How many dog breeds are there?
Anyone who lets their gaze wander through the (dog) park will surely discover more dog breeds than they can count on one hand. But how many breeds are there worldwide?
It depends on the association...
According to the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), there are currently 246 recognized dog breeds (as of 2021). However, this number is by no means set in stone. The number of breeds varies depending on the dog breeding association.
In addition to the FCI, the world's largest cynological umbrella organization, there are many other associations such as the AKC (*American Kennel Club*) and the TKC (*The Kennel Club*). They all have different criteria for breeds and therefore also different official breed counts. This means: Just because one association recognizes a dog as an official breed, it doesn't have to apply to all other associations.
400 to 800 dog breeds worldwide
Additionally, so-called designer and hybrid dogs such as the →Doodle breeds are not counted. Nowadays, there are so many crossbreeds and almost forgotten, →rare dogs that it is estimated there are about 400 to 800 different dog breeds around the world.
No matter how different the breeds are, all four-legged friends agree on one thing: Delicious dog food is a must! But not only is taste important, a healthy recipe should also be a key consideration when choosing. Are you still unsure which food is right for your furry friend? Then let our experts advise you in our →free feeding consultation or try one of our sample packages.
Which breed belongs to which group?
Herding dog, driving dog, hunting dog, or companion dog? You may have noticed that some dog breeds have very different characters while others are very similar in nature. Some of them love to sniff around, others are bred for herding flocks, and still others are often used as therapy dogs. The FCI therefore divides dog breeds into ten different groups:
Which dog breeds are particularly popular?
Among the hundreds of four-legged friends, there are some that stand out time and again. Whether it's due to their friendly nature, their loyal willingness to work, or simply because they look so [→cute](/magazin/hunde/hunderassen/die-13-suessesten-hunderassen-der-welt). **The most popular dog breeds worldwide include:
- French Bulldog
- Labrador
- Chihuahua
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Pug
- Miniature Dachshund
- Golden Retriever
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Maltipoo
- Pomeranian
Would you like to learn more about our →Top 10 most popular dog breeds? In our overview, we will introduce you to the breeds in more detail and show you what the popular four-legged friends look like.
