Terrier | United States | Terrier |
American Staffordshire Terrier | United States | Terrier |
Argentine Dogo | Argentina | Guardian |
Australian Cattle Dog | Australia | Herding |
Australian Kelpie | Australia | Herding |
Australian Shepherd | United States | Herding |
Australian Silky Terrier | Australia | Terrier |
Australian Terrier | Australia | Terrier |
Beagle | England | Hound |
Bearded Collie | Scotland | Herding |
Belgian Shepherd (Tervuren) | Belgium | Herding |
Bernese Mountain Dog | Switzerland | Guardian |
Bichon Frise | Spain, Belgium | Companion |
Bloodhound | Belgium, France | Hound |
Boerbul | South Africa | Guardian |
Border Collie | Scotland, England, Wales | Herding |
Border Terrier | Scotland, England | Terrier |
Borzoi | Russia | Hound |
Boston Terrier | United States | Companion |
Boxer | Germany | Guardian |
Bull Terrier | England | Terrier |
Bullmastiff | England | Guardian |
Canadian Eskimo Dog | Canada | Working |
Cane Corso | Italy | Guardian |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | England | Companion |
Chesapeake Bay Retriever | United States | Gundog |
Chihuahua | Mexico | Companion |
Chinese Crested Dog | China | Companion |
Chow Chow | China | Utility |
Rough Collie | Scotland | Herding |
Smooth Collie | Scotland | Herding |
Dachshund | Germany | Hound |
Dalmatian | Croatia | Companion |
Doberman Pinscher | Germany | Guardian |
Dogue de Bordeaux | France | Guardian |
English Cocker Spaniel | England | Gundog |
English Mastiff | England | Guardian |
English Pointer | England | Gundog |
English Setter | England | Gundog |
English Springer Spaniel | England | Gundog |
Fox Terrier (Smooth) | England | Terrier |
Wire Fox Terrier | England | Terrier |
French Bulldog | England | Companion |
German Pinscher | Germany | Terrier |
German Shepherd Dog | Germany | Herding |
German Shorthaired Pointer | Germany | Gundog |
German Spitz | Germany | Utility |
Giant Schnauzer | Germany | Herding |
Golden Retriever | Scotland | Gundog |
Gordon Setter | Scotland | Gundog |
Great Dane | Denmark or Germany | Guardian |
Great Pyrenees | France, Spain | Guardian |
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Switzerland | Guardian |
Greyhound | England | Hound |
Hokkaido | Japan | Utility |
Irish Red and White Setter | Ireland | Gundog |
Irish Setter | Ireland | Gundog |
Irish Terrier | Ireland | Terrier |
Irish Water Spaniel | Ireland | Gundog |
Irish Wolfhound | Ireland | Hound |
Italian Greyhound | Italy | Companion |
Jack Russell Terrier | England | Terrier |
Japanese Chin | Japan | Companion |
Japanese Spitz | Japan | Utility |
Keeshond | Netherlands, Germany | Utility |
Kerry Blue Terrier | Ireland | Terrier |
King Charles Spaniel | England | Companion |
Labrador Retriever | Canada | Gundog |
Lhasa Apso | Tibet | Companion |
Maltese | Italy | Companion |
Miniature Pinscher | Germany | Companion |
Miniature Schnauzer | Germany | Terrier |
Neapolitan Mastiff | Italy | Guardian |
Newfoundland | Canada, England | Guardian |
Old English Sheepdog | England | Herding |
Papillon | Spain, Belgium, France | Companion |
Parson Russell Terrier | England | Terrier |
Pekingese | China | Companion |
Pomeranian | Germany, Poland | Companion |
Poodle | Germany, France | Companion |
Portuguese Water Dog | Portugal | Gundog |
Pug | China | Companion |
Pyrenean Mastiff | Spain | Guardian |
Rhodesian Ridgeback | Rhodesia | Hound |
Rottweiler | Germany | Guardian |
Saluki | Iran | Hound |
Samoyed | Russia | Working |
Schipperke | Belgium | Companion |
Giant Schnauzer | Germany | Herding |
Miniature Schnauzer | Germany | Terrier |
Standard Schnauzer | Germany | Herding |
Scottish Terrier | Scotland | Terrier |
SharPei | China | Utility |
Shetland Sheepdog | Scotland | Herding |
Shiba Inu | Japan | Utility |
Shih Tzu | China | Companion |
Siberian Husky | Russia | Working |
Spanish Water Dog | Spain | Gundog |
Spinone Italiano | Italy | Gundog |
St.Bernard | Italy, Switzerland | Guardian |
Staffordshire Bull Terrier | England | Terrier |
Swedish Lapphund | Sweden | Utility |
Swedish Vallhund | Sweden | Herding |
Tosa | Japan | Guardian |
Weimaraner | Germany | Gundog |
Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Wales | Herding |
Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Wales | Herding |
West Highland White Terrier | Scotland | Terrier |
Whippet | England | Hound |
Yorkshire Terrier | England | Companion |