The types of dog breeds can be classified in many ways depending on what they were bred for. The ancient dog breeds were intended to pull a sled or herd cattle. This was the main purpose of working dog breeds. Some of the breeds that fit into this category include the Australian Cattle Dog, the White Shoe Sled Dog, Old English Sheepdog, the Yorkshire Terrier, and the White Fox Terrier. The herding group was recognized as a separate category of the working group for 1983. Herd dogs are basically assistance of humans in the task of sheepherding, cattle raising, or reindeer (mallard).
The sporting group comprises of dog breeds that were created specifically to excel in dog competitions, such as the Olympic Games. The breeds that fit into this category include the Alaskan Malamute, British Bulldog, Castor Bear, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Labrador Retriever, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Papillon, Poodler, Scottish Fold, Silky Terrier, Toy Fox, Yorkshire Terrier, and Yorkshire terriers. These dog breeds were bred to compete in dog shows or just for fun. However, some of these breeds are now considered serious competitors.
The hunting type of dog breeds were originally created to assist the sport of hunting by finding, capturing, and killing game. These dog breeds are like pack animals that follow their leader. They usually hunt alone but when in groups of three or more they become aggressive. Some examples of this type of dog breeds include Affenpinschers, Anatolians, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, British Cocker Spaniel, Cardinals, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Hungarian Kennel, Impaler, Maltese, Neapolitan Mastiff, Norwegian Forest Cats, Poodles, Pointers, and Yorkshire Terriers.
The service animals category are breeds that are used by human companions to assist them with their daily activities, such as deaf, blind, handicapped, or physically impaired. Examples of this type of dog breeds include Irish Wolfhounds, Border Terrier, Beagle, Cairn Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, and Pug. Other breeds of service animals are the Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, and Swiss Mountain Dog. Other dogs that fall into this category include assistance dogs, guide dogs, and hearing-impaired dogs.
The non-sporting dog breeds on the other hand are used for activities that require athletic ability or endurance, such as dog racing, show dogs, and war dogs. The word “groom” originates from a game called fox hunting, which involves catching the fox and bringing it back to the groomer so that he can kill it. Most European groomers use English Foxhound, British Greyhound, and Irish Wolfhound as examples. The Greyhound was used extensively during the Second World War as a sport, though the British Greyhound is now considered a breed in less popularity. German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are also popular sport dogs.
The most common type of dog breeds is the Sporting Terrier. This type of dog breed is commonly bred for competition, and its development requires a great deal of time, energy, and commitment from the breeder. The American Kennel Club classifies these types of terriers as Sporting/Performance, Toy, and Performance. The most common sporting terrier dogs include the Great Dane, the British Shortened Thoroughbred, the Affenpinscher, the American Bandog, the Birman breed, and the Boston Terrier. The most common physical characteristics of these types of dog breeds are long, high, muscular dogs that usually weigh eighty pounds or more.
A Toy dog is the type of dog breed that is primarily bred to provide companionship and emotional support to children who have special needs. In contrast to the emotional support required by the Sporting category of dog breeds, Toy dogs are bred to perform tasks requiring little mental stimulation and to entertain their owners. Examples of toy breeds include the Beagle, the Toy Chihuahua, and the Toy Pug. The American Kennel Club classifies Toy dogs as Puppies, Young Dogs, Small Dogs, and Medium Dogs. The most common physical characteristics of Toy dogs include high, broad chests, floppy ears, big eyes, and gentle personalities.
Many people choose the English Toy because they are known to be very affectionate toward children. These dogs like to snuggle up with their families and make great companions. Some dogs like the Japanese Chin and the Affenpinscher, which were imported from Germany during the 1800’s are also considered as English toy.