BEHAVIOUR
The Seven Types of Dogs and What You Should Know About Them
Do you know what breed group your dog belongs to? Canine expert Shivani explains the seven types of dogs & everything you should know about them.
Did you know that dogs were the first animal species to be domesticated by man? Throughout human history, we have been tweaking and tempering this magnificent species to serve our own purpose- in turn giving rise to a number of different breeds.
All dog breeds were developed to perform certain tasks such as hunting, herding livestock, guarding property or simply for companionship. Different types of dogs were selectively bred and their physical and personality traits were moulded to serve their purpose better. Some other breeds like the Indian Pariah Dog or the Australian Dingo had minimal human intervention in their evolution. Their characteristics were shaped by mother nature to help in their survival. All this means that there are vast differences between each dog breed, and no two dogs are alike.
Today, there are more than 450 recognised dog breeds in the world including indigenous, pedigree, cross-breeds, etc. However, for the sake of convenience, the American Kennel Club (AKC) categorises different types of dogs into seven broad dog breed groups based on their common characteristics. Let’s dive into each one of them individually to know more.
All dog breeds were developed to perform certain tasks such as hunting, herding livestock, guarding property or simply for companionship. Different types of dogs were selectively bred and their physical and personality traits were moulded to serve their purpose better. Some other breeds like the Indian Pariah Dog or the Australian Dingo had minimal human intervention in their evolution. Their characteristics were shaped by mother nature to help in their survival. All this means that there are vast differences between each dog breed, and no two dogs are alike.
Today, there are more than 450 recognised dog breeds in the world including indigenous, pedigree, cross-breeds, etc. However, for the sake of convenience, the American Kennel Club (AKC) categorises different types of dogs into seven broad dog breed groups based on their common characteristics. Let’s dive into each one of them individually to know more.
Types of Dogs
Sporting Group
The Sporting Group consists of dog breeds such as the Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, etc. These types of dogs were bred to be the hunter’s best friend and to assist their humans in finding and retrieving prey. Due to the nature of their job, characteristics such as high energy levels, intelligence, and eagerness to work with humans were finessed in these breeds. Today, these breeds make for excellent companion animals and most are well suited for first-time pet parents.
Read more about the Sporting group
Hound Group
While the Sporting dog breeds assisted man on hunting trips, dogs belonging to the Hound group were skilled hunters themselves. Powered by an excellent sense of sight or smell, these breeds would chase down and hunt prey animals, independent of any human guidance. Breeds such as the Beagles, Daschunds, Rajapalyam, Salukis, etc. that belong in this category are usually independent, confident, and have high stamina dogs. This makes them ideal for people with previous experience of dog parenting
Read more about the Hound group
Working Group
Blue collared workers of the canine community, dogs such as Boxers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Great Danes, Mastiffs, etc. were bred to perform specialised jobs such as guard or rescue dogs. Working dogs are known for their stamina and high energy levels and usually do better, when given an outlet for their drive to work. These large-sized breeds are well suited for larger houses with open spaces and will thrive under the care of experienced pet parents.
Read more about the Working Group
Herding Group
The shepherd’s dogs, as the dog breed names suggest, were bred to gather, herd, and protect livestock. Over time these breeds slowly transitioned away from their original jobs and got adopted as companion animals. Pet parents of herding dog breeds will tell you how they still possess some of their inherent herding instincts, making it ideal for them to be adopted into homes with large open spaces for them to run around and engage their instincts.
Some of the popular breeds belonging to this breed group include German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Border Collie, Welsh Corgi, and more.
Read about the Herding Group
Sporting Group
The Sporting Group consists of dog breeds such as the Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, etc. These types of dogs were bred to be the hunter’s best friend and to assist their humans in finding and retrieving prey. Due to the nature of their job, characteristics such as high energy levels, intelligence, and eagerness to work with humans were finessed in these breeds. Today, these breeds make for excellent companion animals and most are well suited for first-time pet parents.
Read more about the Sporting group
Hound Group
While the Sporting dog breeds assisted man on hunting trips, dogs belonging to the Hound group were skilled hunters themselves. Powered by an excellent sense of sight or smell, these breeds would chase down and hunt prey animals, independent of any human guidance. Breeds such as the Beagles, Daschunds, Rajapalyam, Salukis, etc. that belong in this category are usually independent, confident, and have high stamina dogs. This makes them ideal for people with previous experience of dog parenting
Read more about the Hound group
Working Group
Blue collared workers of the canine community, dogs such as Boxers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Great Danes, Mastiffs, etc. were bred to perform specialised jobs such as guard or rescue dogs. Working dogs are known for their stamina and high energy levels and usually do better, when given an outlet for their drive to work. These large-sized breeds are well suited for larger houses with open spaces and will thrive under the care of experienced pet parents.
Read more about the Working Group
Herding Group
The shepherd’s dogs, as the dog breed names suggest, were bred to gather, herd, and protect livestock. Over time these breeds slowly transitioned away from their original jobs and got adopted as companion animals. Pet parents of herding dog breeds will tell you how they still possess some of their inherent herding instincts, making it ideal for them to be adopted into homes with large open spaces for them to run around and engage their instincts.
Some of the popular breeds belonging to this breed group include German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Border Collie, Welsh Corgi, and more.
Read about the Herding Group
Terrier Group
Although most terriers were bred for hunting vermin like rats, some had other specialised jobs like guarding the house or barn. These breeds are known to be headstrong and stubborn, making it a challenge to help them adjust to apartments or small homes. Some amount of previous dog-owning experience is ideal for people looking to adopt a Terrier. Breeds such as the Pitbull, Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, and Jack Russell Terrier from this group make for confident and energetic pets.
Read more about the Terrier group
Toy Group
Toy breeds are a collection of small breeds & small-sized variations of dogs from other groups. While the toy breeds may be short on size, they are definitely not short on personality! Affectionate, sociable & adaptable to a range of lifestyles, they are perfect for first-time parents, especially those living in urban setups.
Popular breeds such as Pugs, Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, Maltese, etc. fall into this breed group.
Read more about the Toy group
Non-Sporting Group
All dog breeds belonging to this category were bred to perform very specific tasks that do not fit in either the Sporting or Working group. Dogs in this group come in various shapes, sizes, and personalities and it is difficult to find too many commonalities between them. Experts advise parents to consider each breed in this group on their own merits while deciding if they would be ideal for their homes.
Popular breeds that belong in the Non-sporting Group are Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, Dalmatians, etc.
Read more about the Non-sporting group
As you learn more and more about your own dog’s breed, you will find that every aspect of their being from their size, colour of the coat, shape of the head, webbings on feet or their personality traits were all moulded to serve their specialisation. Knowing where our dog comes from helps us understand them better, provide for their instincts and help them in areas where they need more acclimatisation. All dog breeds are different and thus it is important that our approach to parenting should be tailored to their needs and preferences.
Which breed group does your puppy/dog belong to? Does he/she display traits that are similar to others in its breed group? Check out more articles on our library to learn more about your dog and why they are the way they are. Happy Pet Parenting!
Which breed group does your puppy/dog belong to? Does he/she display traits that are similar to others in its breed group? Check out more articles on our library to learn more about your dog and why they are the way they are. Happy Pet Parenting!
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