Do You Know Your Dog’s Breed

I bet you do, and probably half a dozen other breeds or more. But beyond that, unless you are a die-hard dog aficionado or a dog breeder, knowing the more other than a hundred dogbreeds and their sub-breeds will be quite a challenge.

Not only are there so many, the number also varies greatly depending on what side of the Atlantic you are in.

In Europe, the World Canine Organization, best known as FCI for Federation Cynologique Internationale, the largest registry of dog breeds known internationally, has 339 breeds divided into 10 groups based on purpose or function, appearance or size. These are:

1.  Sheepdogsand Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs);

2.  Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molossoid Breeds – Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs;

     and Other B (Escreeds),

3.  Terriers;

4.  Dachshunds;

5.  Spitzand Primitive Types;

6.  Scenthoundsand Related Breeds;

7.  Pointersand Setters;

8.  Retrievers– Fishing Dogs – Water Dogs;

9.  Companionand Toy Dogs

10.  Sighthounds.

Each group has different sections for different subgroups, arranged in alphabetical order, with each breed given a specific number for easy identification. This is to avoid mistakes in breed names which may be called differently in different countries.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has the authority of officially recognizing dog breeds. It is not a member of the FCI, hence it has its own breed groups. As of Dec. 5, 2012, the AKC has 177 recognized breeds divided into seven groups. These are:

1.  Sporting Group: 28 breeds developed as bird dogs. This includes the Pointers, Retrievers,

     Setters and Spaniels;

2.  Hound Group: 26breeds developed to hunt using sight or scent;

3.  Working Group: 28 breeds developed for a variety of jobs including guarding property and 

     livestock  and pulling carts;

4.  Terrier Group: 28 breeds developed to hunt vermin, dig them out from their burrow or lairs;

5.  Toy Group: 21 breeds, purely companion dogs;

6.  Herding Group: 25 breeds to herd livestock;

7.  Non-sporting Group: 15 breeds which do not fit any of the above groups.

A new breed wanting to be registered in the AKC goes through two rigorous steps prior to recognition. These are:

1.   FSS Program (Foundation Stock Service): currently holding 60 breeds in the waiting list, this

provides the foundation with stock of dogs from which a new breed might result.

Dogs in the FSS program cannot participate in any AKC events unless 150 individual dogs of the same breed are registered. Once this is satisfied, the breed can compete in various events on a provisional basis.

2.  Miscellaneous Class: currently has 15 breeds from the FSS program but have not yet been fully recognized as new breeds.

Recognition shall come after verification that good breeding practices are in place and there is sufficiency in breeds gene pools.

Recognition of a new breed of dog can take a very long process. The AKC shall spare no stone unturned to make sure that what goes into its list is really a new breed, not a sub-breed of an existing one. To better your chance of approval, it is best to talk to a recognized and accredited breeder.