About This Quiz
When future animal lovers first get introduced to other creatures, they're usually in the form of a stuffed animal. Then when a visit to a relative's house reveals a real-life version of their plush new friend that moves and interacts with them, all bets are off. The magic spell is immediately cast the minute its eyes light up and its tail starts wagging so hard that its back legs twitch involuntarily (and happily).
Now, whenever a new dog enters the picture, the dog lover looks to get the same reaction from every friendly pup they meet.
In addition to being extremely interactive, pet dogs have one thing many other mammalian pets don't: they come in an enormous variety of shapes and sizes. And just like cats and other furry pets, they have varying coat lengths and textures.Â
Dog lovers — especially those who have lived with pooches for a long time — tend to be able to identify breeds on sight (just like car fans can name every car they spot on the highway).Â
So, to put that knowledge to the test, we've scoured the Internet and pulled together 40 photos of perfectly pedigreed pooches. Get set for a wagging good time...
If you're an Afghan hound fan and are in Chicago, you can see a huge monument to the breed. Pablo Picasso's untitled sculpture stands about 50 feet tall and resides in the Daley Center. The inspiration behind it? Picasso's own hound, Kabul.
With most breeds of dogs, there is no definite point as to who brought the first one into the United States, however, that isn't the case with the Akita. In 1937, Helen Keller was given Kamikaze-Go by the Japanese government.
The Bouvier des Flandres is a massive beast of a dog, averaging a height of at least 2 feet tall and weighing between 70 and 120 pounds. As part of the herding group, the Bouvier des Flandres was bred to perform various farming tasks.
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Handsome Dan, Yale University's bulldog mascot has a unique distinction. He was America's first college mascot. On top of this, each bulldog mascot for Yale has the same name: they are currently on their 17th Handsome Dan.
One of the most notable Cairn terriers was Dorothy Gale's companion in "The Wizard of Oz." Even though Toto was male in the books, the movie version of the tenacious terrier was a female Cairn terrier named Terry.
If you are looking for an artistic representation of a chow chow, look no further than some of the Han Dynasty's artifacts. In one of the Han Dynasty's bas-reliefs, the chow chow is depicted as a hunting companion.
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If you're full of energy, getting a Dalmatian is a perfect companion for hiking, biking, and a quick job around town. These pups require a lot of exercise both physically and mentally, so a toy—or ten—may be useful.
While greyhounds are considered the fastest breed of dog, it can be a bit of a lazy pup. Many owners have caught their hounds performing something called "roaching." Don't worry, it isn't gross at all: this is when the dog lays on its back with its feet in the air, looking like a dead cockroach.
Rin Tin Tin, the most famous German shepherd was not only a movie star, but he also was a survivor of an aerial attack during WWI. At the age of five days old, Corporal Lee Duncan found Rin Tin Tin in his kennel.
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When it comes to pleasing their masters, the golden retriever is one of the most eager to please breeds. When you add their easygoing attitude and highly intelligent mind, this makes a golden retriever an ideal service dog for the disabled.
Marmaduke isn't the only animated Great Dane on the block. Hanna-Barbera's mystery solving, super hungry Scooby-Doo is also a member of the Great Dane family. By staying by Shaggy's side through thick and thin, it showcased one of the Great Danes's personality traits: dependability.
When communism swept through Cuba in the late 1950s, many owners took their dogs and fled to America. Once the Americans saw this jovial breed, they helped get the Havanese's population back up, and now they're ranked in the top 25 breeds in the AKC.
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Irish Wolfhounds are considered the American Kennel Club's tallest dog—with heights starting at 30 inches—and their weight can get up around 180 pounds. Even though they're massive, these pups shouldn't be relied upon to guard a house; their dispositions are a little too mellow for such things.
Maintaining a Komondor's coat is not an easy task. Although a brush is never used to maintain the Komondor's corded coat, a groomer will still bathe the dog with shampoo, drying the coat by squeezing the cords, toweling, and letting the dog sleep in front of a fan overnight.
Even though the Neapolitan mastiff is the 152nd breed in the American Kennel Club, the breed itself is older than a majority of the breeds in this quiz. These hulking beasts have their paws planted in the times of ancient Rome where they guarded their homes and owners.
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Even though they eventually grow out of the wrinkles on the bodies, Chinese shar-peis carry the wrinkles in their faces. This is probably the only time when having facial wrinkles is not only acceptable, but endearing.
In addition to having a thick coat, Newfoundlands have a couple of secret weapons to help with getting a drowning victim to shore. The first is its powerfully muscular frame, which when coupled with its webbed feet, propels themselves and others to assistance.
When the National Crime Prevention Council chose the bloodhound to represent their stance against crime, it was a smart choice. In a court of law, any evidence obtained by a bloodhound's tracking ability is admissible.
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The Norwegian elkhound may be a smaller sized dog, however, it knows how to pack a punch. One of the animals that these 50-pound dogs would hunt are bears, which could weigh ten times that!
The folks at Disney must have a soft side for Old English Sheepdogs. In addition to "The Shaggy Dog," which was produced in 1959, an animated dog hit the screens in the early '90s, when Prince Eric from "The Little Mermaid" set sail.
Poodles are considered one of the smartest dogs in the world, usually grouped with border collies, German shepherds, and many of the retrievers; however, the poodle does have one thing the others don't—variety. With three different sizes (standard, miniature, and toy), there's a poodle for everyone.
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What do pharaoh hounds and humans have in common? Aside from both being mammals, the pharaoh hounds can not only smile, but when they get excited or happy, they blush, making their ears glow a bright pink.
During the 1,000 mile Iditarod race, mushers will lead a team of dogs through some of the roughest terrain imaginable. In addition to coats and sled gear, the dogs have their own equipment as well, including coats, harnesses and booties.
With their thick coats and gentle dispositions, Saint Bernards are suited for aiding in mountain rescues. It is estimated that over 2,000 lives have been saved thanks to these gentle giants.
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Because of its petite size and fine fur, Italian greyhounds require additional care during the winter months. Coats, sweaters and even pajamas are a must for the Italian greyhound owner as well as snoods to protect their long necks from nasty weather.
In April 2018, Willow, the last of the Queen Elizabeth II's Pembroke Welsh corgis, passed away from cancer. Willow was 14th generation, descended from Susan, her first pup, who she received on her 18th birthday in 1944.
Considered one of the most popular breeds in the U.S., the Labrador retriever's sweet disposition is one of the defining traits of the breed. Of course if you happen to make a lab happy while a drink is nearby, you'll meet another trait: it's otterlike tail!
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If you're looking for a social pet that loves nothing more than to clown around, getting a beagle is the answer. There are two different size ranges, under 13 inches and between 13 and 15 inches. And while they don't drool, smell or shed, however, they tend to howl, so there's that.
It is rumored that after the American Revolution, Lafayette, a French aristocrat who oversaw several battles during the war, presented a gift of a couple of Basset hounds to George Washington.
There are three different coats: wiry, long and smooth. If you happen to come across the smooth-coated dachshund, be prepared for a treat. In chilly weather, these pups become expert snugglers, cuddling up next to anything that could help keep their bodies warm.
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Chihuahuas are the personification of a big dog being trapped in a little dog's body. Chihuahuas are extremely smart, so if left untrained, they will cleverly manipulate situations and end up owning you!
Devastated by the loss of his beloved Weimaraner, artist William Wegman started to photograph and costume his new pup, Fay Ray. These photographs became so popular, there have been children's books featuring these dogs in various poses.
If you're looking for a dog with a passion for its tasks, the black and tan coonhound is an ideal pet for you. These hounds are great if you're a hunter because their dark coats are perfect for blending into the brush and trailing prey.
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Moose, the Jack Russell terrier that acted as Eddie on "Frasier," became one of the most iconic dogs in television in the 1990s. Even though he was a charmer on screen, he was a bit of a jerk off screen. He reportedly bit his human costar John Mahoney not just once, but every time the two were on the set.
Papillons are sweet and endearing creatures named after their big winglike ears. These ears are often tufted and can come in three different varieties, based on position. Some have their ears perched proudly atop their heads, others have them completely down. Either way, these furbabies are adorbs!
Pugs are fairly popular dogs worldwide, with a unique look of a squished in nose, wrinkled face and a smooth sleek coat. Because their noses are pushed in, many pugs when they do doze off have a tendency to snore.
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Scottish terriers, also known as Scotties, are known for their confident personalities and tenacious attitudes. These dogs make excellent guard dogs because they are very loyal to their families and are constantly suspicious of strangers.
The traditional coat color of the Irish setter wasn't always red. They were originally red and white; however, once the bold and solid red coat became more predominant, the Irish setters ended up splitting off into two breeds: the Irish setter and the Irish red and white setter.
After finding out that Sasha Obama was allergic to dogs, the Obamas needed a hypoallergenic dog, and the Portuguese water dog ended up being the answer. After being returned to his breeder, Bo was given to the presidential family by Senator Ted Kennedy.
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If you're looking for a dog contest that is a bit out of the ordinary, check out California's World's Ugliest Dog Contest. Running for 15 years, the Chinese crested has the distinction of winning eight of these contests, including Sam, who won for three years straight.