How many breeds of dogs are there? Official classification of the FCI

Do you know how many breeds of dogs there are?

Have you ever wondered how many dog breeds there are in the world and how they are classified? If you have that doubt, it is time to solve it: in this article we are going to mention all the races that the FCI recognizes.

The FCI is the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, or International Cynological Federation in English. Created in 1911, it is the world’s largest organization of experts in the canine world and regulates and promotes everything related to cynology or canophilia.

The FCI is based in Thuin, Belgium, but is present in 95 countries, including Spain, through the Spanish Cynological Federation.

How many dog breeds there are according to the FCI classification

Currently (2023) the FCI recognizes a total of 354 dog breeds that are classified into 10 different groups. In addition, there are also a number of breeds recognized for the moment only provisionally that we mentioned at the end of this article.

It is important to bear in mind that this number is not entirely reliable and varies frequently, since every year new breeds are submitted for evaluation by the FCI and, if necessary, included in the official list.

So, if you wonder how many breeds of dogs there are in the world, as a general answer we can tell you that just over 350 and that it is a number that is increasing

In this article we are going to mention all the dog breeds and breed groups that exist in 2023, but if you need more information or want to make sure that the list is updated, you can also check it on the FCI website.

Groups of dog breeds and all breeds of each of them

Within the classification of the FCI dog breeds are, as we said, divided into 10 groups that share certain common characteristics. In addition, within each group the country of origin of each breed and the different varieties accepted, if any, are indicated.

The groups established by the FCI, with all the races that exist in each of them, are the following:

Group I: Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs

The first group of breeds includes all sheepdogs and cattle dogs (breeds for the driving and protection of cattle), except Swiss cattle dogs:

Sheepdogs

• German Shepherd (Germany).
• Australian kelpie (Australia).
• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Belgium).
• Shipperke (Belgium).
• Croatian Sheepdog (Croatia).
• Czechoslovak wolfdog (Slovakia).
• Slovak Tchuvatch (Slovakia).
• Catalan Shepherd Dog (Spain).
• Mallorcan Shepherd Dog (Spain).
• Australian Sheepdog (USA).
• Pastor of Beuce (France).
• Pastor de Brie (France).
• White-faced Pyrenean Shepherd Dog (France).
• Pastor of Picardy (France).
• Long-haired Pyrenean Shepherd Dog (France).
• Komondor (Hungary).
• Kuvasz (Hungary).
• Mudi (Hungary).
• Puli (Hungary).
• Pumi (Hungary).
• Bergamo Shepherd Dog (Italy).
• Sheepdog of the Maremma and Abruzzo (Italy).
• Dutch Shepherd (Netherlands).
• Wolfdog from Saarloos (Netherlands).
• Dutch Schapendoes (Netherlands).
• Polish shepherd dog from the plains (Poland).
• Polish Shepherd Dog from Podhale (Poland).
• Portuguese Shepherd Dog (Portugal).
• Former English sheepdog (United Kingdom).
• Border collie (United Kingdom).
• Bearded Collie (United Kingdom).
• Shorthair collie (UK).
• Long-haired collie (United Kingdom).
• Shetland Sheepdog (United Kingdom).
• Romanian shepherd dog from the Carpathians (Romania).
• Romanian Sheepdog from Mioritza (Romania).
• Southern Russian Sheepdog (Russia).
• White Swiss shepherd (Switzerland).

Cattle dogs

• Australian Mountain Dog (Australia).
• Bouvier des Ardennes (Belgium).
• Bouvier de Flanders (Belgium and France).
• Welsh Corgi from Cardigan (United Kingdom).
• Welsh Corgi from Pembroke (United Kingdom).

Group II: molosoid dogs, pinscher and schnauzer dogs, mountain dogs and Swiss Cattle Dogs

Group two of breeds is very broad and comprises up to three different sections. These are all the dogs classified in each of them:

Pinscher and schnauzer type dogs

• Affenpinscher (Germany).
• Doberman (Germany).
• German Pinscher (Germany).
• Miniature Pinscher (Germany).
• Austrian Pinscher (Austria).
• Danish and Swedish farm dog (Denmark and Sweden).
• Schnauzer (Germany).
• Giant Schnauzer (Germany).
• Miniature Schnauzer (Germany).
• Dutch smous dog (Netherlands).
• Black Russian Terrier (Russia).

Molosoides

• Bóxer (Alemania).
• Gran danés (Alemania).
• Rottweiler (Alemania).
• Dogo argentino (Argentina).
• Fila brasileño (Brasil).
• Shar pei (China).
• Broholmer (Dinamarca).
• Perro dogo mallorquín (España).
• Presa canario (España).
• Dogo de Burdeos (Francia).
• Cane corso (Italia).
• Mastín napolitano (Italia).
• Tosa inu (Japón).
• Fila de San Miguel (Portugal).
• Bulldog (Reino Unido).
• Bullmastiff (Reino Unido).
• Mastiff (Reino Unido).
• Cimarrón uruguayo (Uruguay).

Mountain type

• Hovawart (Germany).
• Leonberger (Germany).
• Landseer of continental European type (Germany and Switzerland).
• Sheepdog from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia (Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia).
• Newfoundland (Canada).
• Karst Shepherd (Slovenia).
• Mastiff of the Pyrenees (Spain).
• Spanish Mastiff (Spain).
• Mountain dog from the Pyrenees (France).
• Yugoslav Sheepdog from Charplanina (North Macedonia and Serbia).
• Atlas Mountain Dog (Morocco).
• Dog castro laboreiro (Portugal).
• Dog of the Sierra da Estrela (Portugal).
• Rafeiro del Alentejo (Portugal).
• Romanian Sheepdog from Bukovina (Romania).
• Central Asian Sheepdog (Russia).
• Caucasian Sheepdog (Russia).
• Saint Bernard (Switzerland).
• Tibetan Mastiff (China).
• Kangal Sheepdog (Turkey).

Mountain type and Swiss Cattle Dogs

• Mountain Dog of Bern (Switzerland).
• Great Swiss Mountain Dog (Switzerland).
• Cattle dog from Appenzell (Switzerland).
• Cattle dog from Entlebuch (Switzerland).

Group III: terrier dogs

Group three includes all terrier-type dogs and divides them into four sections:

Large and medium-sized terriers

• German hunter terrier (Germany).
• Brazilian terrier (Brazil).
• Kerry blue terrier (Ireland).
• Soft coated wheaten Irish terrier (Ireland).
• Terrier Glen of Irish Imaal (Ireland).
• Irish terrier (Ireland).
• Airedale terrier (United Kingdom).
• Bedlington terrier (United Kingdom).
• Border terrier (United Kingdom).
• Fox wire-haired terrier (United Kingdom).
• Smooth-haired Fox terrier (United Kingdom).
• Lakeland terrier (United Kingdom).
• Manchester terrier (United Kingdom).
• Parson Russell terrier (United Kingdom).
• Welsh terrier (United Kingdom).

Terriers of small size

• Australian terrier (Australia).
• Japanese terrier (Japan).
• Cairn terrier (United Kingdom).
• Norfolk terrier (United Kingdom).
• Norwich terrier (United Kingdom).
• Scottish terrier (United Kingdom).
• Sealyham terrier (United Kingdom).
• Skye terrier (United Kingdom).
• Jack Russell terrier (United Kingdom).
• West Highland white terrier (United Kingdom).
• Czech Terrier (Czech Republic).

Bull terriers

• American Staffordshire terrier (USA).
• Bull terrier (United Kingdom).
• Bull terrier miniature (Reino Unido).
• Staffordshire bull terrier (Reino Unido).

Terriers de compañía

• Silky terrier australiano (Australia).
• English toy terrier (United Kingdom).
• Yorkshire terrier (United Kingdom).

Group IV: teckels

The fourth group is the smallest and includes only three breeds with their respective variants, all originating in Germany:

• Dachshund o teckel standard.
• Miniature Teckel.
• Teckel for rabbit hunting.

Group V: Spitz and primitive type dogs

The fifth group includes no less than seven different sections that group the numerous breeds of spitz type and primitive type. These are all of them:

Nordic sled dogs

• Canadian Eskimo Dog (Canada).
• Siberian Husky (USA).
• Malamute of Alaska (USA).
• Greenland dog (Greenland).
• Samoyed (Russia).

Nordic hunting dogs

• Karelian bear dog (Finland).
• Finnish Spitz (Finland).
• Norwegian grey elk hunter (Norway).
• Black Norwegian elk hunter (Norway).
• Norwegian Lundehund (Norwegian).
• Laika from Western Siberia (Russia).
• Laika from Eastern Siberia (Russia).
• Russian-European Laika (Russia).
• Swedish elk hunting dog (Sweden).
• Spitz of Norrbotten (Sweden).

Nordic guard and herding dogs

• Finnish Shepherd from Lapland (Finland).
• Finnish dog from Lapland (Finland).
• Icelandic Sheepdog (Iceland).
• Norwegian Buhund (Norway).
• Swedish dog from Lapland (Sweden).
• Spitz of the Visigoths – Swedish vallhund (Sweden).

Spitz europeos

• Spitz alemán (Alemania).
• Volpino italiano (Italia).

Spitz asiáticos y semejantes

• Eurasiático (Alemania).
• Chow chow (China).
• Korea Jindo dog (Corea del Sur).
• Akita inu (Japón).
• Akita americano (Japón).
• Hokkaido inu (Japón).
• Kai ken (Japón).
• Kishu inu (Japón).
• Shiba inu (Japón).
• Shikoku inu (Japón).
• Spitz japonés (Japón).
• Thai Bangkaew dog (Tailandia).

Tipo primitivo

• Basenji (África central).
• Perro de Canaan (Israel).
• Perro del Faraón (Malta).
• Xoloitzcuintle (México).
• Perro sin pelo del Perú (Perú).

Tipo primitivo – perros de caza

• Podenco canario (España).
• Podenco ibicenco (España).
• Cirneco del Etna (Italia).
• Podenco portugués (Portugal).
• Perro ridgeback tailandés (Tailandia).
• Perro de Taiwán (Taiwán).

Grupo VI: sabuesos, perros de rastreo y razas semejantes

En este grupo están incluidos todos los perros de tipo sabueso y de rastreo, divididos en tres secciones diferentes:

Perros tipo sabueso

• Chien de Saint Hubert (Bélgica).
• Rastreador brasileño (Brasil).
• American foxhound (EE.UU.).
• Perro negro y fuego para la caza del mapache (EE.UU.).
• Billy (Francia).
• Gascon saintongeois (Francia).
• Gran grifón vendeano (Francia).
• Gran sabueso anglofrancés blanco y naranja (Francia).
• Gran sabueso anglofrancés blanco y negro (Francia).
• Gran sabueso anglofrancés tricolor (Francia).
• Gran sabueso azul de Gascuña (Francia).
• Sabueso francés blanco y naranja (Francia).
• Sabueso francés blanco y negro (Francia).
• Sabueso francés tricolor (Francia).
• Sabueso poitevin (Francia).
• Sabueso polaco (Polonia).
• Foxhound inglés (Reino Unido).
• Perro de nutria (Reino Unido).

Perros tipo sabueso de talla mediana

• Sabueso austríaco negro y fuego (Austria).
• Sabueso del Tirol (Austria).
• Styrian hound with rough hair (Austria).
• Bosnian pig-haired hound (Bosnia – Herzegovina).
• Istrian Shorthair Hound (Croatia).
• Istrian blood-haired hound (Croatia).
• Save Valley Hound (Croatia).
• Slovak Hound (Slovakia).
• Spanish Hound (Spain).
• Finnish Hound (Finland).
• Beagle-Harrier (France).
• Briquet Vendéen griffon (France).
• Blue Griffon from Gascony (France).
• Griffon of the Nivernais (France).
• Griffon griffon from Brittany (France).
• Small blue hound from Gascony (France).
• Porcelaine (France).
• Medium-sized Anglo-French Hound (France).
• Artesian Hound (France).
• Ariege Hound (France).
• Hellenic Hound (Greece).
• Hungarian hound – bloodhound of Transylvania (Hungary).
• Italian Wire-haired Hound (Italy).
• Italian satin fur hound (Italy).
• Mountain Hound of Montenegro (Montenegro).
• Hygen Hound (Norway).
• Hound Halden (Norway).
• Norwegian Hound (Norway).
• Gonczy polski (Poland).
• Harrier (United Kingdom).
• Serbian Hound (Serbia).
• Serbian tricolor hound (Serbia).
• Smaland Hound (Sweden).
• Hound Hamilton (Sweden).
• Sabueso schiller (Sweden).
• Swiss Hound (Switzerland).
• Badger from Westphalia (Germany).
• German Hound (Germany).
• Artesian basset of Normandy (France).
• Blue Basset of Gascony (France).
• Griffon basset of Brittany (France).
• Great basset Vendéen griffon (France).
• Basset hound (United Kingdom).
• Beagle (United Kingdom).
• Swedish badger (Sweden).
• Small Swiss Hound (Switzerland).

Perros de rastro

• Rastreador de Hannover (Alemania).
• Rastreador montañés de Baviera (Alemania).
• Dachsbracke de los Alpes (Austria).

Razas semejantes

• Dálmata (Croacia).
• Perro crestado rodesiano (Sudáfrica).

Group VII: sample dogs

The seventh group includes all sample dogs, affected in two large sections:

Continental show dogs

• German Shorthaired Pointer (Germany).
• German pig-haired show dog (Germany).
• German show dog with hard hair (Germany).
• Pudelpointer (Germany).
• Weimaraner (Germany).
• Former Danish show dog (Denmark).
• Slovak wirehaired pointer (Slovakia).
• Perdiguero de Burgos (Spain).
• Braco of Auvergne (France).
• Braco del Ariege (France).
• Bourbon Pointer (France).
• French branco – Gascony type (France).
• French pointer – Pyrenees type (France).
• Braco Saint-Germain (France).
• Hungarian shorthaired pointer (Hungary).
• Hungarian wirehaired pointer (Hungary).
• Italian Braco (Italy).
• Portuguese retriever (Portugal).
• Deustch Langhaar (Germany).
• Great Munsterlander (Germany).
• Small munsterlander (Germany).
• Blue spaniel of Picardy (France).
• Breton Spaniel (France).
• Pont-Audemer Spaniel (France).
• French Spaniel (France).
• Picardy Spaniel (France).
• Retriever of Drenthe (Netherlands).
• Friesian retriever (Netherlands).
• Hard-haired sample griffon (France).
• Espinone (Italy).
• Hard-haired bohemian sample griffon (Czech Republic).

English and Irish show dogs

• English Pointer (United Kingdom).
• Red Irish setter (Ireland).
• Red and white Irish setter (Ireland).
• Gordon setter (United Kingdom).
• English setter (United Kingdom).

Group VIII: collectors, lifters and water dogs

The eighth group organizes hunting retrievers, game lifters and water lifters into three sections:

Hunting retrievers

• Collection dog from Nova Scotia (Canada).
• Chesapeake bay retriever (USA).
• Smooth-haired collector (United Kingdom).
• Curly hair collector (United Kingdom).
• Gold Collector (United Kingdom).
• Labrador retriever (United Kingdom).

Hunting lifters

• German retriever (Germany).
• American Cocker Spaniel (USA).
• Nederlandse Kooikerhondje (Netherlands).
• Clumber spaniel (United Kingdom).
• English Cocker spaniel (United Kingdom).
• Field spaniel (United Kingdom).
• Welsh springer spaniel (United Kingdom).
• English springer spaniel (United Kingdom).
• Sussex spaniel (United Kingdom).

Water dogs

• Spanish Water Dog (Spain).
• American Water Dog (USA).
• French water dog (France).
• Irish Water Dog (Ireland).
• Water dog from Romagna (Italy).
• Perro de agua frisón (Países Bajos).
• Perro de agua portugués (Portugal).

Grupo IX: perros de compañía

El grupo noveno incluye a todas las razas de perros de compañía, que divide en nada menos que once secciones diferentes:

Bichones y razas semejantes

• Curly-haired bichon (Belgium and France).
• Bichon habanero (Cuba).
• Maltese (Malta).
• Bichon Bolognese (Italy).
• Coton de Tuléar (Madagascar).
• Small lion dog (France).

Poodles

• Poodle (France).

Belgian dogs of small size

• Belgian griffon (Belgium).
• Brussels Griffon (Belgium).
• Petit brabançon (Belgium).

Hairless dogs

• Chinese crested dog

Tibetan dogs

• Lhasa apso (China).
• Shih tzu (China).
• Tibetan Spaniel (China).
• Tibetan Terrier (China).

Chihuahuas

• Chihuahueños (Mexico).

English companion spaniels

• Cavalier King Charles spaniel (United Kingdom).
• King Charles spaniel (United Kingdom).

Japanese and Pekingese spaniels

• Pekingese (China).
• Japanese Spaniel (Japan).

Dwarf continental spaniel and others

• Continental dwarf pet spaniel (Belgium and France).
• Small Russian dog (Russia).

Kromfohrländer

• Kromfohrländer (Germany).

Small-sized molosoids

• Pug (China)
• Boston terrier (USA).
• French Bulldog (France)

Group X: sighthounds

Finally, the tenth group includes sighthounds, divided into three sections:

Long-haired or wavy hounds

• Afghan Hound (Afghanistan).
• Saluki (Middle East).
• Russian hound for hunting (Russia).

Wire-haired Hounds

• Irish Hound (Ireland).
• Scottish Hound (United Kingdom).

Shorthair Hounds

• Spanish Greyhound (Spain).
• Hungarian Hound (Hungary).
• Little Italian Hound (Italy).
• Azawakh (Mali).
• Sloughi (Morocco).
• Polish Hound (Poland).
• Grehound (United Kingdom).
• Whippet (United Kingdom).

Dog breeds recognized in a professional capacity

In a separate group are, as we said at the beginning, dogs that have been accepted only provisionally. This category, which is not divided into sections, comprises these breeds:

• Valencian mousetrap.
• Continental Bulldog.
• Transmontane mastiff.
• Estonian Hound.
• American miniature shepherd.
• Laika from Yakutia.
• Bohemian sheepdog.
• Prague mousetrap.
• Kintamani-bali dog.
• Segugio maremmano.
• Lancashire héller.
• Australian shepherd stumpy tail.