The American Kennel Club registers dogs and provides a certified in print or electronic paper that displays the family tree of a dog and all of the other crucial information about the origin of a dog. The AKC has long been the backer for dogs and dog owners throughout the country.

Right now the AKC recognizes in excess of 160 purebred breeds of dogs. These range from the more obscure like the Borzoi or the Petit Basset Griffon Venden to the more common like the Labrador Retriever, the Cocker Spaniel or the German Shepherd.

The accepted breeds are further broken down into groups, which denote a grouping that fits the characteristics of the breed. These groups often suggest the use of the dog and what it was bred for in the past, whether it was for hunting, herding or even just for enjoyment.

The sporting group includes breeds that have inherent instincts for water and woods. Many of these dogs are good with hunting and other field activities. Breeds from the sporting groups need consistent, revitalizing exercise. Sporting dog breeds comprise pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels.

The hound groups of breeds were frequently used for hunting in the past. Many of them have an sharp sense of smell to go after a trail of prey. They also have immense stamina to further hunt down their game. This group includes Basset hounds, Beagles and Bloodhounds.

The working group was dogs that were bred for working such as pulling sleds or performing water rescues. The next group is the Terrier group and they were originally bred to hunt and kill vermin. Terriers usually have characteristically energetic and spunky personalities.

The toy group was mainly bred as a pet and as faithful to their title they tend to be tiny but bouncy. There are little dogs in every group however, so all diminutive dogs are not categorized into the toy group. Some of the toy breeds include the spunky Chihuahua and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The next group is the non-sporting group and it includes such breeds as the Chow-chow and Dalmatian. The Poodle is also part of the non-sporting group.

The newest classification group is the herding group. These groups were formerly part of the working group. These are the dogs that were bred to herd other animals such as sheep or cattle. A Shetland sheepdog or Sheltie and a Corgi are representative of the herding group. Each of the groups has their own particular distinctiveness and you will find the qualities you are looking for in a dog.