'B' is for Dog Breeds - A List of Dog Breeds and Groups

There are a huge number of different dog breeds, of widely varying abilities, temperaments, shapes, colours and sizes!

This list consists of those breeds recognised by the Kennel Club of Great Britain. I have used the same groupings as the KC - Hound Group, Gundog Group, Terrier Group, Utility Group, Working Group, Pastoral Group, and Toy Group.

Hound Group

These dogs were originally used for hunting either by sight or by scent. Examples of sight hounds are the Whippet and the Greyhound. The Beagle and the Bloodhound are examples of scent hounds. They require a significant amount of exercise and can be described as aloof and dignified, but make trustworthy companions.

Afghan Hound
Azawakh (no breed standard currently)
Basenji
Basset Bleu De Gascogne
Basset Fauve De Bretagne
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand)
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)
Basset Hound
Bavarian Mountain Hound (no breed standard currently)
Beagle
Bloodhound
Borzoi
Cirneco dell'Etna
Dachshund (Long Haired)
Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired)
Dachshund (Smooth Haired)
Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired)
Dachshund (Wire Haired)
Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired)
Deerhound
Finnish Spitz
Foxhound
Grand Bleu De Gascogne
Greyhound
Hamiltonstovare
Ibizan Hound
Irish Wolfhound
Norwegian Elkhound
Otterhound
Pharaoh Hound
Portuguese Podengo (Warren Hound)
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Saluki
Segugio Italiano
Sloughi
Whippet

Gundog Group

These dogs were originally trained to find live game and/or to retrieve game that had been shot and wounded. This breed group is divided into four categories - Retriever, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve and Setters although many of the breeds are capable of doing the same work as the others. They make good companions, their temperament makes them ideal all-round family dogs. They are perhaps the most intelligent of the breeds, resulting in their wide variety of uses and their ease of training. They are active dogs requiring plenty of exercise and attention.

Bracco Italiano
Brittany
English Setter
German Longhaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Gordon Setter
Hungarian Vizsla
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Italian Spinone
Kooikerhondje
Korthals Griffon (no breed standard currently)
Lagotto Romagnolo
Large Munsterlander
Pointer
Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)
Retriever (Curly Coated)
Retriever (Flat Coated)
Retriever (Golden)
Retriever (Labrador)
Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)
Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer (no breed standard currently)
Small Munsterlander (no breed standard currently)
Spaniel (American Cocker)
Spaniel (American Water) (no breed standard currently)Spaniel (Clumber)
Spaniel (Cocker)
Spaniel (English Springer)
Spaniel (Field)
Spaniel (Irish Water)
Spaniel (Sussex)
Spaniel (Welsh Springer)
Spanish Water Dog
Weimaraner

Terrier Group

Dogs which were originally bred and used for hunting vermin. 'Terrier' comes from the Latin word Terra, meaning earth. These hardy dog breeds were selectively bred to be brave and tough, and to pursue fox, badger, rat and otter, and others above and below ground. Terrier types have been known in the UK since ancient times, and as early as the Middle Ages, these game little dogs were portrayed by writers, and painters. It is believed that the British Isles is the origin of most terriers.
Originally, these brave canines were bred for the purpose for which they were used, and looks didn't matter. Nowadays , due to the efforts of breeders over the decades, the terriers have become attractive, whilst still retaining jovial, comical and in some cases fiery temperaments. Terriers are definitely dogs of character!

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

Utility Group

This dog breed group consists of various breeds of dog mostly of a non-sporting origin, including the Bulldog, Dalmatian, Japanese Akita and Poodle.
The name "Utility" basically means fitness for a purpose and this group consists of a very mixed and varied bunch, most breeds having been selectively bred to perform a specific function which isn't included in the sporting and working categories. Some of the breeds listed in the group are the oldest known breeds of dog in the world.

Akita
Boston Terrier
Bulldog
Caanan Dog
Chow Chow
Dalmatian
Eurasier
French Bulldog
German Spitz (Klein)
German Spitz (Mittel)
Japanese Akita Inu
Japanese Shiba Inu
Japanese Spitz
Keeshond
Korean Jindo
Lhasa Apso
Mexican Hairless (Intermediate)
Mexican Hairless (Miniature)
Mexican Hairless (Standard)
Miniature Schnauzer
Poodle (Miniature)
Poodle (Standard)
Poodle (Toy)
Schipperke
Schnauzer
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier

Working Group

These dogs were selectively bred to become guard dogs and search and rescue dogs. The working group has some of the most heroic dogs in the world, helping people in many walks of life, including the Boxer, Great Dane and St Bernard. This group consists of specialists in their field who excel in their line of work.

Alaskan Malamute
Beauceron
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bouvier Des Flandres
Boxer
Bullmastiff
Canadian Eskimo Dog
Dobermann
Dogue De Bordeaux
Entlebucher Mountain Dog (no breed standard currently)
German Pinscher
Giant Schnauzer
Great Dane
Greenland Dog
Hovawart
Leonberger
Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Portuguese Water Dog
Pyrenean Mastiff (no breed standard currently)
Rottweiler
Russian Black Terrier
St. Bernard
Siberian Husky
Tibetan Mastiff

Pastoral Group

This dog breed group consists of herding dogs that work with cattle, sheep, reindeer and other animals with cloven hoofs.
This type of dog usually has a double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are just some included in this group.

Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Bearded Cliole
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren)
Bergamasco
Border Collie
Briard
Catalan Sheepdog (no breed standard currently)
Collie (Rough)
Collie (Smooth)
Estrela Mountain Dog
Finnish Lapphund
German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)
Hungarian Kuvasz
Hungarian Puli
Komondor
Lancashire Heeler
Maremma Sheepdog
Norwegian Buhund
Old English Sheepdog
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Pyrenean Sheepdog
Samoyed
Shetland Sheepdog
Swedish Lapphund
Swedish Vallhund
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

Toy Group

These dogs are small companion or lap dogs. Many of the Toy breeds were bred for this (some have been placed into this category due to their size). They should have friendly personalities and love attention. They do not need a large amount of exercise and can be finicky eaters.
They are intelligent companions but owners must be careful with their attention as spoiled dogs can become protective of their owners. Ideally these dogs are extroverted companions and not 'just for show'.

Affenpinscher
Australian Silky Terrier
Bichon Frise
Bolognese
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
Chinese Crested
Coton De Tulear
English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)
Griffon Bruxellois
Havanese
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
King Charles Spaniel
Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)
Maltese
Miniature Pinscher
Papillon
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Pug
Yorkshire Terrier