There Are Over 340 Dog Breeds — We'll Be Impressed If You Can Name 40!

The German Shepherd is a breed of working dog that (as its name suggests) originated in Germany. While its original occupation was herding sheep, it was now used for other purposes such as search-and-rescue, law enforcement, and disability assistance.

The Chihuahua is notable for holding the distinction of being smallest breed of dog in the world. It shares its name with the Mexican state of Chihuahua, which is also where it originated from.

The Poodle is a somewhat broad breed of European dog that has several variations. While in popular culture its appearance is usually the main focus, the poodle actually ranks as the second most intelligent breed of dog in the world.

The Pomeranian is a breed of small dog that owes a great deal of its popularity to the fact that they have been the dog of choice for several royal figures like Queen Victoria. Its name is a direct reference to the Pomerania region in Central Europe (located in north-east Germany and north-west Poland).

The Shiba Inu is one of the most iconic breeds of dog that is native to Japan. This breed was originally bred for hunting, and they are primarily known today for their boldness and independent nature.

The Rottweiler is a breed of large dog that initially originated from Germany. Historically, they were primarily used to herd livestock and sometimes pull carts, but today they can be found as police dogs and guard dogs.

Originating in the Scottish Borders, the Border Collie is an energetic breed of dog that was originally used to herd sheep and other livestock. This specific breed of dog is notable for being considered by many expert sources to be the most intelligent in the world.

The Boxer is a breed of working dog that originated in Germany and ranks within the top ten most popular dogs in the United States according to the American Kennel Club. It is primarily known for its robust build and its powerful bite.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is notably one of the four breeds of dog that belong to the Swiss Mountain Dog grouping. It originated as a breed of farm dog and is still used as such to this day; however, it is also kept as a family dog as well, especially in German-speaking countries.

The Labrador Retriever is a large breed of dog that is notable for being extremely popular in the United States and Canada. Not only are they used as hunting and sporting dogs, they are also used in law enforcement and for disability assistance.

Beagles are primarily known for their impressive sense of smell and its intelligence. Its name is a direct reference to its original occupation, which was to hunt hares, an activity known as beagling.

The Great Dane is a breed of large dog (also known as the German Mastiff) that originated from Germany. The breed is well known for its massive size, with the current record holder for "tallest dog" being a Great Dane.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed of large hunting dog that originated in the 19th century. It has a distinctly athletic body and strong legs, often being considered to be one of the most energetic breeds of dog.

The Weimaraner is a hunting dog from Germany that has a slender but powerful body that is built for speed. Its name is a direct reference to the city of Weimar in Germany.

The St. Bernard is a that originated in the Alps and it is know for its massive size and friendly demeanor. It was bred to be a rescue dog around the Great St Bernard Pass.

The Bullmastiff is a breed of large domestic dog that was developed as a working dog and guard dog. It is a descendant of both the Old English Bulldog and the English Mastiff.

The Bloodhound is a breed of dog that was bred for hunting purposes and for tracking humans as well. It is distinguished from other breeds by its keen sense of smell.

The Basset Hound is a breed that falls into the scent hound category of dog. It is notable for its powerful sense of smell, in terms of its ability to ground-scent, the Bloodhound is the only one that ranks above the Basset Hound.

The French Bulldog is a breed of small dog that has a stocky build and is a descendant of English bulldogs and French ratters. They are incredibly popular, ranking as one of the top ten most popular breeds in the US, UK, and Australia.

The Siberian Husky is a breed of dog that belongs to the Spitz family. The breed traces its history back to Northeast Asia (specifically Siberia) and unsurprisingly they are well adapted to working in cold environments.

The Italian Greyhound is a breed of small dog that is notable for its distinctive slender body and pointed face. While they are not as fast as the larger English Greyhound, the Italian Greyhound still ranks as one of the fastest breeds of dog in the world.

The Cane Corso is a breed of large dog that originated in Italy where they were initially used to guard livestock and property. The "Corso" in its name is derived from the Latin word "Cohors" which means protector.

The Dalmatian is a breed of dog that is perhaps most notable for its iconic spotted coat. In popular culture it is heavily associated with firefighting and the film One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

The American Cocker Spaniel is notable for being the smallest sporting dog that the American Kennel Club recognizes. It is a close relative of the English Cocker Spaniel.

The Newfoundland is a breed of large working dog that originally worked alongside fishermen and they are also skilled water rescue dogs. It shares its name with its place of origin, the province of Canada that is known as Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Golden Retriever is an energetic breed of dog that has a light golden to dark golden coat. Its friendly nature and resilience makes it a popular choice when it comes to disability assistance, detection, and search and rescue.

This is the Miniature Schnauzer, a breed of small dog that initially originated in Germany. It ranks within the top 20 most popular breeds of dog in the United States and is the most popular Schnauzer.

The Havanese is notable for its small stature and its thick and silky coat. It is the national dog of Cuba and its shares its name with the country's capital Havana.

The Shih Tzu's name is derived from the Mandarin word for lion, which is a reference to its appearance. It is thought to have originated somewhere around the Tibetan Plateau and it is often referred to as the "Chrysanthemum Dog."

The Maltese is breed of small dog that is usually sought after for its cute appearance and manageable size. This breed is distinguished by its long, straight silky coat and the fact that on average they weigh less than seven pounds.

The Shetland Sheepdog is a breed of dog that—as their name suggests—were primarily used to herd sheep. The breed's name is a direct reference to the Shetland Islands where it originated.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a breed of short working dog that was originally intended to primarily help to herd cattle. It is a close relative to the similarly named Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

The Doberman Pinscher is a relatively large breed of dog that originated in Germany in the latter part of the 19th century. These dogs are known for their high level of intelligence, their athleticism and also their loyalty, making them excellent guard animals.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a breed of dog that originated in Southern Africa. The nickname "African Lion Dog" is reference to how the dogs were able to keep lions away from homesteads.

The Australian Shepherd is a herding dog that is known for its intelligence and energetic nature. While its name may at first glance suggest that it originated in Australia, the breed actually has its origin in the United States.

The Alaskan Malamute is a breed of large working dog that was specifically bred with strength and intelligence in mind. As the name suggests, the breed originated in Alaska and they were originally used to haul heavy loads and also pull sleds.

The Dachshund is a breed of short-legged dog that is best known for its distinctive long body. Due to its iconic appearance, it has earned itself loving nicknames like Hotdog, Wiener Dog, or Sausage Dog.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed of small dog that usually weighs 7 pounds or less. It originated in England and its name is a direct reference to the prominent county of Yorkshire in the country.

As the name suggests, this working dog, the Belgian Malinois, originated in Belgium. Today it is used as both a guard dog and for the detection of scents by law enforcement agencies.

The Boston Terrier is a breed of relatively small dog that originated in the U.S. in Boston (hence the name). They are very intelligent and over the years the breed has earned the nickname "American Gentlemen."