Dog Breeds: information, characteristics and behavior

Dog Breeds: information, characteristics and behavor

Dog Breeds

The origins of the domestic dog are quite unclear. However, animal breeding for the purpose of usefulness has been happening since prehistoric times. Many dog breeds have been developed during thousands of years of domestication.

The origins of dog breeds

This process of domesticating and breeding has made dogs develop into distinct types or groups.  Today, we have small dog, medium dogs and big dogs. Man has bred dogs through artificial selection for millennia.  This has resulted in distinct dog shapes, behaviors, and sizes.

Today, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), otherwise known as the World Canine Organization recognizes 340 different dog breeds.  But even the standards for dog breed recognition vary among countries. The American Kennel Club for instance, only recognizes only 167 breeds.

The following is a list of the most common dog breeds along with some other rare ones.  We will try to give you an idea of what their characteristics are, their behavior, and other important data.

List of dog breeds

Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
African wild dog
Airedale Terrier

Akita
Alaskan Malamute
Alpine Dachsbracke
American English Coonhound

American Foxhound
American Pit Bull Terrier
America Statffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Anatolian Shepherd
Appenzeller Sennenhunde
Artois Hound
Australian Shepherd
Australian Silky Terrier

Barbet Dog
Basenji Dog
Basset Hound

Beagle
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Berger Picard

Bernese Mountain Dog
Bichon Bolognese
Black and Tan Coohound
Black Russian Terrier

Bloodhound
Bluetick Connhound

Border Collie
Border Terrier
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Flanders

Boxer
Boykin Spaniel
Briard Dog
Brittany Dog

Bullmastiff
Bulldog

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Cesky terrier
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chihuahua
Chinese Crested dog
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chinook dog

Chow Chow
Clumber Spaniel

Cocker Spaniel
Cockapoo Dog

Collie
Curly Coated Retriever

Dalmatian
Dachshun dog
Doberman Pinscher
Dogue de Bordeaux

English Setter
English Foxhound

French Bulldog

Golden Retriever
Great Dane

Havanese

Icelandic Sheepdog
Irish Setter

Italian Greyhound

Jack Russell Terrier

Karelian Bear Dog

Labradoodle
Labrador Retriever

Maltese
Mastiff

Neapolitan Mastiff
The Newfoundland dog

Old English Sheepdog

Papillon Dog
Peekapoo

Pekingese
Pinscher
Pointer
Poodle
Pug

Rottweiler

Saint Bernard
Siberian Husky

Tibetan Mastiff
Tiny Brussels Griffon

Weimaraner
West Highland White Terrier
Wolf dog

Some word of advice

Many processes of artificial selection to produce breeds have sometimes resulted in certain inheritable characteristics that develop into a disease or disability.  Some dog breeds, even when they seem to be acceptable, actually have short life spans due to this.

Breeders are people who breed dogs. These are usually experts that are able to study the genetic lineage of the dogs to be crossed. They have the time and expertise to deal with a whelping mother and with the pups. Every dog they cross has been properly documented through a pedigree. Therefore, Dogalize does not advise the common public to breed their dogs.

There are several reasons for this. One is that you can end up with a pack of puppies that are very prone to dying.  Besides this, proper care should be given to the delivering mother as well, which is very time-consuming. It is best to adopt a nice dog and give him the proper care and love he deserves.

Do you want to adopt a puppy or an adult dog?

If you are planning on adopting a puppy or an adult dog: