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American Kennel
Club Dog Breed Categories And Groupings
The first step
in choosing a dog breed is educating yourself on what is available
for you. While full-bred dogs recognized by the American Kennel
Club (AKC) may not be the best choice for everyone, gaining
knowledge about dog breeds and categories can also help you choose
the right mix of breeds from a pet store or shelter. The AKC lists
seven different groups in which dog breeds are categorized as well
as a miscellaneous class for unrecognized breeds. While most groups
contain a great variety of dog breeds, there are some notable
similarities in temperament and background within each group. To
see a complete list of the AKC recognized breeds, their
classifications, and pictures, go to
www.akc.org.
The seven groups recognized by the
AKC are Sporting, Herding, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, and
Non-sporting. The dogs are classified based on the
characteristics common among the breeds when the group was first
developed. This means that, for example, some breeds that are
considered in the working group may not still do those same “jobs”
that initially labeled them as part of that group.
All dogs are different, as are all
dog breeds. However, some generalizations can be made based on a
breed’s grouping.
The Sporting group consists
mostly of retrievers, spaniels, and pointers. These dogs are active
and need a lot of space and exercise. Some people refer to these
dogs as “water dogs” because of their swimming and retrieving
capabilities, and their consistent appearance on ESPN diving into
creeks to recover decoys.
The newest group to be recognized
by the AKC is the Herding group, whose members used to be
classified as Sporting dogs. This group includes breeds like the
Collie and Sheepdog that are specifically bred to usher groups of
animals in a certain direction.
The third group, the Hound group,
has a large variety of breeds that tend to be very useful hunters
and trackers. However, as anyone who has ever owned a beagle knows,
their howling can be very distinct and even overbearing.
The breeds included in the
Working group are dogs like the large and domineering Saint
Bernard and Newfoundland. Most dogs in this group are heavy,
strong, and intelligent. However, because of their size and
temperament, these breeds need a lot of careful training, space, and
attention.
The Terrier group and the Toy
group often get confused among novices because they both include
a number of smaller breeds. The names can also be deceiving, as
breeds such as the Silky Terrier and the infamous Yorkshire Terrier
are actually members of the Toy Group. While the two groups seems to
share a lot of characteristics, they are actually quite different;
the Terrier group being more aggressive and antagonistic towards
other animals and even people, and the Toy group being much more
affectionate and playful.
The last group containing AKC
recognized breeds is the Non-sporting group, the most diverse
of the seven groups, including mostly medium-sized dogs with some
notable exceptions. These dogs are usually stout and strong but
vary greatly in temperament depending on the breed.
While a well-bred dog will exhibit
certain common tendencies among his breed or group, it is also
imperative to train any dog in order to ensure that both you and he
are comfortable with the relationship.
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