There are many different types of dogs, each with their own personality and set of characteristics. What most people don’t know is that all dogs can be divided into seven main dog groups: sporting dogs, hound dogs, working dogs, terrier dogs, toy breeds, non-sporting breeds, and herding breeds. In this blog post, we will discuss each one of these groups in detail.
What Are Dog Groups?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes seven groups of dogs: sporting dogs, hound dogs, working dogs, terrier dogs, toy breeds, non-sporting breeds, and herding breeds.
What are the 7 main groups of dogs?
Sporting Group
The sporting group is made up of dogs bred for hunting. Sporting dogs such as retrievers assisted in retrieving fowls while the pointing breeds helped with other birds such as quals. Below is a list of sporting dog breeds.
- American Water Spaniel
- Barbet
- Boykin Spaniel
- Brittany
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Clumber Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel
- Curly-Coated Retriever
- English Cocker Spaniel
- English Setter
- English Springer Spaniel
- Field Spaniel
- Flat-Coated Retriever
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- German Wirehaired Pointer
- Irish Setter
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Labrador Retriever
- Lagotto Romagnolo
- Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- Pointer
- Spinone Italiano
- Sussex Spaniel
- Vizsla
- Weimaraner
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Wirehaired Vizsla
Hound Group
The hound group is made up of dogs bred for tracking game—such as deer, hare, or foxes—by sight or scent. Here are the dog breeds in the hound group.
- Afghan Hound
- American English Coonhound
- American Foxhound
- Azawakh
- Basset Hound
- Beagle
- Black and Tan Coonhound
- Bloodhound
- Bluetick Coonhound
- Borzoi
- Cirneco dell’Etna
- Dachshund
- English Foxhound
- Grand Basset Griffon
- Greyhound
- Harrier
- Ibizan Hound
- Irish Wolfhound
- Norwegian Elkhound
- Otterhound
- Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
- Pharaoh Hound
- Plott Hound
- Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
- Redbone Coonhound
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Saluki
- Scottish Deerhound
- Sloughi
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Whippet
Working Group
The working group is made up of dogs bred for guarding property, pulling sleds, and performing water rescues. The working group includes the following dog breeds.
- Akita
- Alaskan Malamute
- Anatolian Shepherd Dog
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Black Russian Terrier
- Boerboel
- Boxer
- Bullmastiff
- Cane Corso
- Chinook
- Doberman Pinscher
- Dogo Argentino
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- German Pinscher
- Giant Schnauzer
- Great Dane
- Great Pyrenees
- Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
- Komondor
- Kuvasz
- Leonberger
- Mastiff
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Newfoundland
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Rottweiler
- Saint Bernard
- Samoyed
- Siberian Husky
- Standard Schnauzer
- Tibetan Mastiff
Terrier Group
The terrier group is made up of dogs bred to hunt rodents and other small animals—such as weasels, rats, and badgers—both above and below ground. The terrier group includes these dog breeds.
- Airedale Terrier
- American Hairless Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Australian Terrier
- Bedlington Terrier
- Border Terrier
- Bull Terrier
- Cairn Terriers
- Cesky Terrier
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- Glen of Imaal Terrier
- Irish Terrier
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Lakeland Terrier
- Manchester Terrier
- Miniature Bull Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Norfolk Terrier
- Norwich Terrier
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Rat Terrier
- Russell Terrier
- Scottish Terrier
- Sealyham Terrier
- Skye Terrie
- Smooth Fox Terrier
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Welsh Terrier
- West Highland White Terrier
- Wire Fox Terrier
Toy Group
The toy group is made up of dogs bred for companionship. Here is a list of the small breeds in the toy group.
- Affenpinscher
- Biewer Terrier
- Brussels Griffon
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Chihuahua
- Chinese Crested
- English Toy Spaniel
- Havanese
- Italian Greyhound
- Japanese Chin
- Maltese
- Manchester Terrier (Toy)
- Miniature Pinscher
- Papillon
- Pekingese
- Pomeranian
- Poodle (Toy)
- Pug
- Russian Toy
- Shih Tzu
- Silky Terrier
- Toy Fox Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
Non-Sporting Group
The non-sporting group is made up of dog breeds that don’t fit into any other category. Below is a complete list of the dog breeds in the non-sporting group.
- American Eskimo Dog
- Bichon Frise
- Boston Terrier
- Bulldog
- Chinese Shar-Pei
- Chow Chow
- Coton de Tulear
- Dalmatian
- Finnish Spitz
- French Bulldog
- Lhasa Apso
- Löwchen
- Norwegian Lundehund
- Poodle (Miniature)
- Poodle (Standard)
- Schipperke
- Shiba Inu
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Tibetan Terrier
- Xoloitzcuintli
Herding Group
The herding group is made up of dogs bred to herd livestock—such as sheep, cattle, and goats. The herding group includes the following dog breeds.
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Australian Shepherd
- Bearded Collie
- Beauceron
- Belgian Laekenois
- Belgian Malinois
- Belgian Sheepdog
- Belgian Tervuren
- Bergamasco Sheepdog
- Berger Picard
- Border Collie
- Bouvier des Flandres
- Briard
- Canaan Dog
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Collie
- Entlebucher Mountain Dog
- Finnish Lapphund
- German Shepherd Dog
- Icelandic Sheepdog
- Miniature American Shepherd
- Mudi
- Norwegian Buhund
- Old English Sheepdog
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Polish Lowland Sheepdog
- Puli
- Pumi
- Pyrenean Shepherd
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Spanish Water Dog
- Swedish Vallhund
Dog Groups FAQ
What dog Group is a pitbull?
The pitbull is a member of the terrier group.
What dog group is a golden retriever?
The golden retriever is a member of the sporting group.
How are dog groups decided?
Dog groups are decided by their breeding and purpose. For example, dogs bred for hunting are in the sporting group while those bred to herd livestock are in the herding group.
What is the most popular dog Group?
The most popular dog group is the sporting group, which includes breeds like the golden retriever and Labrador retriever. The working group, which includes the German shepherd and bulldog, is also popular.
What breed group is a greyhound?
The greyhound is a member of the hound group. This group includes dogs that were bred for tracking game by sight or scent. Other members of the hound group include the basset hound and beagle. What are dog groups?
What AKC Group is the corgi in?
The corgi is a member of the AKC herding group. This group includes dogs that were bred to herd livestock such as sheep, cattle, and goats. Other members of the herding group include the Australian shepherd and border collie.
What group is the bichon Frise in?
The bichon Frise is a member of the AKC non-sporting group. This group includes dog breeds that don’t fit into any other category, such as the bulldog and shih tzu.
What group are Dalmatians?
Dalmatians are a member of the AKC non-sporting group.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there is a lot of diversity among the seven groups of dogs. Whether you’re looking for a hunting companion or a cuddly toy, there’s sure to be a breed that’s perfect for you. So, what dog group will you choose?
Do some research on the different groups and find the one that best fits your lifestyle and personality. Once you’ve found your perfect match, head to your local shelter, adoption center, or rescue group and adopt a furry friend today.