Page 12 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

12 INTRODUC TION T O DOG S

Breeds and breed groups
Although many distinct varieties of dog were recognized function, but no two systems are exactly the same. Both the
earlier, until the early 20th century, their breeding was not American and UK Kennel Clubs recognize seven groups,
necessarily strictly controlled. When dog breeders started while the FCI has 10. The number of individual breeds
to cooperate with one another and form clubs, they were recognized by these organizations also varies.
able to produce dogs of consistent type. This led to the This book places breeds together in eight major groups:
writing of breed standards that describe the ideal primitive dogs, working dogs, spitz-type dogs, sight hounds,
appearance (with permissible variations) and temperament scent hounds, terriers, gundogs, and companion dogs. Plus,
of a breed and its suitability for function. Dogs were also there is a section on crossbreeds and random-bred dogs. The
registered in stud books to enable their pedigrees to be groupings of the so-called primitive dogs, sight hounds, and
reviewed for future breeding. the spitz-type dogs in this book have been made on the basis
Despite the detailed dog breed standards that exist, there of well-established genetic relationships. In some cases, this
are as yet no universally recognized criteria for classifying results in a breed appearing in a different group from the
dog breeds in groups. The main regulatory bodies are the one that might be expected. The Basenji, for example, is
American Kennel Club (AKC); the Fédération Cynologique often grouped functionally with hounds, but genetic evidence
Internationale (FCI)—the World Canine Organization, which places it among the primitive breeds, which is where this
includes 86 member countries; and the Kennel Club (KC) in book—and the FCI—place it. For the remainder of the groups,
the UK. These all group breeds together based loosely on more traditional, functional groupings are used.

HOW DOGS ARE GROUPED IN THIS BOOK
The dog groupings used in this book
are illustrated below with an example
of a dog that appears in each category.

Primitive dogs Working dogs Spitz-type dogs Sight hounds
pp.22–31 pp.32–95 pp.96–123 pp.124–135
Basenji Broholmer Finnish Spitz Greyhound

Scent hounds Terriers Gundogs Companion dogs Crossbreeds
pp.136–185 pp.186–219 pp.220–259 pp.260–281 pp.282–291
Basset Hound Parson Russell Terrier Bourbonnais Pointing Dog Russian Toy Labradoodle

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