How Many Dog Breeds are there in the World? [Updated 2024]

Dog breeds are definitely a very popular topic, with many people trying to decide which breed is the best for them. But what exactly is a dog breed? And how many breeds are there in the world? How do they officially become recognized as a breed?

Whether you’re looking for a dog that’s perfect for your lifestyle or you just want to explore different options, read on to find everything about dog breeds.

How Many Dog Breeds Are There in the World?

So how many dog breeds are there in the world?

It is a really difficult question to answer as not all dog breeds are officially recognized as “breeds” as confusing as it sounds.

There are currently 360 different recognized dog breeds in the world, and that number is only growing.

According to Brian Hare, the founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center as Duke Univerisity, there were only a handful of dog breeds 200 years ago.

In the US, the officially AKC recognized dog breed list includes over 195 dog breeds, whereas the Kennel Club in the UK recognizes over 220 dog breeds. There are, of course, a large number of additional breeds trying to get on the list.

One thing to remember with those numbers is that they don’t include mixed-breed dogs. To give more context, some of the most popular hybrid/designer dogs include:

• Puggle (Pug x Puggle)
• Pug-Zu (Pug x Shih Tzu)
• Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever x Poodle)
• Jackapoo (Jack Russell x Toy Poodle)
• Cavachon (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Bichon Frise)
• Shorkie (Shih Tzu x Yorkshire Terrier)
• Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Poodle)

Dog Breed Governing Bodies

As mentioned previously, different countries have different governing bodies that handle dog breed registrations – and they all have different standards and processes for dog breed determination.

• US – The AKC (American Kennel Club)
• UK – KC (British Kennel Club)
• Europe – CKC (Continental Kennel Club)
• Australia – ANKC (Australian National Kennel Council)
• Canada – CKC (The Canadian Kennel Club)
• Worldwide – FCI (Federation Cynologique International)

How to become an officially recognized breed

This can be very location/country dependent. Each dog breed governing bodies have different ways to determine dog breeds.

How breeds qualify for the AKC

To be considered to be an AKC recognized dog breed:

• The breed must have a total population of 300-400 dogs that have existed for at least three generation.
• There must be more than 100 households that own the breed.
• The breed must be distributed across 20 states or more.

Click here for more information.

So while you could easily cross breed different dog breeds to create a new one, this will not mean getting recognized by the AKC or any other governing bodies.

Find more information on becoming an officially recognized breed in different parts of the world.

• UK – the Kennel Club
• Canada – CKC
• Australia – ANKC

Dog Breed Classifications

So what are dog breed classifications? They are simply groups where a breeds are put in with other similar breeds. The AKC recognizes 7 different classifications:

1. Sporting Dogs

Sporting dogs are a type of dog that is designed for specific sporting activities, such as running, hunting, or tracking. These dogs have been bred over many years to be able to perform these tasks well. They typically have strong builds and quick reflexes, which give them the ability to run long distances quickly and accurately.

So what are some benefits of owning a sporting dog?

Some people enjoy having a dog that can help them with their sports hobbies. Sporting dogs also provide companionship and financial stability in times of need. They are usually reliable guards who will protect your home and family from danger. Finally, they make great pets who love spending time outdoors playing fetch or going on walks

What dogs are sporting dogs?

American Water Spaniel	Barbet	Boykin Spaniel	Bracco Italiano
Brittany	Chesapeake Bay Retriever	Clumber Spaniel	Cocker Spaniel
Curly-Coated Retriever	Deutscher Wachtelhund	Dogo Argentino	English Cocker Spaniel
English Setter	English Springer Spaniel	Field Spaniel	Finnish Spitz
Flat-Coated Retriever	French Spaniel	German Longhaired Pointer	German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer	Golden Retriever	Gordon Setter	Irish Red And White Setter
Irish Setter Dogs	Irish Water Spaniel	Kooikerhondje	Korean Jindo Dog
Labrador Retriever	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	Pointer	Portuguese Pointer
Small Munsterlander Pointer	Spinone Italiano	Stabyhoun	Sussex Spaniel
Tosa	Vizsla	Weimaraner	Welsh Springer Spaniel
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

2. Working Dogs

Working dogs are a type of dog that has been specifically bred to work and perform various tasks, such as pulling carts or helping people with disabilities. They are usually trained from a young age to do these things, and they generally enjoy working. They also often serve as police officers or search-and-rescue teams, but they also play an important role in livestock farming and animal care facilities. Not only are they great at their task, but they also make terrific family pets!

What dogs are working dogs?

Akita	Alaskan Malamute	Anatolian Shepherd	Bernese Mountain Dogs
Black Russian Terrier	Boerboel	Boxer	Bullmastiff
Cane Corso	Chinook	Doberman Pinscher	Dogo Argentino
Dogue de Bordeaux	German Pinscher	Giant Schnauzer	Great Dane
Great Pyrenees	Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs	Komondor	Kuvasz
Leonberger	Mastiff	Neapolitan Mastiff	Newfoundland
Portuguese Water Dog	Rottweiler	St. Bernard	Samoyed
Siberian Husky	Standard Schnauzer	Tibetan Mastiff

3. Herding Dogs

Herding dogs are a type of dog that is specifically bred to herd livestock. They are usually medium sized and have thick fur to keep them warm in chilly weather. Herding dogs are used for cattle, sheep, goats, and other types of animals.

Herding dogs can be trained to do many different things, such as following a scent trail or barking at specific times (to alert the farmer when there is danger nearby). They typically work in pairs or groups, so one dog can Watch while the other Dog follows a scent trail or barks at random intervals.

Although herding Dogs aren’t always easy pets – they tend to be very active and bark alot – they make great companions because of their loyal behavior and dedication to their job.

What dogs are herding dogs?

Australian Cattle Dog	Australian Shepherd	Bearded Collie	Beauceron
Belgian Laekenois	Belgian Malinois	Belgian Sheepdog	Belgian Tervuren
Bergamasco	Berger Picard	Border Collie	Bouvier des Flandres
Briard	Canaan Dog	Cardigan Welsh Corgi	Collie
Entlebucher Mountain Dog	Finnish Lapphund	German Shepherd Dog	Icelandic Sheepdog
Miniature American Shepherd	Norwegian Buhund	Old English Sheepdog	Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Polish Lowland Sheepdog	Puli	Pumi	Pyrenean Shepherd
Shetland Sheepdog	Spanish Water Dog	Swedish Vallhund

4. Non-Sporting Dogs

Not all breeds of dogs make great sporting companions. Non-Sporting dogs may still enjoy playing fetch, but their primary purpose is companionship and interacting with people.

What dogs are Non-sporting dogs?

American Eskimo Dog	Bichon Frise	Boston Terrier	Bulldog
Chinese Shar-Pei	Chow Chow	Coton De Tulear	Dalmatian
Finnish Spitz	French Bulldog	Keeshond	Lhasa Apso
Lowchen	Norwegian Lundhund	Poodle	Schipperke
Shiba Inu	Tibetan Spaniel	Tibetan Terrier	Xoloitzcuintli

5. Toy Dogs

As the name suggests, toy Dogs are typically small, plush dogs that are usually designed to be played with and provide great companionship. Because of their simall size, they can make it ideal for those with small living space.

In addition to providing companionship to their owners during periods of solitude or boredom, toy dogs can also serve as therapy animals. Many people report that playing with a Toy Dog has helped them overcome feelings such as loneliness or anxiety.

What dogs are Toy dogs?

Affenpinscher	Brussels Griffon	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Chihuahua
Chinese Crested	English Toy Spaniel	Havanese	Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin	Maltese	Manchester Terrier	Miniature Pinscher
Papillon	Pekingese	Pomeranian	Poodle (Toy)
Pug	Shih Tzu	Silky Terrier	Toy Fox Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

6. Hound Dogs

Hound Dogs are a type of dog that is considered to be one of the best all-around hunting dogs. They have tons of energy and love to run, so they make great pets for people who want an active companion.

They come in different sizes and shapes, but a lot of them share some common features, such as a long snout, foxlike face, bushy tail, and strong build.

What dogs are Hound dogs?

Afghan Hound	American English Coonhound	American Foxhound	Azawakh
Basenji	Basset Hound	Beagle	Black and Tan Coonhound
Bloodhound	Bluetick Coonhound	Borzoi	Cirneco Dell’Etna
Dachshund	English Foxhound	Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen	Greyhound
Harrier	Ibizan Hound	Irish Wolfhound	Norwegian Elkhound
Otterhound	Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen	Pharaoh Hound	Plott Hound
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno	Redbone Coonhound	Rhodesian Ridgeback	Saluki
Scottish Deerhound	Sloughi	Treeing Walker Coonhound	Whippet

7. Terrier Dogs

Terriers are popular as working dogs because of their energy and ability to work long hours without tiring. They are often known as the “feisty” ones and this is completely understandable as they were first bred to hunt and chase down pests to protect home. Some other common characteristics of terriers include being brave and independent, making them great family pets.

Airedale Terrier	American Hairless Terrier	American Staffordshire Terrier	Australian Terrier
Bedlington Terrier	Border Terrier	Bull Terrier	Cairn Terrier
Cesky Terrier	Dandie Dinmont Terrier	Glen of Imaal Terrier	Irish Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier	Lakeland Terrier	Manchester Terrier	Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer	Norfolk Terrier	Norwich Terrier	Parson Russell Terrier
Rat Terrier	Russell Terrier	Scottish Terrier	Sealyham Terrier
Skye Terrier	Smooth Fox Terrier	Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier	Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Welsh Terrier	West Highland White Terrier	Wire Fox Terrier

Conclusion

There you have it!

The FCI, with its largest dog breed list in the world, includes 360 dog breeds. However, this does not include those in the US, UK and Australia, which makes it really difficult to put an exact number of dog breeds in the world. So in reality, we could not be wrong if we said there can be anywhere between 400 and 500 dog breeds in total in the world.

What’s more, if you want to include dog breeds that are not officially recognized, the number can be significantly higher – even in a region of thousands!