Dog Breeds A-Z

Dog Breeds A-Z, including over 100 of the most popular dog breeds

The domestic dog, canis familiaris, is the most diverse species in the world. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, colors, coat types and personality types.

Think about it - the giant Great Dane and the tiny Chihuahua, the hairless Chinese Crested and the elaborately coated Old English Sheepdog, the affectionate Maltese and the formidable Rottweiler - all share a common ancestor, the wolf.

All of these diverse breeds have been created by man blending the basic DNA provided by the wolf, reducing or exaggerating certain behavioral and physical characteristics.

And this has been going on much longer than you might expect. In fact, distinct types, or breeds, of dogs have existed since pre-historic times.

Today, kennel clubs, around the world recognize hundreds of different dog breeds, and in this section of the sight we explore the origins, temperaments, grooming and exercise requires (and more) of over 100 of the most popular breeds.

Simply click on our Dog Breeds A-Z links below to read more about the breeds you're interested in.


Afghan Hound	Airedale Terrier	Akita	Alaskan Malamute


American Cocker Spaniel	American Staffordshire Terrier	Australian Cattle Dog	Australian Shepherd


Basenji	Basset Hound	Beagle	Belgian Malinois


Bernese Mountain Dog	Bichon Frise	Black and Tan Coon Hound	Bloodhound


Border Collie	Border Terrier	Borzoi	Boston Terrier


Bouvier des Flandres	Boxer	Brittany	Brussels Griffon


Bulldog	Bullmastiff	Bull Terrier	Cairn Terrier


Cane Corso	Cardigan Welsh Corgi	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Chesapeake Bay Retriever


Chihuahua	Chinese Crested	Chow Chow	Collie


Dachshund	Dalmatian	Doberman Pinscher	Dogue de Bordeaux


English Cocker Spaniel	English Setter	English Springer Spaniel	French Bulldog


German Shepherd	German Shorthaired Pointer	German Wirehaired Pointer	Giant Schnauzer


Golden Retriever	Gordon Setter	Great Dane	Greater Swiss Mountain Dog


Great Pyrenees	Havanese	Irish Setter	Irish Wolfhound


Italian Greyhound	Japanese Chin	Keeshond	Labrador Retriever


Leonberger	Lhasa Apso	Maltese	Mastiff


Miniature Pinscher	Miniature Schnauzer	Newfoundland	Norwich Terrier


Old English Sheepdog	Papillon	Parson Russell Terrier	Pekingese


Pembroke Welsh Corgi	Pomeranian	Poodle	Portuguese Water Dog


Pug	Rhodesian Ridgeback	Rottweiler	Samoyed


Scottish Terrier	Shar Pei	Shetland Sheepdog	Shiba Inu


Shih Tzu	Siberian Husky	Silky Terrier	Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier


Staffordshire Bull Terrier	Saint Bernard	Standard Schnauzer	Tibetan Terrier


Toy Fox Terrier	Vizsla	West Highland White Terrier	Whippet


Weimaraner	Wire Fox Terrier	Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	Yorkshire Terrier

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Shih Tzu: A small, compact dog with a trademark long, flowing, double coat, the Shih Tzu is a sweet and playful dog, which is nonetheless not afraid to stand up for itself.
Airedale Terrier: The Airedale Terrier is the regular "go-to" guy of the canine world, a tribute to their versatility.
Afghan Hound: Elegant, dignified, and with an appearance of aloofness, the Afghan Hound is a true aristocrat of the canine world.
Alaskan Malamute: The Alaskan Malamute is an all action dog, particularly adept at pulling heavy loads over long distances.
Akita: The impressive Akita Inu is considered a national monument in Japan, where they were originally bred for hunting bears and other large game.
American Cocker Spaniel: The American Cocker Spaniel is a sturdy, compact dog with a merry disposition, and a silky, flat or wavy coat.
American Staffordshire Terrier: The American Staffordshire Terrier is an athletic, strong and intelligent dog who excels at many canine sports, including obedience, agility, and tracking.
Australian Cattle Dog: The cowboy of the dog world, the Australian Cattle Dog, is an exceptional cattle herder with agility, speed, and courage second to none.
Australian Shepherd: The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, hard-working, agile, and adaptable dog who just loves to work.
Basenji: Famous as the "bark-less dog" of Central Africa, the Basenji is an agile, poised hunting dog, lightly built, but with a muscular frame.
Basset Hound: Despite his heavy body, short legs, long ears, and sorrowful hound dog expression, the Basset Hound is an exceptional tracker with an incredible sense of smell.
Beagle: The Beagle is a happy-go-lucky, friendly hound, with a merry personality, making them one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.
Belgian Malinois: The Belgian Malinois is an alert, highly energetic dog, which excels in a number of roles, including as both a police and military working dog.
Bernese Mountain Dog: The Bernese Mountain Dog is a hardy breed that thrives in cold weather and has the strength and agility to excel as a general, all-purpose working dog.
Bichon Frise: The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy dog with a cheerful, and happy disposition. Their curled white outer coat, and plumed tail, give them the resemblance of a cotton ball.
Black and Tan Coonhound: The Black and Tan Coonhound has a very descriptive name describing both its appearance and purpose - a coat with black with tan markings, bred for tracking and treeing raccoons.
Bloodhound: Bloodhounds are exceptional trackers and have been the preferred tracking dogs for law enforcement officers in the US over a century.
Border Collie: The Border Collie is an exceptional sheepdog, with high intelligence, extraordinary instincts, agility and a mammoth capacity for work.
Border Terrier: The Border Terrier: Tough and Tender The Border Terrier is one of the oldest, as well as one of the hardiest, of all terrier breeds. A medium sized dog with a wiry coat that can be red, grizzle and tan, [...]
Borzoi: A graceful, aristocratic hound, the Borzoi was bred by the Russian aristocracy to hunt wolves, foxes, hares and other game.
Boston Terrier: One of the few truly American breeds, the Boston Terrier is a lively, intelligent dog with an excellent temperament.
Bouvier des Flandres: The Bouvier des Flandres is a rugged, agile and even-tempered farm dog with a range of coat colors including fawn, gray, brindle and black.
Boxer: Boxers are muscular, powerful dogs who love people and particularly good with children.
Brittany: Brittanys are medium-sized dogs, who are strong, quick and agile with a hunting style more similar to a Pointer than a Spaniel.
Brussels Griffon: The Brussels Griffon is an intelligent and cheerful dog with a terrier-like temperament an a range of facial expressions that are almost human.
Bull Terrier: The Bull Terrier is a compact and muscular medium-sized dog of immense strength. Despite their power however, Bullies are playful and friendly dogs with a definite comedic streak.
Bulldog: Known for its shuffling gait, massive, short-faced head and adorable wrinkled face, the Bulldogs is a gentle, affectionate dog with a genuine love of human company.
Bullmastiff: The Bullmastiff is a large, powerful, and fearless dog, who is also exceptionally sweet-natured and gentle with his immediate family.
Cairn Terrier: The Cairn Terrier is a rugged, alert, hardy terrier originally from the Highlands of Scotland.
Cane Corso: The Cane Corso is a large, powerful breed, native to Italy, and one of two mastiff breeds that descend from the Roman canis Pugnaces.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi: Despite his small size, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is an energetic, brave and capable herder, nipping at the heels of cattle to drive them in a desired direction.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an attractive, sweet and gentle companion dog which retains the energy and agility of its Spaniel forebears.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever: The state dog of Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a tough, powerfully built water retriever.
Chihuahua: The Chihuahua is a charming, intelligent, little dog with lots of energy and plenty of attitude.
Chinese Crested: The Chinese Crested is a fine-boned and elegant little toy dog that comes in two varieties - the Hairless, and the Powderpuff.
Shar Pei: The Shar Pei: The Dog in the Wrinkled Suit With their unique head shape and wrinkled skin, the Chinese Shar Pei is one of the most instantly recognizable dog breeds. This ancient breed was originally an all-purpose farm dog that [...]
Chow Chow: The Chow Chow is a powerfully built, medium-sized dog that originated in ancient China.
Collie: The Collie: Movie Star Dog It’s hard to think of the Collie without mentioning the most famous Collie of all, Lassie. Like the famous movie star, these elegant and graceful dogs are loyal, affectionate, and genuinely enjoy human company. Stand-out [...]
Dachshund: A distinctive breed, known for its long and low body shape, the Dachshund is a lovable, and playful companion dog.
Dalmatian: The Dalmatian is a standout amongst dog breeds, the only breed with a naturally spotted coat.
Doberman Pinscher: The Doberman Pinscher is a muscular medium-sized dog with great speed, strength and endurance.
Dogue de Bordeaux: Powerful, and muscular, the Dogue de Bordeaux is a mastiff-type dog with a stocky body and a massive head.
English Cocker Spaniel: The English Cocker Spaniel is an energetic sporting dog with a compact build, and a cheery personality that has earned the breed the nickname, "Merry Cocker".
English Setter: The English Setter is a graceful, elegant gundog with a beautiful feathered coat that has unique "belton" markings.
English Springer Spaniel: The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, with hanging ears and a cheerful, affectionate nature.
French Bulldog: The French Bulldog is a small and muscular dog with a short face and distinctive "bat" ears. Frenchies are renowned for their affectionate nature and comedic personalities
German Shepherd: One of the world's most popular breeds, the German Shepherd is a strikingly attractive dog with a wolf-like appearance.
German Shorthaired Pointer: One of the athletes of the canine world, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile all-purpose hunting dog, with high intelligence and keen scenting power.
German Wirehaired Pointer: The German Wirehaired Pointer is a versatile, multi-purpose hunting dog, with all of the typical Pointer personality traits.
Giant Schnauzer: The Giant Schnauzer is an active and spirited dog with a reliable temperament, rugged build, and dense weather-resistant coat, making them one of the most enduring working breeds.
Golden Retriever: One of the world's most popular breeds, the Golden Retriever is an intelligent, affectionate dog, with a genuine desire to please.
Gordon Setter: Originating in Scotland, the Gordon Setter is easily recognizable by its black and tan coat, and muscular build.
Great Dane: The Great Dane is a majestic animal, large and extremely powerful, yet with a friendly and placid temperament that has earned them the nickname "Gentle Giant".
Great Pyrenees: Regal and majestic in his magnificent white coat, the Great Pyrenees is an exceptionally hard working sheep dog who takes his work very seriously.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a large, robust and confident dog with immense strength, but also agile enough to work in rough, mountainous terrain.
Havanese: The only breed native to Cuba, the Havanese is a sturdy little dog with a light, silky coat and a friendly personality.
Irish Setter: With its mahogany red coat and noble bearing, the Irish Setter is one of the most distinctive of all sporting breeds.
Irish Wolfhound: With its large, muscular, greyhound-shaped body, the Irish Wolfhound is a superb athlete with great endurance.
Italian Greyhound: A greyhound in miniature, the Italian Greyhound stands barely over a foot tall, but has all the grace and poise of the larger greyhound breeds.
Japanese Chin: Despite its name, the Japanese Chin actually originated in China, and is probably related to the Pekingese.
Keeshond: The Keeshond is a sturdy medium-sized dog defined by its fox-like expression, stand-off coat and plumed tail curled over the back.
Labrador Retriever: The Labrador Retriever is a gentle, intelligent and versatile dog blessed with an even temperament and a genuine eagerness to please.
Leonberger: Known as the 'Gentle Lion', the giant Leonberger is a calm, gentle, friendly and protective dog.
Lhasa Apso: The Lhasa Apso is a small, hardy dog with a beautiful coat of hair that parts down the back from head to tail.
Maltese: The Maltese is a gentle-natured and affectionate little dog with a long, silky, white coat that covers the dog from head to toe.
Mastiff: A heavy boned and powerful dog, the Mastiff has impressive strength and size, but is also a docile, gentle giant.
Miniature Pinscher: Sometimes called the "King of the Toy Breeds", the Miniature Pinscher is a small, smooth-coated dog who is alert, energetic and fearless.
Miniature Schnauzer: The Miniature Schnauzer is a handsome, distinguished-looking dog characterized by its elaborate whiskers, unique profile and double coat.
Newfoundland: A large, gentle dog, the Newfoundland is renowned for its sweet, docile nature, exceptional swimming ability and natural life-saving instincts.
Norwich Terrier: One of the smallest working terrier breeds, the Norwich Terrier is a stocky little dog with erect ears, a slightly foxy expression and an adventurous and mischievous nature.
Old English Sheepdog: Easily recognizable by his beautiful, lush coat, the Old English Sheepdog is an intelligent and agile herder equally adept at driving sheep or cattle.
Papillon: The Papillon is a dainty little dog who is alert, lively and light on its feet. Their main distinguishing feature, however, is their beautiful, butterfly-like ears.
Parson Russell Terrier: The Parson Russell Terrier is a feisty little dog with strength, endurance, alertness, a game attitude, and bags of character.
Pekingese: Pekingese are good natured, affectionate and confident little dogs who are not afraid to stand their ground and also have a decidedly stubborn streak.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi: Low-set, strongly built and sturdy, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a fun-loving, affectionate and intelligent dog, with a genuine eagerness to please.
Pomeranian: The Pomeranian is an active, alert and intelligent toy dog with an extroverted personality and a mischievous, fox-like expression.
Poodle: One of the most intelligent of all breeds, the Poodle is exceptionally smart, and excels in obedience training, as well as in the show ring.
Portuguese Water Dog: Known as the Cao de Agua (dog of water) in his native Portugal, the Portuguese Water Dog is an exceptional swimmer with a water-proof coat which can be curly or wavy and is black, white, or brown.
Rhodesian Ridgeback: A large and powerful dog, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a native of South Africa where they were developed as guarding and hunting dogs.
Rottweiler: A powerful, medium-sized dog, the Rottweiler's intelligence, strength, endurance and willingness to work make him an ideal working dog.
Saint Bernard: A powerful, giant breed famous for rescuing countless travelers during snowstorms, the Saint Bernard is a gentle, patient and intelligent dog who is devoted to those close to him.
Samoyed: The Samoyed is a bright, alert dog with a heavy, weather-resistant white coat and a perpetual smiley expression to match its cheerful temperament.
Scottish Terrier: Known for its distinctive profile and hard, wiry coat, the Scottish Terrier is typical of dogs in the Terrier group - fast, alert, tough and playful.
Shetland Sheepdog: Agile and sturdy, the Sheltie is a devoted, docile, highly intelligent dog who excels in obedience trials, as well as in agility, herding and conformation events.
Shiba Inu: Smallest of the native Japanese breeds, the Shiba Inu is an alert and agile dog, who is loyal and affectionate with his own family, but suspicious of strangers.
Siberian Husky: The Siberian Husky is an exceptional sled dog with amazing endurance, willingness to work and an agreeable temperament that makes it suitable for anything from agility to therapy work.
Silky Terrier: The Silky Terrier is a true terrier, with a friendly, joyful demeanor, and an energetic confident character.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a spirited, self-confident dog who is steady, self-confident and alert.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is an intelligent, strong and courageous dog who is nonetheless even-tempered, obedient, and excellent with children.
Standard Schnauzer: The Standard Schnauzer is a sturdy and athletic dog, with trademark arched eyebrows, a bristly mustache and whiskers, and a harsh, wiry, black or salt and pepper coat.
Tibetan Terrier: The Tibetan Terrier is a hardy little dog, medium in size, yet powerfully built and very agile, with large, flat feet that serve as "snowshoes", when moving through heavy snow.
Toy Fox Terrier: The Toy Fox Terrier is a classic big dog in a small dog's body, with intelligence, courage and a feisty demeanor.
Vizsla: A medium-sized, short-coated dog with an attractive golden rust coloration, the Vizsla is a versatile gundog with intelligence, trainability and a stable temperament.
Weimaraner: Known as the "grey ghost" because of its distinctive color, the Weimaraner is a graceful dog with aristocratic features.
West Highland White Terrier: The West Highland White Terrier, or "Westie" as it is more commonly known is a feisty little terrier, renowned for its courage, determination and sparkling white coat.
Whippet: The Whippet is an elegant, medium-sized sighthound with incredible speed, power and balance.
Yorkshire Terrier: The Yorkshire Terrier is a brave, determined, energetic and curious little dog who also makes an affectionate and playful pet.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: Often called the "4-wheel drive of hunting dogs", the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a medium-sized dog bred to hunt in just about any terrain.
Wire Fox Terrier: The Wire Fox Terrier is a typical terrier, with a keen expression and a readiness to spring into action at the slightest urging.

Dog Breeds A-Z

Dog Breeds A-Z, including over 100 of the most popular dog breeds

Simply click on our Dog Breeds A-Z links below to read more about the breeds you're interested in.

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