Dog Breed Quiz

Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) were the first animals domesticated by humans, with the process beginning roughly 15,000 - 40,000 years ago from wolf ancestors in Eurasia. Today there are approximately 340 recognized dog breeds, organized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), with different kennel clubs worldwide recognizing varying numbers of breeds. Dogs were selectively bred over thousands of years for specific purposes - Hunting, herding, guarding, sledding, companionship - Creating the extraordinary diversity of breeds we see today, from the Chihuahua (2 - 6 pounds) to the Great Dane (100 - 200 pounds).

Dog Breed Groups and Characteristics

The American Kennel Club (AKC) organizes dog breeds into seven main groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog breed in the United States for over 30 years. Herding breeds like the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, and German Shepherd are highly intelligent and excel at obedience training. Scent hounds like Bloodhounds have up to 300 million olfactory receptor cells (compared to about 6 million in humans), making them extraordinary trackers. Sight hounds like Greyhounds rely on vision and speed - Greyhounds can reach 45 mph in a sprint.

Some breeds have extraordinary specializations: the Newfoundland has webbed feet and a water-resistant coat for water rescue; the Siberian Husky can travel 100 miles per day in extreme cold; the Belgian Malinois is used extensively by military and police for its drive, intelligence, and athleticism. Dogs serve humanity as service animals for the blind and hearing-impaired, search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs, detection dogs (for drugs, explosives, and even cancer), and of course as beloved companions. The bond between humans and dogs - Sometimes called the "dog-human bond" - Has been extensively studied and shown to have real psychological and health benefits for both species. Also try our animal trivia quiz and bird quiz.