You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family — except, of course, for the family dog. Since the first arranged dog breeding, humans have been gradually creating the most diverse species in the world: Canis familiaris, the domestic dog. Diversity in dogs existed even in prehistoric times, with distinct types of families, or "breeds," arising among their wolf ancestors 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

Our dog breed directory is designed to inform you about some of these different breeds, but also to provide information that will help you choose the best dog for you. Check out your own dog's illustrious history, or browse around for the perfect canine pal.

	Use our search tool to find the best breed for you!				Already know the breed you are interested in? Use the menu below to find more information about your selected breed. • Affenpinscher • Afghan Hound • Airedale Terrier • Akita • Alaskan Malamute • American Cocker Spaniel • American Eskimo Dog (Miniature) • American Eskimo Dog (Standard) • American Eskimo Dog (Toy) • American Foxhound • American Staffordshire Terrier • American Water Spaniel • Anatolian Shepherd • Australian Cattle Dog • Australian Shepherd • Australian Terrier • Basenji • Basset Hound • Beagle • Bearded Collie • Beauceron • Bedlington Terrier • Belgian Malinois • Belgian Sheepdog • Belgian Tervuren • Bernese Mountain Dog • Bichon Frise • Black Russian Terrier • Black and Tan Coonhound • Bloodhound • Border Collie • Border Terrier • Borzoi • Boston Terrier • Bouvier des Flandres • Boxer • Briard • Brittany • Brussels Griffon • Bull Terrier • Bulldog • Bullmastiff • Cairn Terrier • Canaan Dog • Cardigan Welsh Corgi • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel • Chesapeake Bay Retriever • Chihuahua • Chinese Crested Dog • Chinese Shar-Pei • Chow Chow • Clumber Spaniel • Collie • Curly-Coated Retriever • Dachshund (Standard) • Dachsund (Miniature) • Dalmatian • Dandie Dinmont Terrier • Doberman Pinscher • English Cocker Spaniel • English Foxhound • English Setter • English Springer Spaniel • English Toy Spaniel • Field Spaniel • Finnish Spitz • Flat-Coated Retriever • French Bulldog • German Pinscher • German Shepherd Dog • German Shorthaired Pointer • German Wirehaired Pointer • Giant Schnauzer • Glen of Imaal Terrier • Golden Retriever • Gordon Setter • Great Dane • Great Pyrenees • Greater Swiss Mountain Dog • Greyhound • Harrier • Havanese • Ibizan Hound • Irish Setter • Irish Terrier • Irish Water Spaniel • Irish Wolfhound • Italian Greyhound • Japanese Chin • Keeshond • Kerry Blue Terrier • Komondor • Kuvasz • Labrador Retriever • Lakeland Terrier • Lhasa Apso • Lowchen • Maltese • Manchester Terrier (Standard) • Manchester Terrier (Toy) • Mastiff • Miniature Bull Terrier • Miniature Pinscher • Miniature Schnauzer • Neapolitan Mastiff • Newfoundland • Norfolk Terrier • Norwegian Elkhound • Norwich Terrier • Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever • Old English Sheepdog • Otterhound • Papillon • Parson Russell Terrier • Pekingese • Pembroke Welsh Corgi • Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen • Pharaoh Hound • Plott • Pointer • Polish Lowland Sheepdog • Pomeranian • Poodle (Miniature) • Poodle (Standard) • Poodle (Toy) • Portuguese Water Dog • Pug • Puli • Redbone Coonhound • Rhodesian Ridgeback • Rottweiler • Saint Bernard • Saluki (or Gazelle Hound) • Samoyed • Schipperke • Scottish Deerhound • Scottish Terrier • Sealyham Terrier • Shetland Sheepdog • Shiba Inu • Shih Tzu • Siberian Husky • Silky Terrier • Skye Terrier • Smooth Fox Terrier • Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier • Spinone Italiano • Staffordshire Bull Terrier • Standard Schnauzer • Sussex Spaniel • Tibetan Mastiff • Tibetan Spaniel • Tibetan Terrier • Toy Fox Terrier • Vizsla • Weimaraner • Welsh Springer Spaniel • Welsh Terrier • West Highland White Terrier • Whippet • Wire Fox Terrier • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon • Yorkshire Terrier