How Many Breeds of Dogs Are There in the World?

This is a difficult question to answer because many varieties of dogs, which might be classifiable as separate breeds, are not recognized by the various international kennel clubs and breed registration groups. However, we can at least give a general count, knowing that it will most certainly be an underestimation.

The World Canine Organization is best known by its French title Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). It is the largest registry of dog breeds that is internationally accepted. At the time of this writing, the FCI recognizes 339 breeds of dogs which are divided into 10 groups based on the dog’s purpose or function or on its appearance or size. The 10 groups are:

1. Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs, other than Swiss Cattle Dogs (this group includes most of the dogs found classified as "herding dogs" by other kennel clubs).
2. Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid Breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and Other Breeds (the Molossian breeds include the dogs known as the mastiffs by most other kennel clubs)
3. Terriers
4. Dachshunds
5. Spitz and Primitive Types
6. Scenthounds and Related Breeds
7. Pointers and Setters
8. Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs
9. Companion and Toy Dogs
10. Sighthounds

Each group is divided into subgroups of dog breeds and each has been assigned a country or region of origin. While the country listed may not be the very first place where the dog breed appeared, it is usually the first nation to have recognized and registered the breed and currently is the home of the breed organization that determines the standard of these breeds, which is the description of the ideal qualities of a dog of that particular breed. You will probably find some surprises in this list, such as that the Australian Shepherd is actually a breed created in the United States, while the Pharaoh Hound was not developed in Egypt, but in Malta. You will also find that France, Germany, and Great Britain are responsible for creating more dog breeds than nearly the rest of the world combined.

Afghanistan

Afghan Hound (longhaired sighthound)

Anatolia

Anatolian Shepherd Dog (mountain type mastiff)

Argentina

Dogo Argentino (mastiff)

Australia

Australian Cattle Dog (cattle dog)

Australian Kelpie (sheepdog)

Australian Silky Terrier (toy terrier)

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog (cattle dog)

Australian Terrier (small-sized terrier)

Jack Russell Terrier (small-sized terrier)

Austria

Alpine Dachsbracke (leash hound)

Austrian Black and Tan Hound (medium scenthound)

Austrian Pinscher (pinscher)

Styrian coarse-haired Hound (medium scenthound)

Tyrolean Hound (medium scenthound)

Belgium

Belgian Sheepdog [4 varieties]

Groenendael (sheepdog)

Laekenois (sheepdog)

Malinois (sheepdog)

Tervueren(sheepdog)

Bloodhound (large scenthound)

Griffon Belge (companion/toy dog)

Griffon Bruxellois (companion/toy dog)

Petit Brabançon (companion/toy dog)

Schipperke (sheepdog)

Bosnia

Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound (medium scenthound)

Brazil

Fila Brasileiro (mastiff)

Canada

Newfoundland (mountain type mastiff)

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (retriever)

Central Africa

Basenji (primitive type)

Central Mediterranean

Maltese (companion/toy dog)

China

Chinese Crested dog (2 varieties)

Hairless (companion/toy dog)

Powderpuff (companion/toy dog)

Chow Chow (Asian spitz)

Pekingese (companion/toy dog)

Shar-Pei (mastiff)

Croatia

Croatian Sheepdog (Sheepdog)

Dalmatian (Scenthound)

Istrian Coarse-haired Hound (Medium scenthound)

Istrian Short-haired Hound (Medium scenthound)

Posavaz Hound (Medium scenthound)

Czechoslovakia

Ceský Fousek (Griffon-type pointer)

Cesky Terrier(Small-sized terrier)

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (Sheepdog)

Denmark

Broholmer (Mastiff)

Old Danish Pointer (Continental pointing dog)

Finland

Finnish Hound (Medium scenthound)

Finnish Lapphund (Nordic watchdog/herding dog)

Finnish Spitz (Nordic hunting dog)

Karelian Bear Dog (Nordic hunting dog)

Lapponian Herder (Nordic watchdog/herding dog)

France

Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie (medium scenthound)

Ariégeois (medium scenthound)

Barbet (water dog)

Basset Artésien Normand (small scenthound)

Basset Bleu de Gascogne (small scenthound)

Basset Fauve de Bretagne (small scenthound)

Beagle-Harrier (medium scenthound)

Beauceron (sheepdog)

Berger Picard (sheepdog)

Bichon Frise (companion/toy dog)

Billy (large scenthound)

Bouvier des Ardennes (cattle dog)

Bouvier des Flandres (cattle dog)

Braque d'Auvergne (continental pointing dog)

Braque de l'Ariège (continental pointing dog)

Braque du Bourbonnais (continental pointing dog)

Braque Français, type Gascogne (continental pointing dog)

Braque Français, type Pyrénées (continental pointing dog)

Braque Saint-Germain (continental pointing dog)

Briard (sheepdog)

Briquet Griffon Vendéen (medium scenthound)

Brittany Spaniel (spaniel-type pointer)

Chien d'Artois (medium scenthound)

Epagneul Bleu de Picardie (spaniel-type pointer)

Epagneul de Picardie (spaniel-type pointer)

Epagneul Français (spaniel-type pointer)

Epagneul Pont-Audemer (spaniel-type pointer)

Français Blanc et Noir (large scenthound)

Français Blanc et Orange (large scenthound)

Français Tricolore (large scenthound)

French Bulldog (companion/toy dog)

Gascon Saintongeois (medium scenthound)

Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir (large scenthound)

Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange (large scenthound)

Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore (large scenthound)

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (small scenthound)

Grand Bleu de Gascogne (large scenthound)

Grand Gascon Saintongeois (large scenthound)

Grand Griffon Vendéen (large scenthound)

Griffon Bleu de Gascogne (medium scenthound)

Griffon Fauve de Bretagne (medium scenthound)

Griffon Nivernais (medium scenthound)

Lowchen (companion/toy dog)

Papillion (companion/toy dog)

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (small scenthound)

Petit Bleu de Gascogne (medium scenthound)

Phalene (companion/toy dog)

Poitevin (large scenthound)

Poodle (four varieties)

Standard (companion/toy dog)

Medium Poodle (companion/toy dog)

Miniature Poodle (companion/toy dog)

Toy Poodle (companion/toy dog)

Porcelaine (medium scenthound)

Pyrenean Mountain Dog (mountain type mastiff)

Pyrenean Shepherd (sheepdog)

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (griffon-type pointer)

Germany

Affenpinscher (pinscher)

Bavarian Mountain Hound (leash hound)

Boxer (mastiff)

Deutscher Jagdterrier (German Hunting Terrier)

Doberman Pinscher (pinscher)

Eurasia (Asian spitz)

German Hound (small scenthound)

German Longhaired Pointer (spaniel-type pointer)

German Pinscher (pinscher)

German Shepherd Dog (sheepdog)

German Shorthaired Pointer (continental pointing dog)

German Spaniel (flushing dog)

German Spitz (Three varieties)

Grossspitz (European spitz)

Mittelspitz (European spitz)

Kleinspitz (European spitz)

German Wirehaired Pointer (continental pointing dog)

Giant Schnauzer (schnauzer)

Great Dane (mastiff)

Hanover Hound (leash hound)

Hovawart (mountain type mastiff)

Keeshond (European spitz)

Kromfohrländer (companion/toy dog)

Landseer (mountain type mastiff)

Large Munsterlander (spaniel-type pointer)

Leonberger (mountain type mastiff)

Miniature Dachshund (three varieties)

Smooth-haired (dachshund)

Wire-haired (dachshund)

Long-haired (dachshund)

Miniature Pinscher (pinscher)

Miniature Schnauzer (schnauzer)

Pomeranian (European spitz)

Pudelpointer (continental pointing dog)

Rabbit Dachshund (three varieties)

Smooth-haired (dachshund)

Wire-haired (dachshund)

Long-haired(dachshund)

Rottweiler (mastiff)

Small Munsterlander (spaniel-type pointer)

Standard Dachshund (three varieties)

Smooth-haired (dachshund)

Wire-haired (dachshund)

Long-haired (dachshund)

Standard Schnauzer (schnauzer)

Weimaraner (continental pointing dog)

Westphalian Dachsbracke (small scenthound)

Great Britain

Airedale Terrier (large/medium sized terrier)

Basset Hound (small scenthound)

Beagle (small scenthound)

Bearded Collie (sheepdog)

Bedlington Terrier (large/medium sized terrier)

Border Collie (sheepdog)

Border Terrier (large/medium sized terrier)

Bull Terrier (Miniature) (bull-type terrier)

Bull Terrier (Standard) (bull-type terrier)

Bulldog (mastiff)

Bullmastiff (mastiff)

Cairn Terrier (small sized terrier)

Cardigan Welsh Corgi (sheepdog)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (companion/toy dog)

Clumber Spaniel (flushing dog)

Curly Coated Retriever (retriever)

Dandie Dinmont Terrier (small sized terrier)

Deerhound (rough-haired sighthound)

English Cocker Spaniel (flushing dog)

English Foxhound (large scenthound)

English Mastiff (mastiff)

English Pointer (pointer)

English Setter (setter)

English Springer Spaniel (flushing dog)

English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) (toy terrier)

Field Spaniel (flushing dog)

Flat Coated Retriever (retriever)

Fox Terrier (Smooth) (large/medium sized terrier)

Fox Terrier (Wire) (large/medium sized terrier)

Golden Retriever (retriever)

Gordon Setter (setter)

Greyhound (shorthaired sighthound)

Harrier (medium scenthound)

King Charles Spaniel (companion/toy dog)

Labrador Retriever (retriever)

Lakeland Terrier (large/medium sized terrier)

Manchester Terrier (large/medium sized terrier)

Norfolk Terrier (small sized terrier)

Norwich Terrier (small sized terrier)

Old English Sheepdog (sheepdog)

Otterhound (large scenthound)

Parson Russell Terrier (large/medium-sized terrier)

Pembroke Welsh Corgi (sheepdog)

Pug (companion/toy dog)

Rough Collie (sheepdog)

Scottish Terrier (small-sized terrier)

Sealyham Terrier (small-sized terrier)

Shetland Sheepdog (sheepdog)

Skye Terrier (small-sized terrier)

Smooth Collie (sheepdog)

Staffordshire Bull Terrier (bull-type terrier)

Sussex Spaniel (flushing dog)

Welsh Springer Spaniel (flushing dog)

Welsh Terrier (large/medium-sized terrier)

West Highland White Terrier (small-sized terrier)

Whippet (shorthaired sighthound)

Yorkshire Terrier (toy terrier)

Greece

Hellenic Hound (medium scenthound)

Greenland

Greenland Dog (Nordic sledge dog)

Hungary

Hungarian Greyhound (shorthaired sighthound)

Hungarian Vizsla (Shorthaired) (continental pointing dog)

Hungarian Vizsla (Wirehaired) (continental pointing dog)

Komondor (sheepdog)

Kuvasz (sheepdog)

Mudi (sheepdog)

Puli (sheepdog)

Pumi (sheepdog)

Transylvanian Hound (medium scenthound)

Iceland

Icelandic Sheepdog (Nordic watchdog/herding dog)

Ireland

Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier (large/medium-sized terrier)

Irish Red and White Setter (setter)

Irish Setter (setter)

Irish Terrier (large/medium-sized terrier)

Irish Water Spaniel (water dog)

Irish Wolfhound (rough-haired sighthound)

Kerry Blue Terrier (large/medium-sized terrier)

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier (large/medium-sized terrier)

Israel

Canaan Dog (primitive type)

Italy

Bergamasco (sheepdog)

Bolognese (companion/toy dog)

Bracco Italiano (continental pointing dog)

Cane Corso Italiano (mastiff)

Cirneco dell'Etna (primitive type-hunting dog)

Italian Greyhound (shorthaired sighthound)

Lagotto Romagnolo (water dog)

Maremma Sheepdog (sheepdog)

Neapolitan Mastiff (mastiff)

Segugio Italiano (medium scenthound)

Spinone Italiano (griffon-type pointer)

Volpino Italiano (European spitz)

Japan

Akita (Asian spitz)

American Akita (Asian spitz)

Hokkaido (Asian spitz)

Japanese Chin (companion/toy dog)

Japanese Spitz (Asian spitz)

Japanese Terrier [Nihon Teria] (small sized terrier)

Kai (Asian spitz)

Kishu (Asian spitz)

Shiba (Asian spitz)

Shikoku (Asian spitz)

Tosa Inu (mastiff)

Korea

Korean Jindo (Asian spitz)

Madagascar

Coton de Tuléar (companion/toy dog)

Mali

Azawakh (shorthaired sighthound)

Malta

Pharaoh Hound (primitive type)

Mexico

Chihuahua (Two varieties)

Shorthaired (companion/toy dog)

Longhaired (companion/toy dog)

Mexican Hairless Dog (primitive type)

Middle East

Saluki (longhaired sighthound)

Montenegro

Montenegrin Mountain Hound (medium scenthound)

Morocco

Aidi (mountain type mastiff)

Sloughi (Arabian Greyhound) (shorthaired sighthound)

Netherlands

Dutch Partridge Dog (spaniel-type pointer)

Dutch Schapendoes (sheepdog)

Dutch Shepherd Dog (sheepdog)

Dutch Smoushond (smoushond)

Kooikerhondje (flushing dog)

Saarloos Wolfdog (sheepdog)

Stabyhoun (spaniel-type pointer)

Wetterhoun (water dog)

Norway

Black Norwegian Elkhound (Nordic hunting dog)

Dunker (medium scenthound)

Haldenstøvare (medium scenthound)

Hygenhund (medium scenthound)

Norwegian Buhund (Nordic watchdog/herding dog)

Norwegian Elkhound (Nordic hunting dog)

Norwegian Lundehund (Nordic hunting dog)

Peru

Peruvian Hairless Dog (primitive type)

Poland

Chart Polski (Polish Greyhound)(shorthaired sighthound)

Polish Hound (medium scenthound)

Polish Lowland Sheepdog (sheepdog)

Tatra Shepherd Dog (sheepdog)

Portugal

Cão Fila de São Miguel (mastiff)

Castro Laboreiro Dog (mountain type mastiff)

Estrela Mountain Dog (mountain type mastiff)

Podengo Português (primitive type-hunting dog)

Portuguese Pointer (continental pointing dog)

Portuguese Sheepdog (sheepdog)

Portuguese Water Dog (water dog)

Rafeiro of Alentejo (mountain type mastiff)

Russia

Borzoi (longhaired sighthound)

Caucasian Shepherd Dog (mountain type mastiff)

Central Asia Shepherd Dog (mountain type mastiff)

East Siberian Laika (Nordic hunting dog)

Russo-European Laika (Nordic hunting dog)

Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier [Russian Black Terrier] (Pinscher and Schnauzer type)

Samoyed (Nordic sledge dog)

South Russian Shepherd Dog (sheepdog)

West Siberian Laika (Nordic hunting dog)

Serbia

Illyrian Shepherd Dog (mountain type mastiff)

Serbian Hound (medium scenthound)

Serbian Tricolour Hound (medium scenthound)

Slovakia

Slovakian Chuvach (sheepdog)

Slovakian Hound (medium scenthound)

Slovenský Hrubosrsty Stavac (griffon-type pointer)

Tchiorny Terrier (Tchiorny terrier)

Slovenia

Karst Shepherd Dog (mountain type mastiff)

Spain

Ca de Bou (mastiff)

Catalan Sheepdog (sheepdog)

Dogo Canario (mastiff)

Majorca Shepherd Dog (sheepdog)

Podenco Canario (primitive type-hunting dog)

Podenco Ibicenco (primitive type-hunting dog)

Pyrenean Mastiff (mountain type mastiff)

Spanish Greyhound (shorthaired sighthound)

Spanish Hound (medium scenthound)

Spanish Mastiff (mountain type mastiff)

Spanish Pointer (continental pointing dog)

Spanish Water Dog (water dog)

Sweden

Drever (small scenthound)

Hamiltonstövare (medium scenthound)

Norrbottenspets (Nordic hunting dog)

Schillerstövare (medium scenthound)

Smålandsstövare (medium scenthound)

Swedish Elkhound (Nordic hunting dog)

Swedish Lapphund (Nordic watchdog/herding dog)

Swedish Vallhund (Nordic watchdog/herding dog)

Switzerland

Appenzeller Mountain Dog (Swiss mountain dog)

Bernese Mountain Dog (Swiss mountain dog)

Entlebucher Mountain Dog (Swiss mountain dog)

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (Swiss mountain dog)

Saint Bernard (mountain type mastiff)

Small Swiss Hound (Four varieties)

Small Bernese Hound (small scenthound)

Small Jura Hound (small scenthound)

Small Lucerne Hound (small scenthound)

Small Schwyz Hound (small scenthound)

Swiss Hound (Four varieties)

Bernese Hound (medium scenthound)

Jura Hound (medium scenthound)

Lucerne Hound (medium scenthound)

Schwyz Hound (medium scenthound)

Thailand

Thai Ridgeback (primitive type-ridgeback)

Tibet

Lhasa Apso (companion/toy dog)

Shih Tzu (companion/toy dog)

Tibetan Mastiff (mountain type mastiff)

Tibetan Spaniel (companion/toy dog)

Tibetan Terrier (companion/toy dog)

United States of America

Alaskan Malamute (Nordic sledge dog)

American Cocker Spaniel (flushing dog)

American Foxhound (large scenthound)

American Staffordshire Terrier (bull-type terrier)

American Water Spaniel (water dog)

Australian Shepherd (sheepdog)

Black and Tan Coonhound (large scenthound)

Boston Terrier (companion/toy dog)

Chesapeake Bay Retriever (retriever)

Siberian Husky (Nordic sledge dog)

Toy Fox Terrier (toy terrier)

Western Mediterranean

Havanese (companion/toy dog)

Zimbabwe

Rhodesian Ridgeback (primitive type-ridgeback)

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