The Different Breeds Of Dogs
by: Wendy Yeager
The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds.
There are seven different groups in which the dog can belong. They
are assigned to one of the groups based on what the breed of dog
was originally developed for. There is also a miscellaneous group
if the dog doesn’t fit into one of the seven. The seven
different dog groups are as follows. The first is the sporting
group. These dogs were developed to work with people who hunted
birds. A Labrador Retriever would fit into this group. Labs can
also be beneficial as guide dogs and in search and rescue. The
second group is the hound group. These dogs were developed to hunt
using their scent and sight. This group includes the Whippet,
which is the fastest domestic animal of their size. They can run
up to 35 mph. Thirdly, is the working group, which includes the
Saint Bernard. They have been known for hundreds of years for
their rescue work in the Alps. Other dogs in this group are useful
for herding or guarding. The fourth group is the terrier group,
first developed to hunt vermin. The Australian Terrier, one of the
smallest terriers, is a part of this group. They were developed to
work side by side with the Australian pioneers to aid in tending
the sheep or chasing off invaders. The fifth group is the toy
group, developed to be companions. A Japanese Chin is a good
example. They like to play, show off, and spend lots of time
trying to keep clean and tidy. The sixth group is the non-sporting
group, which overall do not perform the tasks that they were
originally developed for. A good example would be the American
Eskimo Dog. These dogs were sometimes used in circus acts at the
beginning of the century. The seventh group is the herding group,
which was meant to be used in working with livestock. The German
Shepherd is in this group. They are not only useful in herding
livestock, they are also great companions to humans.
Originally, many dog breeds were first developed for specific
uses, such as hunting, companionship, herding, etc. Today, because
man has created such a large variety of dog breeds, there is a dog
out there to make almost anybody happy. Currently, the most
popular dog breed in America is the Labrador Retriever, with the
Golden Retriever coming in second.
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