DOG GROUPS:
Over the years dogs have been breed for certain traits and in some cases
to perform specific tasks. As a result, there are a variety of breeds from the
tiny Pomeranian to the hard working Great Dane and many dogs in between. To
help make sense of the many dogs, breeds and traits, the AKC has placed them
into groups based on unique, but shared characteristics. These groups include
the toy dogs, herding dogs, working dogs, sporting dogs, non-sporting dogs,
hounds and terriers. The dogs that are not yet recognized by the AKC go into
the miscellaneous or rare breed category. If you already know that you would
like a tiny lap dog or a dog that could go hunting or on long hikes, then
searching by group will help you narrow down the breeds that are right for you.
TOY GROUP:
The Toy group is made up of small breed
dogs and many of them have been bred as miniature versions of larger breeds to
make them more portable. Ranging between under 6 pounds in the tiniest Chihuahua
and 20 pounds in the stockiest of Pugs, these diminutive dogs have made for
loving companions since they were first bred centuries ago. The size of dogs in
the toy group makes them both manageable and appealing but, don't let their
tiny stature fool you, though many Toys are tough as nails. Popular Toy Dog
breeds include Pugs, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, Poodle and Pekingese
among others.
SPORTING GROUG:
In the Sporting Group is made up of alert,
active and intelligent dog breeds. Sporting dogs have historically been used by
hunters to locate, flush or retrieve game from land or water and many are still
used as hunting companions today, although their gentle natures and high level
of trainability have also earned them the reputation of being among the best
family dogs. These same traits often lead to some of these animals being
recruited into service positions, either as helper dogs for the disabled or as
bomb and drug sniffers for law enforcement agencies. Sporting dogs need a place
to run and play and require serious exercise rain or shine. They do not do well
cooped up in small apartments or confined in tiny places and need opportunities
to socialize with dogs and people regularly. Loyal and eager to please they
love people and as a group tend to make wonderful family pets. The sporting
group comprises some of the most popular breeds, including pointers, setters,
retrievers and spaniels.
NON-SPORTING GROUP:
The Non-Sporting group isn't as well defined as some of the others. Many
of the dogs in this group have recognizable ancestors in the hound, terrier,
sporting and even working groups. Dogs in this group tend to be medium to small
and do not do well cooped up in small apartments or confined in tiny places,
they need opportunities to socialize with dogs and people regularly. Loyal and
eager to please they love people and as a group tend to make wonderful family
pets. Non-Sporting Group includes such well known breeds as the Bulldog, Poodle
and Boston Terrier. When choosing a dog in this group, it is important to do
research on the specific breed you are interested in as the group will not
reveal much information.
HOUND GROUP:
The first known hunting dogs, the
Hound group is made up of scent hounds and sight hounds. Scent hounds use their
keen nose to track down prey and often used in police work to track criminals
or missing people because of their amazing ability to track and decipher
scents. Sight hounds locate prey by sight and are known for their amazing speed.
Energetic, bold and stubborn, hounds are not easily distracted once on a trail.
For this reason, it is essential to teach a hound to come when called as soon
as possible. Some hounds share the distinct ability to produce a unique sound
known as baying. You'd best sample this sound before you decide to get a hound
of your own to be sure it's your cup of tea. Some of the most popular scent
hounds breeds are Basset Hound, Beagle and Bluetick Coonhound. Among the sight
hounds breeds we’ll find the Afgan Hound, Basenji, Pharoah Hound and Greyhound.
HERDING GROUP:
The herding group merely represents a
sub-section of the working group: namely, those dogs that were bred and
excelled at herding tasks. Unlike the livestock guardians that simply stand
sentry, herding involves the skill of controlling, grouping and directing packs
of other animals. Herding dogs actively round up cattle and sheep with frantic
running, eye contact and aggressive barking and also “nipping”, a strategy that
they used for herding larger animals. With high energy and intellect levels,
dogs in the herding group require a good amount of daily exercise and constant
stimulation. They are very intelligent and will take it upon themselves to
learn new tricks, some of which you may not enjoy. They excel not only in
herding but also in obedience, agility, tracking and flyball. Their
intelligence allows them to quickly acquire skills and to navigate obstacles
while their physical abilities allow them to fly through the various courses
with speed and ease. Herding dogs require a strong and dedicated owner who can
appreciate the amazing intelligence and athleticism. Among this breeds are
Australian Shepherds, Border Collies German Shepherds and Bouviers.
WORKING GROUP:
The Working Group Breeds is a diverse
group skilled in many different disciplines. Most working breeds are robust,
intelligent and headstrong, often unsuitable for novice owners. Made up of
guardians of livestock and property, police dogs, sled dogs and rescue dogs, these
workers come in all shapes and sizes and are highly adaptable in many ways
including temperatures. Most working dogs are large to extra-large breeds that
have been breed for their size, strength and adaptability. While this helps
them excel in their role as guarding, pulling and rescue dogs, it also means
that these breeds are not for everyone. Some of this “working Dogs” were
originally used to hunt lions and wild boars and can weigh in at over 100
pounds. By virtue of their size alone, these dogs must be properly trained.
Most common breeds include Huskies, Mastiff, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard and
Samoyed amongst others.
TERRIERS GROUP:
Tenacious and full of energy and
life, Terriers are highly intelligent. Bred to hunt small game like rodents
foxes and badgers, they do not back down easily from a fight and they do not
get along well with other dogs, cats, ferrets or other pets. Terriers require a
specific type of grooming called stripping. Stripping helps maintains their
unique looks and protect the unique qualities of their protective coats. Breeds
in the terrier group have become more and more popular as time goes on. This
has a lot to do with their distinctive looks (many terriers have unique facial structures
and unique wired coats and personality. They tend to retain their puppy-like
cuteness deep into life.
RARE DOGD GROUP (MISCELLANEOUS):
Many of these breeds have specific standards that are watched over by
rare breed organizations, rare breed groups and enthusiasts. While you might
not see these dogs on a regular basis, many of them are quite popular and have
a strong and devoted following. Here are also included mixed breeds. Mixed
breeds, random breeds, mongrels, mutts or curs, call them what you will, they
make up the majority of the worldwide dog population. Rare is the country where
dogs of mixed and usually unknown heritage do not outnumber their blue-blood,
purebred relations. Breeds in the Miscellaneous Class may compete and earn
titles in Companion Events and also select Performance Events. Miscellaneous
breeds are also eligible to compete in Junior Showmanship. They may also
compete at conformation shows, but here are limited to competition in the
Miscellaneous Class and are not eligible for championship points.
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