How Many Types of Dogs Are There?

Quick Take

• One working dog breed was originally created specifically to intimidate people into paying their bills, and it still carries that fierce reputation today. Explore working breed history →
• Hound dogs and sporting dogs look like they belong together, yet a century-old classification shake-up permanently split them apart for a very specific reason. See the 1920s split →
• Don't let toy breeds fool you. Their small size hides a personality trait that regularly catches new owners off guard. Discover toy breed personalities →
• The AKC and the World Dog Federation can't agree on how many breeds even exist, and the gap between their numbers is wider than most dog lovers realize.

The World Dog Federation (FCI) recognizes over 400 dog breeds, while the American Kennel Club (AKC) has much stricter standards and, as of 2026, recognizes 205 breeds. Dogs are grouped into seven categories based on their primary purpose: sporting, hound, herding, working, terrier, toy, and non-sporting breeds. While each dog is unique, certain breeds will have similar characteristics, energy levels, grooming requirements, health issues, and temperaments. Continue reading to learn about seven different types of dogs.

Sporting Breeds

Sporting breeds were initially bred to assist hunters in finding, flushing, catching, and retrieving birds such as ducks and pheasants. Hunters use them to retrieve waterfowl or upland game birds. However, each breed in this group specializes in a specific hunting technique. There are four types of sporting dogs: retrievers, pointers, setters, and spaniels.

Retrievers are great swimmers that bring back birds from the water. Pointers, setters, and spaniels are best for hunting in fields for birds like pheasant and quail. Specifically, pointers and setters use their bodies to show the hunter where the birds are hiding. Spaniels excel at flushing, which means they chase birds into the air so the hunter can shoot.

Sporting dogs are energetic, alert, and calm, with a natural ability to hunt on land or in water. Because they need a lot of exercise and outdoor time, they make great, loving pets for active families.

Popular breeds belonging to this group include:

Golden Retriever

German Shorthaired Pointer

Irish Setter

English Cocker Spaniel

Hound Breeds

Although hounds were initially part of the sporting group, the AKC began categorizing them in their own group in the 1920s, with the modern group system implemented in 1924. These dogs were specifically bred to hunt warm-blooded prey such as raccoons, rabbits, and sometimes antelope, while sporting breeds mainly pursue game birds. Most breeds in the hound group rely heavily on their sense of smell to track down game.

However, a few hounds rely more on vision and speed. Bloodhounds are commonly used for tracking escaped convicts and in search and rescue work, while beagles and basset hounds are more often used for scent detection and tracking in other contexts. Greyhounds, Afghan hounds, and whippets are renowned for their speed, making them excellent racing dogs as well as hunting companions.

Bloodhound

Basset Hound

Beagle

Irish Wolfhound

Working Breeds

Breeds belonging to the working dog group were originally part of the non-sporting category. However, these types of dogs were split off into their own group due to their roles as guardians and performing rescues.

Working breeds are among the most versatile canines, often responsible for tasks such as pulling carts and sleds, guarding flocks and homes, and serving in the police force, military, or as service dogs.

Some working dog breeds include:

Bernese Mountain Dog

Doberman Pinscher

Leonberger

Herding Breeds

Herding dogs used to form part of the working dog group, but they were officially moved to their own category in 1983. The herding group comprises 32 breeds as of 2026 that range from the small corgi to the massive Australian shepherd.

Breeders have bred these dogs to herd, gather, and protect livestock, including goats, cattle, and sheep. As a result, they are very intelligent and obey commands effortlessly. In addition, some breeds belonging to this group are used as police dogs, service dogs, or in the military.

Some herding dogs include:

Border Collie

German Shepherd

Old English Sheepdog

Anatolian Shepherd

Terrier Breeds

Most of the dogs in the terrier group originated from the British Isles, and each breed evolved with a specific skill set depending on its geographical location. Some kill vermin, while others are guard dogs. However, terriers were generally bred to hunt smaller animals like otters, badgers, and rats.

There are short-legged terriers, such as the Cairn Terrier, which excels at chasing rodents underground, and long-legged terriers, like the Fox Terrier, which uses its long limbs to dig into burrows to catch prey. Breeds like Bull Terriers were originally bred for dogfighting and bull baiting. Fortunately, these practices are now illegal, and these dogs are welcomed into homes as companions.

Some terrier breeds include:

Stafford Terriers

Miniature Schnauzers

Airedales

Toy Breeds

Toy breeds are primarily bred to be companions and easily portable lap dogs. These adorable minis are ideal for apartment living or homes with limited space. But don’t let their small stature fool you; dogs in this group usually have very large personalities.

Some toy breeds include:

Pomeranian

Yorkshire Terrier

Pug

Non-Sporting Breeds

The non-sporting group consists of dogs that don’t meet the requirements of any of the aforementioned groups. Initially, the AKC only registered breeds as sporting or non-sporting. Over time, hounds and terriers were separated from the sporting group, followed by the creation of toy and working groups. In 1983, herding dogs were split from the working group to form their own category.

Breeds that do not fit in any of the other categories are considered non-sporting dogs, which have fascinating histories and functions and come in an array of sizes. These dogs are usually great house pets and watchdogs, but because this group is so diverse, it makes it hard to generalize. Breeds in this category include:

Dalmatian

Chow Chow

Bulldog

French Bulldog