So Many Dog Breeds, So Little Time!

Life is full of variety and when it comes to dogs, that is definitely more than true. There is a whole world of different dog breeds out there for us to pal around with. And each of them have their own special characteristics; different sizes, personality quirks, coats, and more. In fact, there are so many of them that it can be a little overwhelming when you think about the hundreds of breeds there are.

What is a dog breed?

According to Wikipedia, breeds are when dogs have closely related physical characteristics. Largely controlled by humans, breeds have been developed by selecting certain phenotype traits like size, structure, color, coat and behavior (source.)

Although dogs were first seen in history as being domesticated over 14,000-17,000 years ago, we didn’t start to see breeds until just a few centuries ago. As people over the years selected traits, such as hunting skills, barking, aggressive or docile temperaments, different breeds were created. This tinkering with genetics is why there now are around 340 breeds recognized by the Federation Cynologique International (FCI). However, the American Kennel Club only recognizes 167 (source).

What are the most popular breeds?

So, we’ve been searching and we’ve narrowed it down. From our searches, we have created a list of the top 10 most popular dog breeds of all time. Want to learn more about a specific breed? Simply click on their name!

1. Labrador or Golden Retrievers
2. Dachshund  
3. Siberian Husky
4. Beagle
5. Schnauzer
6. Pug
7. Border Collie
8. Cocker Spaniel
9. Terriers
10. Mutts

What is hard to believe is that is just a fraction of the awesome dog breeds out there. Even within these listed, there are tons of deviations. Like there are several different types of Terriers, or Schnauzer’s can either be standard or miniature. There are so many different dogs and no two dogs are alike. 

Are you wondering what type of dog is best for you? Luckily the internet is here and you can easily narror down the search with this handy Which Breed is Right For You Quiz from Dog Time.