Historically, people have been breeding dogs from the start of history. Domestic dogs were developed via wolf breeding, which dates back thousands of years. Humans have purposely bred dogs to perform a variety of duties from the beginning of time. Hunting, protecting, and herding are said to be among the early tasks joyfully undertaken by the animal that would come to be known as “man’s best friend,” according to legend.
For thousands of years, people have selectively selected dogs to have the physical and mental characteristics that are most appropriate for the task that is required of them. Two early examples of dogs developed for specialized professions are the slim Greyhound kinds, who were intended to hunt swift-footed prey, and the massive mastiff types, which were bred for guarding and fighting duties.
As humans progressed in sophistication, so did their canine companions. Eventually, specialized breeds of dogs developed that were specifically bred to meet the demands and situations of the breeders’ respective communities. Because of the Greyhound, the Irish Wolfhound and the little Italian Greyhound all sprang from the same ancestor as the enormous Irish Wolfhound. You’d never confuse one of the three for the other since they all have a unique familial resemblance.
In that case, when is a breed considered to be a breed rather than a sort or kind of dog? The easiest way to describe a breed is to state that it “breeds true” all of the time. As a result, mating one Irish Setter to another Irish Setter will always result in the production of pups who are easily identified as Irish Setters.
In a document known as a “breed standard,” the ideal physical characteristics, movement, and temperament of each breed are laid out in detail. For example, the Cocker Spaniel breed standard specifies the characteristics that distinguish it from a Springer Spaniel and make it a Cocker Spaniel.
The AKC standard for each breed is developed by a “parent club,” which is a national group recognized by the AKC that is dedicated to a certain breed. Once approved by the AKC, a standard serves as both a breeder’s “blueprint” and an evaluation tool for dog show judges who are evaluating the work of a particular breeder.
There are about 340 different dog breeds that are known all over the globe. The American Kennel Club recognizes a total of 197 different breeds.
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