Common Dog Breeds

Non-Sporting Group

- catch-all group, difficult to categorize - ex: bichon frise, shar-pei, chow chow, dalmation

Terrier Group

- feisty, independent, stubborn - devoted, cheerful - bred to eliminate vermin - divided into long-legged, short-legged, and at a time fighting dogs - great at digging, fear nothing - may have barking problem - ex: airedale, bull terrier, cairn terrier, fox terrier

Working Group

- great intelligence and devotion to owner - watchdogs, pull/cart/pack, guard livestock, rescue - lower activity level - ex: akita, bernese mountain dog, great dane, samoyed

Sporting Group

- high energy/stamina - great noses - desire to retrieve, point and flush out - divided into setters, spaniels, retrievers and pointers - very active, may lead to destructive tendencies - ex: lab, irish setter, cocker spaniel

Hound Group

- independent nature, requires good fencing - divided into sight and scent/trail hounds - sight hounds run full bore at top speed - trail hounds diligent and patient and have a superior sense of smell - some bred to hunt in packs - ex: dachshund, greyhound, beagle, basset hound

Toy Group

- many are miniatures of larger breeds - divided into sight hounds, mollaser types, spaniels, spitzen, terriers, and pinschers - may have housebreaking problems - not recommended for rowdy children - good for small spaces - ex: chihuahua, italian greyhound, pomeranian, pug

Misc/Rare Breeds

- not well known outside own area - only fully recognized when well established with sufficient numbers - no cross breeds - ex: border collie, swiss mountain dog, neopolitan mastiff

Herding Group

- very intelligent, good natural watchdogs, well-rounded - divided into herders which tend to flock, and drovers which drive them to market - developed to work with a variety of livestock - form strong attachments to families - very popular companion dogs - ex: australian shepherd, rough collie, german shepherd

Doberman Pinscher

A medium-sized to large dog of a breed originating in Germany, having short hair and a smooth, usually dark brown or black coat.

Pomeranian

Downsized from full size breed, from England, Michaelangelo's dog, survived sinking of Titanic, toy breed, double coat, triangle foxy ear, heavily feathered, high set tail lies flat on back, bark excessively

Labrador Retriever

From Newfoundland, Canada, short coat, otter tail, black, yellow and chocolate, hunting dogs and guidedogs for the blind

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Herding Group Red, Sabe, Fawn, White with or without black and tan markings Low Set, Strong, sturdy build, most agreeable small house dogs.

Maltese

Toy Group White Long White Silky Coat, Similar to Shih Tzu, small dog, very common small companion pet, playful, fearless, lively, great family dog, full of energy, very playful, daily brushing, forming often, gentle managed of all dogs

Rottweiler

Working Group Black with brown spots/stripes Robust, powerful, Willing to work hard, Police or Service dog.

Saint Bernard

a Swiss alpine breed of large powerful thick-coated dog used as a rescue dog

Boxer

a breed of stocky medium-sized short-haired dog with a brindled coat and square-jawed muzzle developed in Germany

Dachshund

a long bodied, short legged dog

Golden Retriever

a medium sized breed of dog, historically developed as a gundog to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game during hunting. As such they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve gameundamaged and an instinctive love of water.

Collie

a silky-coated sheepdog with a long ruff and long narrow head developed in Scotland

Cocker Spaniel

a small breed with a wavy silky hair originally developed in England

Beagle

a small short-legged smooth-coated breed of hound

Bulldog

a sturdy thickset short-haired breed with a large head and strong undershot lower jaw

Greyhound

a tall slender dog of an ancient breed noted for swiftness and keen sight

English Setter

an English breed having a plumed tail and a soft silky coat that is chiefly white

Poodle

an intelligent dog with a heavy curly solid-colored coat that is usually clipped

German Shepherd

breed of large shepherd dogs used in police work and as a guide for the blind

Siberian Husky

breed of sled dog developed in northeastern Siberia

Border Collie

developed in the area between Scotland and England usually having a black coat with white on the head and tip of tail used for herding both sheep and cattle

German Shorthaired Pointer

large, bird retriever, various colors with spots and ticking, from Germany, have webbed feet

Chihuahua

old breed of tiny short-coated dog with protruding eyes from Mexico held to antedate Aztec civilization

Pug

small compact smooth-coated breed of Asiatic origin having a tightly curled tail and broad flat wrinkled muzzle

Basset Hound

smooth-haired breed of hound with short legs and long ears

Great Dane

very large powerful smooth-coated breed of dog

Yorkshire Terrier

very small breed having a long glossy coat of bluish-gray and tan