Dog Breeds

There are seven major groups that categorize breeds based off of characteristics, personality, and skills. These groups include Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding.


Sporting Group

Most of these breeds have waterproof coats. They excel in elements with water and woods.These dogs require a lot of activity, and are commonly used when hunting. Four basic types of sporting breeds include:

  • Retrievers
  • Spaniels
  • Setters
  • Pointers

Hound Group

Hounds are commonly known as hunting dogs. They have skills that focus on scent and stamina that make them ideal for hunters. Other general characteristics are hard to come by since this group is quite diverse. Hounds you may be familiar with are:

  • Beagles
  • Bassets
  • Greyhounds
  • Afghan

Working Group

This group is full of extremely intelligent, strong, and alert canines. They are used in the workforce for jobs such as guarding, sled pulling, and rescuing. They have an excellent attention span for training. Familiar breeds are:

  • Doberman Pinschers
  • Great Danes
  • Siberian Huskies

Terrier Group

Extremely stubborn and determined, Terriers are balls of energy. They were once bred to protect barns and hunt rats. They have wiry coats and there is only one large breed of Terrier called an:

  • Airedale Terrier

Toy Group

These breeds are small with large personalities. They have very protective instincts, and are known to be affectionate and sociable. They are great lap dogs and perfect for apartments. Some common breeds are:

  • Chihuahua
  • Maltese
  • Miniature Pinschers

Non-Sporting Group

This group is full of diverse breeds. They range in stature, coats, personalities, and other physical characteristics. This group features breeds that don’t seem to fit into any other category. Breeds such as:

  • Dalmatian
  • Poodle
  • Bulldog

Herding Group

Formally part of the working group, herding breeds work to protect and gather livestock.Many of these breeds are still used for this reason. Others can be seen working for the police force. For instance:

  • German Shepherds
  • Belgian Malinois

Dog Breed Directory