Dog Breed Directory: a List of All Kinds of Dog Breeds Including Small Dog Breeds
Choosing a breed of dog is a big decision. Different breeds have different temperaments; some dogs are everyone’s best friend, others are affectionate with their owner and family members but more reserved around other people. Some are good with children while other dog breeds are best for adults. Check out our dog breed directory at the bottom of this page.
Exercise Requirements
Some dog breeds also have different exercise requirements. Dogs like Australian Shepherds require lost of daily exercise, while Great Danes are big couch potatoes.
Grooming Needs
Grooming needs can also vary with dog breeds. Some shed a lot while others are low shedding breeds. Dogs like Bichons and Springer Spaniels need frequent grooming and regular brushing to keep their traditional “look,” while other breeds such as Labs can generally get by with just a bath and a nail trim and an occasional brushing.
Potential Health Issues
There are also some medical issues to consider. For instance, some dogs are genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia and this is something you need to look into with your breeder before you get your dog. Other dog breeds are prone to skin problems or ear problems.
agility trainingDo Your Research
So when you are considering getting a dog, you need to do your research. It is a good idea to get a book about all kinds of dog breeds. Talk to friends who have dogs, as well as dog breeders. Attending a dog show or two is a good idea. You’ll get a chance to see a variety of breeds in the same place, as well as an opportunity to talk to different breeders. Getting a dog is a big decision because you are going to have many years with your pet; you want your dog to be a good fit for your lifestyle and family situation. For a more indepth look, read our articles on:
Choosing a Dog Breed: Which Breed of Dog is Right for You?
What Type of Dog Would Suit you Best: A Look at Dog Breeds
Dog Breeds Good with Children
If you decide to buy a purebred dog, be sure to research breeders carefully and only buy from a responsible breeder. Avoid “backyard breeders” that you often see in the newspaper classified ads. By this we mean Mary and John who have a purebred German Shepherd and decide to mate it with their friend’s German Shepherd without any knowledge about breeding. If the breeder is not knowledgeable, you could end up with a dog that has problems “bred” into him, such as hip dysplasia, skin disorders and other issues.
Directory of Breed of Dogs
Below is an alphabetical directory of all kinds of dog breeds to get you started. Below it are some recommended books about dog breeds. We highly recommend you get one to help with your research. Also see our pages on Toy Dogs and Small Dog Breeds and types of dogs which describes the seven AKC dog groups. Not sure if you want a purebred or mixed breed? Read our article comparing them.
A-C
Affenpinscher American Staffordshire Terrier
Afghan Hound American Water Spaniel
Airedale Terrier Anatolian Shepherd
Akita Australian Cattle Dog
Alaskan Malamute Australian Shepherd
American Eskimo Dog Australian Terrier
American Foxhound
Basenji Basset Hound
Beagle Bearded Collie
Bedlington Terrier Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog Belgian Tervuren
Bernese Mountain Dog Bichon Frise
Black and Tan Coonhound Bloodhound
Bluetick Coonhound Border Collie
Border Terrier Borzoi
Boston Terrier Bouvier Des Flandres
Boxer Briard
Brittany Spaniel Brussels Griffon
Bull Terrier Bulldog
Bullmastiff
Cairn Terrier Canaan Dog
Cane Corso Mastiff Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chihuahua
Chinese Crested Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow Chow Clumber Spaniel
Cockapoo Cocker Spaniel
Collie Coton De Tulear
D-G
Dachshund Dalmatian
Dandi Dinmont Terrier Doberman Pinscher
Dogue De Bordeaux
English Bulldog English Cocker Spaniel
English Setter English Springer Spaniel
Field Spaniel Fila Brasileiro
Flat Coated Retriever Smooth Fox Terrier
Toy Fox Terrier Wire Fox Terrier
French Bulldog
German Shepherd German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer Golden Retriever
Goldendoodle Gordon Setter
Great Dane Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Greyhound
H-N
Havanese
Irish Setter Ibizan Hound
Irish Water Spaniel Irish Terrier
Italian Greyhound Irish Wolfhound
Jack Russell Terrier Japanese Chin
Keeshond Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor Kuvasz
Labrador Retriever Labradoodle
Lakeland Terrier Lhasa Apso
Lowchen
Maltese Manchester Terrier
Mastiff Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Pinscher Mixed Breed
Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland
Norfolk Terrier Norwich Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
O-S
Olde English Sheepdog Otterhound
Papillon Patterdale Terrier (Fell Terrier)
Pekingese Petite Basset Griffon Vandeen
Pharaoh Hound Pointer
Pomeranian Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog Pug
Puli
Rat Terrier
Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler
Saint Bernard – St. Bernard Saluki
Samoyed Schipperke
Giant Schnauzer Mini Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer Scottish Deerhound
Scottish Terrier Sealyham Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog – Sheltie Shiba Inu
Shih Tzu Shiloh Shepherd
Siberian Husky Silky Terrier
Skye Terrier Sloughi
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier South Russian Ovcharka
Spinone Italiano Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Sussex Spaniel Swedish Vallhund
T-Z
Thai Ridgeback Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier
Tosa Inu Treeing Walker Coonhound
Vizsla
Weimaraner Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Welsh Terrier
Welsh Springer Spaniel Whippet
West Highland White Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
