Dog breed groups

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), to which the Société Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club) belongs, sorts breeds into 10 groups according to their original job: herding, hunting, companionship… Knowing a breed’s group already tells you a good deal about its temperament.

Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Group 1, 30 breeds: Australian Shepherd, Miniature American Shepherd, Belgian Malinois…
Pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs
Group 2, 27 breeds: Cane Corso, Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog…
Terriers
Group 3, 24 breeds: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier…
Spitz and primitive-type dogs
Group 5, 21 breeds: Siberian Husky, Shiba Inu, Eurasier…
Scent hounds and blood-tracking dogs
Group 6, 36 breeds: Beagle, Basset Hound, Basset Fauve de Bretagne…
Pointing dogs
Group 7, 24 breeds: English Setter, Brittany, Small Münsterländer…
Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Group 8, 17 breeds: Golden Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, Labrador Retriever…
Companion and toy dogs
Group 9, 24 breeds: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, French Bulldog…
Sighthounds
Group 10, 8 breeds: Whippet, Italian Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound…

Group 4 has only one breed, with its size and coat varieties: the Dachshund.