How many dog ​​breeds are there in the world?


Addressing the IFF

What will an organization that deals with dogs at the international level tell us? We are talking about the International Canine Federation, as many have already guessed. It is called ICF for short.

So, according to her data, there are just over 400 dog breeds in the world. It is officially registered. And no one will tell us how many are unregistered.

Let's look at the main classifications that the ICF offers.

  • Herding and cattle dogs. There is no need to explain anything here. Everything is clear and without explanation. The most popular breed belonging to this group is the border collie.
  • Hound dogs. These are born hunters. But how stubborn these dogs are is difficult to convey in words. The most popular hounds include the Russian pinto, American foxhound and biyi.
  • Pinschers and Schnauzers. Who doesn't know the Giant Schnauzer, a huge black dog with a beard and bangs? "Rizens" are characterized as ferocious, but this is not true. Wonderful dogs. Another group that is popular among dog lovers are the miniature schnauzer and the miniature schnauzer.
  • Terriers. Cunning dogs with a very specific disposition. This includes the Jagdterrier, Scotch terrier, Jack Russell terrier and many others. But the soul of many dog ​​lovers is given to the Yorkshire Terrier.
  • Primitive dogs. These are breeds in the selection of which people took minimal participation. Oddly enough, this includes Malamutes and Siberian Huskies.
  • Spitz. The Pomeranian is one of the most beautiful representatives of the group. But besides him, there are also Finnish and German ones. Have you ever heard about Asian Spitz dogs? This is a chow chow.
  • Retrievers and water dogs. We will also include spaniels here. These are hunting dogs. But many people prefer to keep them for the soul.
  • Decorative dogs. The largest group. Due to their distribution, these dogs have gained the love of people around the world. Some people can't resist a cute pug. Others like Pekingese. And some are simply in love with Chinese crested dogs.
  • Greyhounds. Unsurpassed runners, kept for hunting and sports. This dog can be an excellent companion living in an apartment. The only condition for such maintenance is regular walks on which the animal can run. The most popular are the Russian Borzoi, the Afghan Hound and the Greyhound.
  • Dachshunds. These small and harmful, but very cute dogs were separated into a separate group. There are three types: long-haired, wire-haired and short-haired. Very smart dogs, you can hunt burrowing animals with them.

There are ten groups in total. We now know approximately how many dog ​​breeds there are, according to these groups.

How many dog ​​breeds are there in the world?

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Dogs have been living alongside people for about 10 thousand years, and during this time, evolution, as well as people breeding these animals, have divided them into many breeds. Each of the breeds has its own characteristic features and characteristics - some are small, others are large, others have very long hair, etc. But how many dog ​​breeds are there in the world at the moment?

In addition to those recognized by the International Canine Federation, there are many breeds that have not yet been recognized as separate breeds.

The ICF classifies dog breeds into groups:

  1. Herding and cattle dogs (Caucasian Shepherd, German Shepherd);
  2. Pinschers and schnauzers, mountain dogs, Molossians, Swiss cattle dogs (eg Dobermann, miniature pinscher);
  3. Terriers (eg bull terrier, Yorkshire terrier);
  4. Dachshunds;
  5. Spitz and primitive breeds (for example, Pomeranian, Akita Inu);
  6. Hounds, bloodhounds and related breeds (basset, beagle);
  7. Pointing dogs (eg Irish Setter, English Pointer);
  8. Retrievers, spaniels, water dogs (eg Labrador retriever, golden retriever);
  9. Companion dogs, decorative dogs (Chihuahua, Chinese Crested Dog);
  10. Greyhounds (eg Irish Wolfhound, Pharaoh Hound).

Interestingly, some indoor dog breeds are tiny in size - only 13 cm in height and 200-300 grams in weight, while the largest dog breeds in the world are almost one meter high at the withers and weigh more than 100 kilograms.

Now you know how many breeds of dogs exist in the world - there are about 400 of them, and that they are all significantly different from each other - there are just giants, and there are real crumbs. And remember, when choosing a dog, you should pay attention not only to the size of adult representatives of the breed, but also to their characteristic character.

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On the pages of our website you will find information about dog breeds, treatment for diseases, care recommendations, reviews of ready-made food and feedback on them, as well as much other equally useful and interesting things!

What will the RKF (Russian Cynological Federation) tell you?

There are dog breeds that are pre-recognized. There are five such breeds in the RKF. These are the Thai Bangkaew, Bukovinian Shepherd Dog, Danish-Swedish Guardhound, Australian Short-tailed Cattle Dog and Lancashire Heeler.

We found out how many dog ​​breeds there are: about 400 officially recognized. There are 5 more breeds that are not yet recognized.

In the RKF, as well as in the FCI, breeds are divided into 10 groups. Each has a standard.

How many dog ​​breeds exist in the world according to RKF and FCI

The FCI fully recognizes 332 breeds, 11 so far only conditionally. In Russia, there are 234 on this list, and the International Canine Association (FCI) includes 213. 146 varieties have been recognized by each association and federation.

Variety of dog breeds

Note! In the FCI system, breeds are divided into 10 large groups, each of which is further divided into subgroups.

Facts about dogs

Speaking about dogs, one cannot help but talk about interesting facts related to them.

  • We now know how many dog ​​breeds exist in the world. If you count together those who have not yet received recognition, there are much more than 400 species.
  • The largest dog is the Irish Wolfhound. Its height can reach 1 meter at the withers. This is more than the Tibetan Mastiff and Great Dane.
  • The smallest dog is a Chihuahua. With a height of 10-20 centimeters, it weighs from 1.5 to 3 kilograms. By the way, “sneezes” are quite vicious dogs, despite their size.
  • The smartest breeds are the poodle, the German shepherd and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
  • The kindest representatives of the breeds include collie (Scottish Shepherd) and Labrador.

Where do new types of dogs come from?

The chances of success increase if only a few breeds are involved in breeding. But the unpleasant thing can be that when crossing two similar animals, the puppies may inherit unfortunate traits from each of the parents. Very often, purebred parents produce offspring with a weakly defined breed, more like mongrels.

Dogs created by mixing different breeds have great diversity in their genes. This is why such animals are less prone to genetic disorders. Thanks to this hybridization, East European Shepherd Dogs, Moscow Watchdogs and Black Terriers appeared. This method of reproduction eliminates unfavorable traits that appear and become established during prolonged inbreeding.

Note! By alternating hybridization and inbreeding, the healthiest and hardiest individuals are obtained.

To obtain the desired traits, pets of different breeds are crossed. After the appearance of puppies with the desired characteristics, they are crossed with each other and the result is consolidated over several generations. To ensure greater diversity of genes, at some stages new blood is “infused” - interbreeding is carried out, after which the characteristics are consolidated by several closely related matings. This approach allows us to produce the healthiest purebred animals with the best set of qualities.

A beautiful animal with an unusual appearance

Specialists involved in breeding dogs are big fans of their work and are not going to stop there. They are breeding all sorts of new species with a variety of body shapes and sizes, paws, ears and noses, as well as bark patterns. Due to the needs and tastes of man, the dog has become the most diverse animal in the world. This process continues today, so the number of new breeds is growing.

Today, there are more than 400 varieties of pet breeds around the world. This figure tends to grow, as new species are constantly being recorded that arise as a result of crossing different breeds. This is how the Black Terrier, for example, was born. Let's look at how many dog ​​breeds there are in the world and their characteristics.

Classification of dog breeds into groups

In addition to those officially registered with the International Canine Association, there are many dog ​​breeds that have not received recognition. Work to improve and standardize them continues to this day.


There are more than 400 dog breeds of different sizes and colors around the world.

Interesting. The largest breed of dog in the world is considered to be the Irish Wolfhound, whose weight is more than 100 kg, and whose height at the withers is about 80-85 cm. And the smallest breed is the Chihuahua. The tiny dog ​​weighs only 1500 grams, and its height is 10-12 cm at the withers.

All dog breeds are subject to group classification. Conventionally, they can be divided into decorative and working, although there are many breeds used both for work and for participation in exhibitions and competitions. Within these larger groups there is a more detailed division.

How many dog ​​breeds exist in the world: their list and classification

One of the first domesticated animals in the world is the dog.
Since ancient times, she has regularly served man, guarding the home, herding livestock and helping to hunt. For more than 10 thousand years, the dog has been a faithful friend of people. During all this time, many different varieties and breeds of these wonderful animals were bred. It is not possible to accurately calculate how many dog ​​breeds exist in the world. We can say with confidence that their number exceeds 400 species. This figure is growing every year, as breeding work is ongoing. Some breeds disappear as unpromising and unpopular, while others, on the contrary, appear and develop rapidly.

How many dog ​​breeds are there?

There are a huge number of varieties of dogs in the world that have unique characteristics. If you start listing their names, you could write a huge book, because new breeds are constantly being developed, and existing species are also being improved.

There are 400 dog breeds officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. But the constantly developing selection constantly replenishes the list with new specimens. For this reason, it is impossible to accurately answer the question of how many dog ​​breeds there are currently.

All breeds are divided into naturally occurring and artificially bred. Each dog may differ in appearance, size, coat structure, purpose, and coat color. But almost all representatives have well-developed intelligence and excellent loyalty.

Before getting an animal, it is worth considering the groups of tailed animals, their characteristics and purpose. There is a huge variety of canids in the world, which can have many important features and differences. Do not forget that keeping dogs, regardless of their breed, requires a special approach, responsibility and full care.

Author and presenter of the column: Veterinarian Nikolay Evgenievich Smirnov

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