Non-Sporting Breeds

Shar Pei pup

Historically, when dog shows first began forming groups, there was only two Groups, Sporting and Non-Sporting. As the number of breeds expanded, so did the number of Groups. For whatever reason, today's Non-Sporting breeds eluded other ANKC classifications. So, this group is a collection of unrelated breeds who our administrators did not feel fitted into any of the other groups. Despite this, each breed in this varied group has its own individual aesthetic charm.

Non-Sporting Breed Index

The classification of the dogs in this Group varies from country to country. For simplicity of navigation and accessibility, the table below lists the breeds alphabetically that appear in the Australian classification, divided into sections based broadly on their historical purpose. »» Read more...

Bull Breeds (Non-Sporting)

The Non-Sporting bull breeds include the Bulldog, the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier, the latter the two breeds derived from the now extinct Bulldog (miniature). In Australia the ANKC classifies these three breeds in the Non-Sporting Group, as does the AKC (American Kennel Club). However, the Kennel Club (UK) classifies these three in the Utility Group. To confuse the ... »» Read more...

Asian Breeds

Asian breeds are amongst our earliest Companion Dogs. This section includes two pages on Asian companion dogs. The first page covers the historically Tibetan breeds of the Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso and Tibetan Terrier and their connection. Note the other Asian breed, the Tibetan Spaniel, has been dealt with in our Toy Group where it is classified in Australia. The ... »» Read more...

Spitz Breeds (Non-Sporting)

This section includes those Spitz breeds that are classified in the Non-sporting Group in Australia. In this Group these are medium sized breeds whose functions are watch dogs and companions. They share the same history as other Spitz breeds which date back 4 centuries Before Christ as this ancient wine jug illustrates. 'Spitz' is a German word describing a thick ... »» Read more...

Other Non-Sporting Breeds

This section contains breeds that are not classified in any other classifications under the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). These breeds may appear to have no relationship to one another but they are classified as 'Non-Sporting' as remnants of the original classifications of 'Sporting' and 'Non-Sporting'. »» Read more...