Dog Breed

Although nowadays selection is mainly based on aesthetic criteria, it was originally aimed at standardizing lineages locally selected by humans to perform specific tasks, such as helping with livestock breeding, hunting and protection (guarding). There are approximately 450 dog breeds recognized worldwide. These breeds have distinct traits related to morphology, notably body size, skull shape, tail phenotype, coat type, body shape and coat color. Their behavioral traits include predispositions for guarding, livestock breeding and hunting. Most breeds have emerged in the last two hundred years. As a result, dogs today allow the species Canis lupus to be the most abundant and dispersed carnivore species in the world. A dog breed will systematically produce the physical traits, movement and temperament that have been developed over decades of selective breeding. For each breed they recognize, dog breed clubs and breed registries generally maintain and publish a breed standard which is a written description of the ideal specimen of the breed. Before the establishment of dog breed standards at the end of the eighteenth century, there were different types of dogs defined by their function and geographic origin but physical variations were significant and crossbreeding frequent. Many different terms were used to describe dogs, such as race, origin, type, kind and variety. By the end of the Victorian era, society changed, as did the role of dogs. Physical appearance received greater importance than function. Different types or breeds of dogs were then developed by breeders who wished to define specific characteristics and desirable traits in their dogs. Driven by dog show competitions and the groups that hosted them, the term dog breed then took on its current meaning. Dog show competitions include the best representatives of the breed. The establishment of standards defining the breed is based on key characteristics, including shape, function and fitness for purpose. The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom was founded in 1873 and was the first national dog breed club and breed registry in the world. The International Cynological Federation (FCI) was founded in 1911 as a world organization. Its objective is to bring global uniformity to the breeding, showing and judging of purebred dogs. It now has 99 member countries.