Dogs Come in All Shapes and Sizes

There are thousands of breeds of dogs. They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, they are also bred for various reasons. The different types of dogs and breeds are categorized depending on what the dog breed is bred to do. Some are meant to be kept as pets around the house for companionship, while others are meant to work alongside their owners. There are also many rare dog breeds.

Here is a list of the different types of dogs and various canines that fit each category and sub category.

Companion Dogs

A companion dog is one that is bred to be a household pet, good for its companionship and friendliness. Some popular companion dogs include Pomeranians, Poodles, Chihuahuas, and Dalmatians. Companion dogs can fit into several subcategories:

• Lap Dogs: A lapdog is any dog that is able to comfortably rest in its owner’s lap. These are small pets that are generally miniature or toy sized. Some lapdog breeds include Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire Terriers.

• Designer Dogs: The term “designer dog” refers to dogs which are a cross breed of two purebred dogs. The fad started when purebred Poodles where bred with purebreds of other dog breeds, giving the outcome the Poodle’s hypoallergenic coat as well as traits from the other breed. Such designer dogs include Chiweenie (a cross of Chihuahua and Dachshund), Labradoodle (cross of a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle), or even a purebred crossed with a mixed-breed such as a German Chusky (German Shepherd, Husky, and Chow Chow).

Guard Dogs

A guard dog is a dog who watches out for or protects against unwanted visitors, whether it be an intruder or other danger. A watchdog will just “sound the alarm” of coming danger by barking, where as a full guard dog will actually do something to prevent the danger such as getting in the way, moving their master out of the way, or attacking the unwanted person or thing. The different types of dogs that are often used as guard dogs include German Shepherds, Doberman Pinsher, and Rottweilers.

• Fighting Dogs: A form of guard dog, these animals have also been pitted against each other in contest fighting. Some breeds used as fighting dogs are the American Pit Bull Terrier, Neapolitan Mastiff, Boston Terrier, and the now extinct Dogo Cubano.

• Molosser: These huge dogs are well muscled and used either as search and rescue dogs or guard dogs for their natural protective instincts and loud bark. These include Great Danes, Bandogs, Boxers and St. Bernards.

Hunting Dogs

Hunting dogs assist humans in tracking and hunting wild game. These can range drastically in the different types of dogs depending on what kind of animal is being hunted. Some hunting dogs are Coonhounds, Otterhounds, German Shorthaired Pointers, and Lakeland Terriers.

• Gundogs: Gundogs are also referred to as Birddogs because they’re purpose is to aid in the capture of birds once they’ve been shot. These include Pointers (who sniff the birds out), Golden Retrievers (who retrieve the dead bird), and Spaniels (that are used to flush the birds out of hiding).Hounds: A hound is a dog used to track the animal being hunted. Their keen sense of smell allows them to quickly pick up an animal’s scent and lead the hunter to it. A few dogs classified as hounds include Basset Hounds, Beagles, Dachshunds, and Whippets.

• Terrier: Terriers are small hunting dogs that are ferocious despite their stature. They will help hunt and often be the cause of death for small prey. Some of these include Fox Terrier, Rat Terrier, and Jack Russell Terrier.

Pastoral Dogs

These dogs help shepherds tend their flock, and assist farmers in keeping their animals in line. Collies are the most popular of this type of dog.

Sled Dogs

As the name suggests, these dogs pull sleds. Some more often used sled dogs are Huskies.

Want to know more about the different types of dogs? Here are some great books!
Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds
The Dog Breed Bible: Descriptions and Photos of Every Breed Recognized by the AKC
Dogs: The Ultimate Dictionary of Over 1,000 Dog Breeds
The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties
The Encyclopedia of the Dog
Illustrated Guide to 140 Dog Breeds
World Atlas of Dog Breeds

Special Gifts for Your Dog

No Stress Chess

Bamboo Dog Nail Clipper with Styptic and File (Colors Vary)

Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds