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You might wonder why you need to know about the breed of dog when you go out to buy a puppy. The answer is quite simple. All puppies for sale look cute but they won't stay that way for ever, but once you know what Dog Breed they belong to, you will be quite clear about what the puppy is going to grow up into. Details about his size, temperament, exercise needs and other relevant traits will be easily available for your reference. Plus, once you have all the information about the various Dog Breeds, you can decide which breed is best for you. some of the most popular breeds are the Chihuahua, Pug, Beagle, Bulldog, Boxer, Golden Retriever and Rottweiler, to name a few.
There are more than 150 Dog Breeds and this does not take into account new breeds which are being discovered with previously unexplored territories opening up. For a puppy to be considered a purebred dog, its father and mother must both be of the same breed and so must its ancestors dating back to the time that the breed was first established. Kennel Clubs throughout the world set the standards for breeds and, in the United States, it is the American Kennel Club which is the determining agency.
For ease of reference, the American Kennel Club has divided all purebred dogs into seven basic categories of Dog Breeds. They are: the Toy Group - small dogs which are bred only as pets. The Terrier Group has a strange history. They were originally bred to seek out and kill rats, but are now bred only as house pets. The Herding Dogs Group which, as the name suggests, consists of dogs which help herdsmen control their herds, be it sheep or cows or other animals. The Hound Dogs Group can hunt all game except birds. The Working Dogs Group, which encompasses Dog Breeds that do such jobs as pulling carts and guarding property. The Sporting Group which hunt and locate game birds and fetch them when they have been downed by their hunter owners. And finally there is the Non-Sporting Group. These are purebred dogs which do not fit into any of the other categories.
A new Dog Breed is either being discovered at regular intervals or is being created, so the list is growing longer. The creation of new Dog Breeds is usually done because these dog groups engage in specific styles of work. Dog Breeds are also created for marketing purposes. An interesting addition to new breeds is the recently discovered semi-feral type known as the New Guinea Singing Dog which has been documented and registered as a breed for purposes of preservation.
To gain recognition as a Dog Breed, the new group has to be documented in lists of antecedents called a stud book. After documentation, they have to be accepted as a Dog Breed in one of the major national dog registries. The registry slots the breed into an appropriate category and from then onwards it is called a Group. When the group is fully accepted, the stud book is closed. From here onwards, all dogs born of this breed bred from dogs in the stud book will be referred to as purebred.
Mick 
