How many different hounds are there

Sporting - This group includes dogs that were bred to help hunt birds, such as ducks and geese. Hound - The hound group includes both sighthounds, such as the Afghan hound and Irish wolfhound, and scent hounds, like the bloodhound and the beagle. Hound breeds were generally bred to track both large and small game. Today, some work to find missing children, locate earthquake victims under rubble, and even sniff for damaging insects in paintings, according to ArtNet.

Terrier - Dogs in this group were initially bred to help control the rodent population. Stout and energetic, smaller terriers would burrow after rats and other rodents, while the larger breeds tended to dig up the nests of their prey.

Many bear the name of the place they originated, such as Cairn or Staffordshire. Herding - Herding breeds were originally bred to help control livestock, such as sheep and cattle. They tend to be agile and intelligent, easy to train, and responsive to human commands. This is why some herding breeds, such as the German shepherd, also make excellent police, military, and search and rescue dogs.

Working - Working breeds are those bred to perform specific jobs that don't involve hunting or herding. This includes sled dogs like the Siberian husky, search and rescue dogs like the St. Bernard, and larger breeds like the Rottweiler, which the Rottweiler Club of the United Kingdom says was bred to guard cattle being driven to market.

Non-sporting - This group is for breeds who aren't easily categorized into the other groups. Non-sporting dogs include the Dalmatian, the poodle, and the chow chow, as well as other dogs bred simply for companionship or to perform roles that don't fall under the other main categories.

Toy - The toy group includes all of the tiniest breeds. Some, such as the Yorkshire terrier terrier group or the toy poodle non-sporting group would be classified elsewhere if not for their diminutive size. Generally, under 10 pounds, these are lapdogs bred primarily for companionship. Worldwide, the FCI lists officially recognized breeds. These don't include experimental breeds that have yet to achieve official status.

Official lists also don't include mixed-breed dogs, not even "designer" crossbreeds like the goldendoodle a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle or the puggle a mix of beagle and pug. As cute and as popular as these hip new pups are, the fact that they're mixed breed dogs with no established standards for health disqualifies them for purebred certification.

As with any wildly popular breed, prospective parents should work to make sure a puppy is healthy and a breeder is ethical before purchasing a dog. And any breed that winds up at your local animal shelter could end up being your forever friend. With eight more breed hopefuls currently listed in the AKC's miscellaneous class and enterprising dog breeders continuing to experiment with creating new varieties, the number of dog breeds is ever-expanding. But at the end of the day, whether a dog belongs to an officially recognized breed or is a mashup of a dozen different mutts makes no difference to his capacity to love you and make a fantastic pet.

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of furbabies. Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U.

Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. Dachshund Lifespan: years. Basset Hound Lifespan: years. Rhodesian Ridgeback Lifespan: years. Dignified Sensitive Mischievous Strong Willed Bloodhound Lifespan: years. Stubborn Affectionate Gentle Even Tempered Whippet Lifespan: years. Irish Wolfhound Lifespan: years. Basenji Lifespan: years. Norwegian Elkhound Lifespan: years. Strong Willed Hardy Intelligent Playful Borzoi Lifespan: years.

Afghan Hound Lifespan: years. Black and Tan Coonhound Lifespan: years. The Beagle plays hard and rests hard, making him an excellent companion for an active family that has the time to interact with him. His smaller-scale size marries the pleading-eye, floppy-eared look of hounds with almost puppy-like proportions, even in adulthood. English Foxhound : If the Beagle is recognizable for his shorter legs and long body, the English Foxhound distinguishes himself with long, slender legs and more proportional ears.

His tail tells the tale of this alert, observant breed, often sticking straight up when something catches his eye. Capable of crossing wide distances quickly and built for running, a sturdy lead or careful training is a must with this speedy breed. Harrier: While his breed name might not inspire pleasant associations, this pack-thriving hunting hound was a favorable companion during medieval times. The Harrier brings together the lively personality of the Beagle with the powerful build of the English Foxhound, growing to a final size somewhere between the two.

His almost-disproportionately long tail makes him easy to spot in dense brush. Otterhound: Although otter hunting is no longer legal, the strong, shaggy Otterhound still shows many of the traits he was bred for, such as a love of water and webbed feet to aid in swimming. His shaggy coat gives him a memorable look, but also provided padding and protection against the sharp claws of the otters he once chased away from commercial fishing areas in England.

Greyhound: If any dog could be intrinsically linked to running, it would be the impossibly-sleek Greyhound , with his top speed of 45 MPH. Originally bred in England as a courser hunting dog that could keep pace with hunted deer, today this breed is famous for their commercial racing skills.

While the Greyhound is adept at sprinting, he also makes an excellent apartment dog. Although commonly and mistakenly thought to be a hyper or hard-to-handle dog in domestic homes, he actually sleeps up to 18 hours a day and makes a loving companion.

Whippet: If Greyhounds are the gentle, occasionally sleepy giants of the sleek English coursers, their Whippet cousins got the full measure of energy.

While they, like Greyhounds, generally refrain from barking, they do need plenty of exercise. Whippets resemble Greyhounds in body shape but are generally noticeably smaller, with a shorter neck. A good lead and a sturdy fence is advisable with this breed since he can reach a top speed of 35 MPH. The International Hounds While England and America have obviously made their mark among the recognized hound breeds, the rest of the world also offers up an intriguing assortment of these handsome canines.