by By tracing the history of dog breed groups back to their beginnings, it’s possible to find out what task the dogs were originally developed to perform. This allows us to categorize dog breeds according to their intended purposes into six general dog breed groups.
The dogs in each of the groups explained below share common behavior traits, for which they were bred selectively for to make them good at their doing their specific jobs. In current day and age, when kept as pets, they will all show similarities in the way they adapt to domestic life, but the problems that they encounter are likely still to be the same.
This helps us choose which dog is best suited to our lifestyle. As breeding becomes more selective, gene pools become smaller, and this results in a wide variety of inherited diseases in dog breeds.
Always carefully check health certificates and bloodlines when purchasing a puppy, to ensure good health for the life of your dog. Of course, whether you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder or adopt one from a shelter, always take them to your veterinarian as soon as you can for a full health checkup.
Below is some basic information about six breed groups as defined in the past:
Dogs to help hunters
These dogs were bred to help hunters locating, shooting, and retrieving game in the field. They typically enjoy retrieving and are usually very willing to please. They make very good pets, but their large size and high energy levels mean that they are not suitable for owners who do not have the same desire to exercise. Examples of this breed group would include Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers.
Dogs to help shepherds
Shepherd dogs fall into two groups: 1) the popular herders and 2) the less well-known flock guardians.
Herding dogs have high energy levels and a powerful desire to chase. Those bred to herd cattle usually have a stronger will than sheepdogs, but both enjoy a close bond with their owners. Flock guardians were bred to live with sheep and are close-bonding and protective. An example in this breed group would be a Border Collie.
Dogs to hunt
Hunting dogs fall into two categories: 1) those that hunt by sight, and 2) those that follow trails.
While good natured and easygoing, they are independent and less willing to please than other dogs. They can cause problems on walks, as their desire to hunt is still very strong, and they have a lot of energy. A great example in this breed group is the Beagle.
Dogs to kill vermin
Bred to catch and kill, these tenacious, festive breeds are popular as pets due to their small size, but owners should be aware of their propensity to be predatory towards small animals.
They lean towards using aggression to solve problems and need good early socialization and training. These dogs have strong personalities, and our great characters. The Jack Russell Terrier is an example for this breed group.
Companion dogs
For generations, companion dogs have been bred as pets. They are sweet natured and gentle, and their small size makes them easy to care for. Only a few of the dog breeds often classed as companion dogs were developed purely for this purpose; most were originally bred as watch Dogs or for some type of work. A Chihuahua falls under this breed group.
Other working dogs
Many dogs were bred for other purposes, such as to guard, pull sleds, or fight. Each breed has a temperament to suit the work it was required to do. Always investigate dog breeds origins before buying or adopting one, to see if it will make a suitable pet and be safe to be around your family. The St. Bernard is an excellent example of a working dog.
Are there additional dog breed groups?
The short answer is yes – but when you look at the listings that show seven or eight different dog breed groups, what you’ll see is that they all tie back to these six dog breed groups.
Different canine organizations and groups have either expanded the list or modified dog breed group names to align with an expanded separation of breeds in a group.
Dog breed groups that you will commonly see listed might include: Sporting, Hound, Terrier, Toy, Working, Non-Sporting, Herding, Hybrid and even Mixed-Breed.
As was mentioned earlier, all these dog breed groups fall into one of the six listed above and how dogs were viewed in early days.
Fun Fact About A Dog Breed
We bet you didn’t know that Dalmatians were bred to run alongside or under carriages in order to make a fashion statement. This is why in the past they were referred to as “carriage dogs”. Since the breed was developed specifically for such a purpose, it is easy to train the dogs to behave like this for demonstrations.
