Directory of Breed of Dogs

The Ultimate Guide to Dog Breeds The Ultimate Guide to Dog Breeds

Purebred Breeders Of Dogs Directory. Featured breeder listings.

When I was a child, I had a beagle. I love beagles. When I married, and we both worked, I had miniature long haired dachshunds...they were amazing little fellas. And now, that I am home and my husband is home battling MS, we have 3 large dogs, 2 black labs and 1 golden retriever. The right breed at the right time in your life is the secret to happiness with your chosen four legged friend.

The Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World This atlas has proven to be the most sought-after book on the dog; unrivaled, the Atlas is the definitive authority on purebred dogs available to day. Now in its fifth edition, this is a most colorful opus on dogs, a riotous celebration of all dogs, familiar and obscure, from every country in the world.

A dog breed is a group of dogs that have very similar or nearly identical characteristics of appearance or behavior or, usually, both, primarily because they come from a select set of ancestors who had the same characteristics. Dogs have been selectively bred for specific characteristics for thousands of years. Initially the selections would have centered on domestication and useful behavior such as hunting ability. Later, dogs were also selected for attractive and distinctive forms, resulting in a vast variety of types.

People seem to have a fascination with Poodle mixed breeds. Poodles are very intelligent and do not shed. Many different Poodle mixes are emerging.

A Labradoodle is a crossbred dog created by crossing the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle. Their temperament makes them good service dogs.

The impetus behind experiments with this type of cross was the desire to achieve a service dog that would not shed and so produce a hypoallergenic dog that is suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. This has not yet been reliably achieved, as Labradoodles have varying coat lengths and textures, and crosses beyond the first generation do not yield a predictable coat type.

And its not just Poodle mixes, many different "designer" dogs (as the media has labeled them) are immerging.

Designer Dog? What s a designer dog you want to know? A "designer" dog, as they have been labelled, is a cross between two pure bred dogs.

Whether or not you choose a pure bred dog or a "designer" hybrid mix, do your homework and research, research, research. Remember, adopting a dog is a life long commitment and not something that should be taken lightly. Before you adopt a dog ask yourself exactly what it is you are looking for in your dog.

How many breeds of dogs are there?  Well, that depends on whom you ask. The American Kennel Club, which registers purebred dogs, officially recognizes 150 different breeds of dogs. As of the time of writing this article.  This can change.

Dog breeds can be divided into different categories, such as:

Hunting
Hounds, including Sight hounds and Scent hounds
Gundogs, including Pointers, Retrievers, and Spaniels
Terrier
Curs and Feists
Working (or Utility)
Pastoral dogs, including Livestock guardian dogs, Herding dogs, Sheepdogs, and Drovers
Sled dog
Bulldogs
Extinct dog breeds
Fighting dogs
Toy

Dog breeds can also be grouped into similar types such as mastiff types, spitz types, pit bulls, or Lurchers.

For interest sake, there is also a complete List of Ancient dog breeds.

Fourteen ancient breeds of dog have recently been identified through advances in DNA analysis. These breeds of domesticated dog show the fewest genetic differences from wolves. The breeds are geographically diverse, including dogs from Siberia, Japan, Alaska, China, Tibet, and Africa.

The identification of the fourteen "Ancient" dog breeds was established in the article "Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog" in the journal Science  Volume 304 (May 21, 2004).

The following are the dog breeds listed as ancient in the published study and their countries of origin:

Afghan Hound (Afghanistan)
Akita (Japan)
Alaskan Malamute (United States (Alaska))
Basenji (Congo)
Chow Chow (China)
Lhasa Apso (Tibet)
Pekingese (China)
Saluki (Egypt)
Samoyed (Siberia)
Shar Pei (China)
Shiba Inu (Japan)
Shih Tzu (China/Tibet)
Siberian Husky (Siberia)
Tibetian Terrier (Tibet)

Controversy:
There is some controversy over the results of the study, as some have noted that breeding between wolves and specific breeds in recent times may have led to inaccurate results. As a result of these breedings, the offspring would have gained genetic similarities with wolves and may mask the truth about the real differences between the breed and wolves before these interbreedings.

KC Recognized Breeds:

Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
American Eskimo Dog
American Foxhound
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Australian Terrier
Basenji
Basset Hound
Beagle
Bearded Collie
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bichon Frise
Black and Tan Coonhound
Black Russian Terrier
Bloodhound
Border Collie
Border Terrier
Borzoi
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Boxer
Briard
Brittany
Brussels Griffon
Bull Terrier
Bulldog
Bullmastiff
Cairn Terrier
Canaan Dog
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chihuahua
Chinese Crested
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Collie
Curly-Coated Retriever
Dachshund
Dalmatian
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Doberman Pinscher
English Cocker Spaniel
English Foxhound
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
Field Spaniel
Finnish Spitz
Flat-Coated Retriever
French Bulldog
German Pinscher
German Shepherd Dog
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Giant Schnauzer
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greyhound
Harrier
Havanese
Ibizan Hound
Irish Setter
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Wolfhound
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
Keeshond
Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor
Kuvasz
Labrador Retriever
Lakeland Terrier
Lhasa Apso
Löwchen
Maltese
Manchester Terrier
Mastiff
Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
Miniature Schnauzer
Neapolitan Mastiff

Newfoundland Norfolk Terrier
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwich Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Old English Sheepdog
Otterhound
Papillon
Parson Russell Terrier
Pekingese
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Pharaoh Hound
Pointer
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Pomeranian
Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Pug
Puli
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Saint Bernard
Saluki
Samoyed
Schipperke
Scottish Deerhound
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog
Shiba Inu
Shih Tzu
Siberian Husky
Silky Terrier
Skye Terrier
Smooth Fox Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Spinone Italiano
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Sussex Spaniel
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Toy Fox Terrier
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Whippet
Wire Fox Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Yorkshire Terrier

Miscellaneous Class Breeds

The Miscellaneous Class is intended as an interim stage.  Under current policy, dogs would become eligible for registration at the time that the breed is brought into the Miscellaneous Class. After a limited time in the Miscellaneous Class a date would be set, at which time the breed would become eligible to compete in a variety group at all-breed dog shows.

Beauceron
Plott
Redbone Coonhound
Swedish Vallhund
Tibetan Mastiff

Foundation Stock Service Breeds

The Foundation Stock Service (FSS); was created by the American Kennel Club to answer the needs of today's rare breed fanciers. The Foundation Stock Service is an optional record keeping service for all purebred breeds not currently registrable with the American Kennel Club.

American English Coonhound
Appenzeller Sennenhunde
Argentine Dogo
Azawakh
Belgian Laekenois
Bergamasco
Black and Tan Coonhound
Bluetick Coonhound
Bolognese
Boykin Spaniel
Bracco Italiano
Cane Corso
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Caucasian Mountain Dog
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
Cesky Terrier
Chinook
Coton de Tulear
Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
Dogue de Bordeaux
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Estrela Mountain Dog
Finnish Lapphund
German Spitz
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
Icelandic Sheepdog
Irish Red and White Setter
Kai Ken
Kooikerhondje
Lagotto Romagnolo
Lancashire Heeler
Leonberger
Mudi
Norwegian Buhund
Norwegian Lundehund
Perro de Presa Canario
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Portuguese Podengo
Pumi
Pyrenean Shepherd
Rafeiro do Alentejo
Rat Terrier
Sloughi
Spanish Water Dog
Stabyhoun
Thai Ridgeback
Tosa
Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Xoloitzcuintli