Why Is There No Exact Number of Dog Breeds? Understanding Breed Recognition Organizations

If you're a dog lover, you've undoubtedly wondered at some point how many different dog breeds there are. The answer is surprisingly tricky. You might expect a neat number maybe a few hundred but the truth is that no two sources agree. While some groups recognise over 400 breeds others only list about 200. Wonder why is there such big difference?

There is more to dog breeds than just adorable appearances and beautiful names. They have history, culture, science and even politics behind them. Understanding why there’s no exact number of dog breeds can help us appreciate the amazing diversity of dogs we see around us today.

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This blog dives into how dog breeds are classified the major organizations behind breed recognition and the reasons the breed list keeps expanding.

What Exactly Is a Dog Breed?

The definition of a breed must be understood before we can discuss numbers.

A dog breed is a group of dogs that share predictable physical traits, behaviors and genetic patterns. For example Golden Retrievers tend to be friendly, athletic and golden colored. Dachshunds are short legged and long bodied. These characteristics don’t happen by accident they’re created through selective breeding where humans chose dogs with specific traits and bred them over generations.

Brief History of Dog Breeding

For thousands of years dogs have been bred. Dogs were developed by early humans to aid in hunting, guarding, herding and companionship. Certain characteristics evolved over time giving rise to the various breeds that exist today.

However dog breeding was never a global organized effort. Different regions created their own breeds to suit local needs. That’s why you will find unique breeds in different parts of the world, many of which are not widely recognized outside their home countries.

As a result the number of dog breeds continued to grow organically rather than through a single global standard.

Who Decides What Counts as a Breed?

Here’s where things get interesting.

There is no one global authority that determines what counts as a dog breed. Instead several major organizations maintain their own breed lists with their own criteria.

1. American Kennel Club

American Kennel Club is one of the most well known breed registries in the United States.

It currently recognizes a little over 200 dog breeds.

To be recognized a breed must have a set standard a stable population and a national breed club in the U.S.

2. The Federation Cynologique International

The Federation Cynologique Intrnational is an international organization that represents kennel clubs from over 80 countries.

It recognizes about 350+ breeds making it one of the largest global registries.

3. Other Organizations

•   The Kennel Club UK
•     Canadian Kennel Club
•     United Kennel Club UKC

Each has its own rules and many recognize breeds that others do not.

Because each organization follows its own criteria the total number of recognized breeds changes depending on who you ask.

How many dog breeds are in the world, Why there is no Exact Number of the Dog Breeds?

There are several major reasons why the question how many dog breeds are in the world has no single correct answer.

How many dog breeds are in the world? The number varies due to standards, recognition, and new breeds. Read more