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The Herding breeds are livestock-oriented, although they are versatile in protecting and serving humans in other ways. Herding breeds are intelligent and lively, making fine family pets or obedience competitors. Dogs were first used to assist sheepherders in the 1570s, but other varieties were bred for different herding tasks. Herding breeds are quick and agile, able to work on any terrain, and well-suited for short bursts of high speed. These dogs, even the compact breeds, are strong and muscular, possessing proud carriage of head and neck. Herding dogs perceive even the slightest hand signals and whistle commands to move a flock or seek out strays.
| name | origin | height in inches* dogs (bitches) | weight in pounds* dogs (bitches) | characteristics | comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *1 inch = 2.54 centimetres; 1 pound = 0.454 kilogram | ||||||
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Australian Cattle Dog | Australia | 18–20 (17–19) | 35–45 (same) | sturdy, compact body; moderately short, weather-resistant coat | bred from several breeds, including dingoes and Dalmatians |
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Australian Shepherd | U.S. | 20–23 (18–21) | 35–70 (same) | medium-sized; lithe and agile; moderate-length coat; bobbed tail | descended from shepherd dogs of Basque region (Spain/France) |
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Bearded Collie | Scotland | 21–22 (20–21) | 40–60 (same) | medium-sized; muscular body; shaggy, harsh outercoat | dates to the 1500s |
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Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael) | Belgium | 24–26 (22–24) | 50–60 (same) | well-muscled, square body; erect ears; black coat | used during World War I as message carriers and ambulance dogs; three other varieties |
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Border Collie | England | 19–22 (18–21) | 31–50 (same) | medium-sized; muscular, athletic build; numerous colours with various combinations of patterns and markings | world's outstanding sheep herder; possesses hypnotic stare used to direct herds |
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Bouvier des Flandres | Belgium/France | 23.5–27.5 (23.5–26.5) | 88 (same) | rugged, compact body; rough coat; blocky head with mustache and beard | natural guard dog, often used in military settings |
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Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Wales | 10–12 (same) | 25–38 (25–34) | long, low body and tail; deep chest; large, prominent ears | not as prevalent as its Pembroke counterpart |
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Collie (rough) | Scotland | 24–26 (22–24) | 60–75 (50–65) | lithe body; deep, wide chest; abundant coat, especially on mane and frill | also smooth variety with short coat |
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German Shepherd | Germany | 24–26 (22–24) | 75–95 (same) | well-muscled, long body; erect ears; long muzzle | one of the most-recognized dog breeds |
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Old English Sheepdog | England | minimum 22 (minimum 21) | 55+ (same) | compact, square body; profuse, shaggy coat | loud, distinctive bark |
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Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Wales | 10–12 (same) | 25–38 (same) | low-set body, not as long as Cardigan; docked tail | popular with British royalty; smallest herding dog |
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Puli | Hungary | 17 (16) | 30 (same) | medium-sized; long, coarse coat that forms cords | named for Puli Hou (“Destroyer Huns”) |
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Shetland Sheepdog | Scotland | 13–16 (same) | small-sized; long, rough coat, especially abundant on mane and frill | traces to the Border Collie; excels in obedience competitions | |
Some Herding breeds drive the flock by barking, circling, and nipping at the heels, while others simply confront the flock with a silent stare, which also proves effective.
Herding dogs serve other functions. These breeds are excellent guards, used in the military and law enforcement, or for personal protection. Herding dogs are among those with the closest relationship to humans.
Toys
The Toy group is composed of those canines that were bred specifically to be companion animals. They were developed to be small, portable, and good-natured, the sort of dog that ladies of the court could carry with them. These dogs were largely pampered and treasured by aristocracy around the world. Several of these breeds come from ancient lineage. The Pekingese and the Japanese Chin were owned by royalty. No one else was permitted to own one of these breeds. They were carefully bred and nurtured, and until the mid-20th century they were not allowed to be exported out of their countries of origin. In England the cavalier King Charles spaniel, a bred-down version of a sporting spaniel, was the favourite pet of many royal families. Cavaliers, while popular in the United States, are not registered with the AKC, but their close cousins, the English toy spaniels, are. Toy poodles also belong to this group.
| name | origin | height in inches* dogs (bitches) | weight in pounds* dogs (bitches) | characteristics | comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *1 inch = 2.54 centimetres; 1 pound = 0.454 kilogram | ||||||
 |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | England | 12–13 (same) | 13–18 (same) | moderately long coat with feathering on ears, chest, tail, and legs; large, round eyes | most popular toy dog in England |
 |
Chihuahua | Mexico | 5 (same) | maximum 6 (same) | large, erect ears; coats are either short and smooth or long and soft with fringing | smallest recognized dog breed |
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Chinese Crested | China | 11–13 (same) | 5–10 (same) | two coat types: hairless (except for tufts on head, feet, and tail) and powderpuff (long, silky coat) | possesses a harefoot that can grasp and hold objects |
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Maltese | Malta | 5 (same) | 4–7 (same) | long, silky, white coat; sturdy build | noted for its fearlessness |
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Papillon | France/Belgium | 8–11 (same) | maximum 11 (same) | fine-boned and dainty; long, silky coat | named for ears that resemble butterfly wings |
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Pekingese | China | 6–9 (same) | maximum 14 (same) | long, coarse coat with heavy feathering; black-masked face with short muzzle | considered sacred in ancient China |
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Pomeranian | Germany | 6–7 (same) | 3–7 (same) | cobby body; abundant double coat; small, erect ears | descended from sled dogs of Iceland and Lapland |
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Pug | China | 10–11 (same) | 14–18 (same) | square, cobby body; massive head; tightly curled tail; wrinkled face and neck | miniature Mastiff |
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Shih Tzu | Tibet | 10 (same) | 9–16 (same) | sturdy build; long, flowing coat; proud carriage | considered a non-sporting dog in Canada |
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Yorkshire Terrier | England | 8–9 (same) | maximum 7 (same) | long, silky coat, parted on the face and from the base of the skull to the end of the tail, hanging straight down each side of the body | also called Yorkie; noted for its independent nature |
The miniature pinscher resembles the Doberman pinscher but in fact is of quite different legacy. This perky little dog has a particularly distinctive gait, found in no other breed. Its standard calls for a hackney gait, such as that found in carriage horses. Other members of the Toy group are equally individual in their looks and personalities, making this the most diverse group. They make ideal apartment or small-house pets and are found ranging from hairless (the Chinese crested) to the profusely coated Pekingese or Shih tzu. In general, however, Toy breeds are alert and vigorous dogs. They are fine-boned and well-balanced, often considered graceful animals.
Non-Sporting dogs
The Non-Sporting group is a catchall category for those breeds that do not strictly fit into any other group. (Arguments could be made for assigning some of these breeds to other groups. The Dalmatian, for instance, could be a Working dog, as it is in England.) This group includes the appealing bichon frise, the bulldog, the poodles (standard and miniature), and the Chinese shar-pei. All have unique histories, many quite ancient. Other Asian representatives are the Tibetan spaniel and the Tibetan terrier—neither of which are true spaniels or terriers—the chow chow, and the Lhasa apso. Non-Sporting is also the category for the Finnish spitz, the Keeshond, the French bulldog, and the schipperke. All the Non-Sporting breeds are of small to medium build with sturdy and balanced frames, often squarelike. The chow chow, French bulldog, and the Dalmatian are among the more muscular breeds in this group. In general, Non-Sporting dogs are alert and lively.
| Selected breeds of nonsporting dogs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *1 inch = 2.54 centimetres; 1 pound = 0.454 kilogram | ||||||
| name | origin | height in inches* dogs (bitches) | weight in pounds* dogs (bitches) | characteristics | comments | |
 |
Bichon frise | Mediterranean region | 9–12 (same) | N/A | small, sturdy body; white, loosely curled coat that resembles powderpuff; plumed tail | depicted in paintings by Francisco de Goya |
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Boston terrier | U.S. | 15–17 (same) | 15–25 (same) | compact body; short tail and head; brindle, seal, or black with white markings | one of the few dog breeds that originated in the U.S. |
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Bulldog | England | 13–15 (same) | 50 (40) | medium-sized; low-slung body; large head with protruding lower jaw | originally bred to fight bulls |
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Chinese shar-pei | China | 18–20 (same) | 45–60 (same) | medium-sized; loose skin and wrinkles covering head, neck, and body; broad muzzle | dates to about 200 BC; originally a fighting dog |
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Chow chow | China | 17–20 (same) | 45–70 (same) | powerful, square body; large head; blue-black tongue | one of the oldest recognized dog breeds; rough- and smooth-coat varieties |
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Dalmatian | Croatia | 19–23 (same) | 50–55 (same) | white with black or liver-brown spots; strong, muscular build | puppies are born solid white and develop spots as they age |
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Keeshond | The Netherlands | 18 (17) | 55–66 (same) | stand-off coat, thick around neck; plumed tail curled on back; small, pointed ears | national dog of Holland; named for 18th-century Dutch patriot |
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Lhasa apso | Tibet | 10–11 (slightly smaller) | 13–15 (same) | small-sized; heavy, straight coat that extends over eyes; well-feathered tail carried on back | token of good luck in ancient China |
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Poodle (standard) | possibly Germany | minimum 15 (same) | 45–70 (same) | small, square body; dense, curly coat often clipped in a variety of patterns | national dog of France; also toy and miniature varieties |
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Schipperke | Belgium | 11–13 (10–12) | maximum 18 (same) | cobby body; docked tail; black coat; foxlike face | considered one of the best house dogs |
There is no comparable classification in Britain, although all these breeds, except for the Boston terrier, are found in other groups. The Boston terrier (not a true terrier although it once contained terrier blood) is one of the few native American dogs. (The others are the Alaskan Malamute, the beagle, the American foxhound, the Chesapeake Bay retriever, and the American cocker spaniel, all found in other groups.)
Breed standards
Purebred dogs are distinguished from mixed-breed animals because their genetic structure allows them to reproduce themselves generation after generation. Every breed that is registered with a national registry, such as the American Kennel Club or the Kennel Club of England, must have a “standard” for that breed. The standard is the blueprint by which a breed is evaluated. It describes the characteristics that make a particular breed unique. Standards were developed by fanciers who wanted to perpetuate a particular line or strain and who formed associations to foster certain breeds. It is the goal of most purebred-dog fanciers to breed dogs that best represent the ideal qualities for the breed as described by the standard. Standards outline requirements for physical traits and behavioral or “personality” traits.