Thread by @AllRumNoChaser, Today, we’re learning about all 205 American Kennel Club recognized dog breeds. [...]

Today, we’re learning about all 205 American Kennel Club recognized dog breeds.

There’s countless dog breeds around the world, but only 205 are officially recognized by the AKC and eligible to show at AKC events such as the Westminster Dog Show.

These breeds are grouped into seven categories: Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Sporting, Herding, Working, and Terrier.

These groups can then be further broken down into subgroups based on what relates the breeds to each other. This can be their origin, temperament, coat texture, etc.

The Herding group is the newest of the AKC classifications as they were originally part of the Working group. All breeds within the group can be used to control the movement of some other animal (usually farm animals like cattle and sheep). To date there’s 31 breeds in the group.

Members of the Herding group include the:
- Border Collie
- Corgi
- German Shepherd
- Australian Shepherd
- Puli
- Swedish Vallhund

Fun fact about the Australian Shepherd, they aren’t Australian at all. They’re a Californian ranch dog that is often associated with rodeos.

Next up: Hounds

This is the largest group to date with 32 breeds. They can be broken down to the scent hounds and the sight hounds.

One subgroup of Hounds include the Afghan Hound, Saluki, Azawakh, and Sloughi. These are all breeds that would hunt in desert areas so they are used to doing alot of traveling and are pretty fast. They’re also all sight hounds and can work independently away from their owners.

Other Hounds include the:
- Beagle
- Basset Hound
- Coonhounds
- Dachshund
- Greyhound
- Foxhounds
- Pharaoh Hounds

Next up- Terriers:

There are 31 breeds in the Terrier group that are all known to have the distinctive “Terrier personality” of feisty and energetic with little tolerance for other animals. They were originally used to hunt vermin which may explain their disdain for other pets.

Terriers are pretty engaging so it’s vital that their owner match their energy. Some Terriers include the:

- American Staffordshire
- Border Terrier
- Bull Terrier
- Glen of Imaal
- Irish Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Rat Terrier
- Russell Terrier
- Welsh Terrier

Now we have Non-Sporting:

This group is the most diverse. In the beginning, there were only two categories of dogs: Sporting and Non-Sporting. Breeds that were used for hunting, herding, mushing or other working activities were placed in the Non-Sporting group. There are 20.

These Non-Sporting breeds all have very varied personalities, sizes, coats, and appearances. Some are fairly common while others are definitely not.

You may think that the Boston Terrier belongs in the Terrier group but it is actually a part of the Bulldog family. Similarly, the Tibetan Terrier is not a part of the Terrier group either. It was mistakenly referred to as a Terrier when it first came to the West from Asia.

Some other Non-Sporting breeds include the:

- Bichon Frise
- Chow Chow
- Bulldog
- Shar-Pei
- Dalmatian
- Schipperke
- Finnish Spitz
- American Eskimo
- Keeshond
- Poodle
- Shiba Inu
- Lhasa Apso
- Xoloitzcuintli (the dog from Coco)

Next we have the Sporting group:

These are all breeds that were used primarily to hunt both on land and in the water. They are extremely intuitive and naturally active breeds so owners need to ensure they get lots of regular exercise.

Sporting breeds are typically well rounded companions who aim to please their family. They can be broken down into four main subgroups: Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels.

Pointer dogs are typically used for, you guessed it, pointing. They would point out birds and other game by stopping and aiming their muzzle toward it. Some pointers include the:

- German Shorthaired Pointer
- German Wirehaired Pointer
- Spinone Italiano

Retrievers are used for retrieving game that was shot from a distance. Impressively, they would return the game without damage. This is due to their characteristically soft mouths. Some retrievers include the:

- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador Retriever

Setters are used to search for game, like Pointers, and would crouch or “set” when some was found. The hunter would then set a trap and the Setter would be tasked with scaring the game into the trap. Some Setters include the:

- English Setter
- Gordon Setter
- Irish Setter

Spaniels are used to flush out game from their hiding spots. Some Spaniels thrive in dense bush while others work well in water. Some Spaniels include the:

- American Water Spaniel
- Boykin Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel
- Field Spaniel
- Sussex Spaniel
- Welsh Springer Spaniel

Overall there are 31 Sporting breeds, some of which don’t quite fit into any one category. For example the Brittany and Vizsla are considered “versatile” Sporting breeds and can complete any of the aforementioned activities.

Now we have Working group breeds:

These 30 breeds have jobs such as pulling sleds, guarding property, or performing rescues. These dogs are highly intelligent, as well as huge in size and strength. This group holds the record for tallest breed (Great Dane) and heaviest (Mastiff)

This group holds one of my favorite dogs. The Tibetan Mastiff can be described as intimidating or imposing but they are actually sweet, calm, and devoted to their families. Tibetans believe that these dogs hold the souls of monks and nuns that couldn’t reincarnate into people.

Other Working class breeds include the:

- Akita
- Alaskan Malamute
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Boxer
- Doberman
- Great Dane
- Leonburger
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Rottweiler
- Samoyed
- Siberian Husky
- St. Bernard

Last but not least we have Toys:

Toy breeds are probably the most different to all other breeds in that they don’t have a specific “job”. They don’t particularly herd, hunt, or preform other tasks. Their main function is to provide joy and companionship. There are 21 breeds.

Every group can have small dogs, but not every small dog is a Toy. Some breeds may have descended from members of the other groups but are now situated in this category because of their lineage and function. They may be short in stature but they are not short on personality!

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