Click on the Breed Group Buttons above to explore the World of Dogs!

Initially dog breeds are believed to have evolved spontaneously in response to the climate and conditions in the areas where they were found.  Most dog breeds at this time were used in hunting and guarding property.  However, civilization progressed to the point where specialized dog breeds were needed to play specific roles in the lives of their humans.  Avid enthusiasts purposefully set out to create dog breeds that could aid them in their sport or task by enhancing some aspect of their characteristic by selective breeding.  Some were bred just to flush out game and others to retrieve the day's bag and still others to be nothing more than doted on companions.  Today we have literally hundreds of breeds of dog.

This is a listing of the Various groups recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) for participation in conformation shows.  The AKC recognizes and registers 147 breeds at this time.  This number will increase as more breed standards are established and recognized.  There are over 400 dog breeds currently recorded throughout the world.