There are over 157 different types of dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club. The following article offers a list of dogs with pictures that will help you in identifying the next breed that you come across.
While there are approximately more than 400 types of dogs currently, not all are pure breeds. Some are mixes of 2 or more breeds, making them mix-breeds. Depending on the work that a dog was bred for, characteristics from two or more dogs were chosen and combined to form a new, specialized breed. Then this breed had to be selectively bred and developed for many generations before it would formally be recognized as a PURE breed. Confirming to this, many breeds have been developed since selective breeding started centuries ago. These breeds were then classified into categories depending on their work, and thus came into existence the 7 main categories into which these breeds were classified-
- Herding Group
- Hound Group
- Sporting Group
- Working Group
- Terrier Group
- Toy Group
- Non-sporting Group
Dogs which did not fit into any of these specific groups, or those which could not be classified, were placed into two other categories –
- Miscellaneous Class
- Foundation Stock Service Breeds
This article introduces these 7 groups to you, as well as a few of the FSS breeds.
Dog Breeds with Pictures
Herding Group
Earlier part of the working group, these herders were very recently appointed a group of their own. They are very intelligent breeds with an innate instinct for herding and protecting, making them excellent as guard dogs and cattle herders. Eager to learn and please, they are a delight to train, and are very loving companions. They make excellent pets and can also be used as therapy dogs, police dogs and guide dogs (prime example being the German Shepherd). These breeds are brimming with energy and require daily exercise, which is why they do not do very well in small spaces. But they are wonderful pets for committed and experienced owners.
Australian Cattle Dog
Height
Male – 18-20 in
Female – 17-19 in
Weight
44-62 lbs
Lifespan
10-16 years
Country of Origin
Australia
Australian Shepherd
Height
Male – 20-23 in
Female – 18-21 in
Weight
Male – 50-65 lbs
Female – 30-45 lbs
Lifespan
10-14 years
Country of Origin
United States
Bearded Collie
Height
Male – 21-22 in
Female – 20-22 in
Weight
40-60 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
Scotland
Beauceron
Height
Male – 26-28 in
Female – 25-26 in
Weight
Male – 70-100 lbs
Female – 66-85 lbs
Lifespan
10-14 years
Country of Origin
France
Belgian Malinois
Height
Male – 24-26 in
Female – 22-24 in
Weight
Male – 64-75 lbs
Female – 55-66 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
Belgium
Belgian Sheepdog
Height
Male – 23.6-26 in
Female – 22-24.4 in
Weight
Male – 55-66 lbs
Female – 44-55 lbs
Lifespan
10-14 years
Country of Origin
Belgium
Belgian Tervuren
Height
Male – 26-28 in
Female – 25-26 in
Weight
Male – 70-100 lbs
Female – 66-85 lbs
Lifespan
10-14 years
Country of Origin
France
Border Collie
Height
Male – 24-26 in
Female – 22-24 in
Weight
Male – 64-75 lbs
Female – 55-66 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
Belgium
Bouvier des Flandres
Height
Male – 23-28 in
Female – 22-27 in
Weight
Male – 80-120 lbs
Female – 60-80 lbs
Lifespan
10-14 years
Country of Origin
Belgium
Briard
Height
Male – 24-27 in
Female – 23-26 in
Weight
Male – 66-88 lbs
Female – 55-77 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
France
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Height
Male – 10-14 in
Female – 10-13 in
Weight
Male – 30-38 lbs
Female – 25-34 lbs
Lifespan
12-16 years
Country of Origin
Wales
Collie
Height
Male – 22-26 in
Female – 21-26 in
Weight
Male – 45-75 lbs
Female – 35-65 lbs
Lifespan
12-16 years
Country of Origin
Scotland
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Height
Male – 19-21 in
Female – 18-20 in
Weight
45-65 lbs
Lifespan
11-16 years
Country of Origin
Switzerland
Finnish Lapphund
Height
Male – 18-20 in
Female – 16-19 in
Weight
Male – 37-42 lbs
Female – 33 lbs
Lifespan
12-16 years
Country of Origin
Finland
German Shepherd Dog
Height
Male – 24-26 in
Female – 22-24 in
Weight
Male – 66-88 lbs
Female – 49-71 lbs
Lifespan
9-13 years
Country of Origin
Germany
Old English Sheepdog
Height
Male – 24-26 in
Female – 22-24 in
Weight
80-100 lbs
Lifespan
8-12 years
Country of Origin
England
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Height
Male – 10-12 in
Female – 10-11 in
Weight
Male – 25-30 lbs
Female – 23-28 lbs
Lifespan
12-15 years
Country of Origin
Wales
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Height
Male – 18-20 in
Female – 17-19 in
Weight
Male – 40-50 lbs
Female – 30-40 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
Poland
Puli
Height
Male – 17 in
Female – 16-16.5 in
Weight
Male – 25-28 lbs
Female – 23-25 lbs
Lifespan
12-16 years
Country of Origin
Hungary
Pyrenean Shepherd
Height
Male – 15.5-21 in
Female – 15.5-21.5 in
Weight
15-32 lbs
Lifespan
15-18 years
Country of Origin
France/Spain
Shetland Sheepdog
Height
Male – 13-16 in
Female – 12-16 in
Weight
16-20 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
Scotland
Swedish Vallhund
Height
Male – 12.5-13 in
Female – 12-12.5 in
Weight
19.8-30.8 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
Sweden
The other dogs included in this group are listed below:
- Canaan Dog
- Icelandic Sheepdog
- Norwegian Buhund
Hound Group
The hound group has been developed over hundreds of years to assist man in hunting for food and sport. Few of the members of this group have an extremely sharp and developed vision and are known as ‘sight hounds’ or ‘gaze hounds’. Others have a very acute sense of smell, and they can follow even the mildest of scents for miles. They are often called ‘scent hounds’. All hounds have incredible stamina, can tirelessly run for long distances and are some of the fastest dogs. Swift and agile, these beautiful dogs display a single-mindedness when it comes to hunting or running, and are gentle, considerate and wonderful companions to humans.
Afghan Hound
Height
Male – 24-29 in
Female – 24-29 in
Weight
Male – 45-60 lbs
Female – 45-60 lbs
Lifespan
11-13 years
Country of Origin
Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan
American English Coonhound
Height
Male – 22-27 in
Female – 21-25 in
Weight
Male – 40.1-65 lbs
Female – 40.1-65 lbs
Lifespan
11-12 years
Country of Origin
United States
American Foxhound
Height
Male – 22-25 in
Female – 21-24 in
Weight
Male – 63.9-75 lbs
Female – 44.1-63.9 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
United States
Basenji
Height
Male – 16-17 in
Female – 15-16 in
Weight
Male – 22-26.5 lbs
Female – 19.8-24.3 lbs
Lifespan
12-16 years
Country of Origin
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Basset Hound
Height
Male – 12-15 in
Female – 11-14 in
Weight
Male – 55-75 lbs
Female – 45-65 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
Great Britain, France
Beagle
Height
Male – 14-16 in
Female – 13-15 in
Weight
Male – 22-25 lbs
Female – 20-23 lbs
Lifespan
12-15 years
Country of Origin
Great Britain
Bloodhound
Height
Male – 25-27 in
Female – 23-25 in
Weight
Male – 89.9-110 lbs
Female – 80-100.1 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
Belgium, England, France, Scotland
Borzoi
Height
Male – 30 in
Female – 26 in
Weight
Male – 75-103.6 lbs
Female – 55.1-88.2 lbs
Lifespan
7-10 years
Country of Origin
Belarus, Russia
Dachshund
Height
Male – 8-9 in
Female – 7-9 in
Weight
16-32 lbs
Lifespan
14-17 years
Country of Origin
Germany
English Foxhound
Height
Male – 22-25 in
Female – 21-24 in
Weight
Male – 60-75 lbs
Female – 54.9-70.1 lbs
Lifespan
10-13 years
Country of Origin
Great Britain
Greyhound
Height
Male – 28-30 in
Female – 27-28 in
Weight
Male – 60-88 lbs
Female – 60-75 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
England
Ibizan Hound
Height
Male – 26-28 in
Female – 24-26 in
Weight
Male – 45-65 lbs
Female – 45-65 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
Spain
Irish Wolfhound
Height
Male – 30-35 in
Female – 30-34 in
Weight
Male – 90-150 lbs
Female – 90-140 lbs
Lifespan
6-10 years
Country of Origin
Ireland
Norwegian Elkhound
Height
Male – 19-21 in
Female – 18-20 in
Weight
50-60 lbs
Lifespan
12-15 years
Country of Origin
Norway
Basset Griffon Vendéen
Height
Male – 13-15 in
Female – 132-14 in
Weight
24-42 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
France
Pharaoh Hound
Height
Male – 22-25 in
Female – 21-24 in
Weight
Male – 39.7-59.5 lbs
Female – 39.7-59.5 lbs
Lifespan
11-14 years
Country of Origin
Malta
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Height
Male – 25-27 in
Female – 24-26 in
Weight
Male – 79.4-90.4 lbs
Female – 63.9-75 lbs
Lifespan
10-12 years
Country of Origin
Rhodesia
Saluki
Height
Male – 23-28 in
Female – 22-26 in
Weight
40-60 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
Egypt
Scottish Deerhound
Height
Male – 30-32 in
Female – 28-30 in
Weight
Male – 85-110 lbs
Female – 75-95 lbs
Lifespan
8-10 years
Country of Origin
Scotland
Whippet
Height
Male – 19-22 in
Female – 18-21 in
Weight
15-30 lbs
Lifespan
12-14 years
Country of Origin
England
The other dogs included in this group are listed below:
- Black and Tan Coonhound
- Bluetick Coonhound
- Harrier
- Otterhound
- Plott
- Redbone Coonhound
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
Sporting Group
Sporting dogs make excellent companions for people who have active lifestyles. The breeds in this group are full of energy and enthusiasm and need a considerable amount of exercise on a daily basis. All the pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels are included in this group. Alert, lovable and brimming with energy, these breeds make wonderful companions for life.
American Water Spaniel
Height
Male – 15-18 in
Female – 15-18 in
W
