Understanding Pure Breed Dogs

Border Collie Herding goats

Pure breed dog breeds have been developed by breeding dogs over a period of time to fulfil some specific purpose. The record of the dogs parents and in turn grandparents that have successfully performed his job over a specific number of generations is called a pedigree. Today, to be recognised as a pure breed dog this pedigree must then be issued by a recognised Kennel Club. The Kennel Club also publishes a Breed Standard which describes the dogs physical and mental breed idiosyncrasies. To this end, pure breed dogs are then divided into groups which are characterised by the function for which the dog was originally designed to perform.

This function varies from dogs required to do a particular job for example herding sheep and goats like like the Border Collie pictured, hunting for food like the ancient Hound and more modern Gundog and Terrier breeds,  protection dogs like Mastiffs and Livestock Guardian dogs or simply companion dogs or Toy breeds like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.