Disclaimer: This article was originally published on Medium.

Dogs, with proper care and training, make excellent pets for most households, though they make even better companions. Loyal to a fault, and protective of both their homes and owners, dogs are an excellent addition to any family as long as they are provided with proper care and training.

There are many things to consider when adding a dog to existing households, such as the qualities one is looking for in a dog, the existence of small children and/or other pets in the household, and the amount of time that can be dedicated to training and caring for the dog. Cost is another important factor, as dogs require vaccinations, medications, food, treats, toys, collars, leashes, and tags, among other necessities.

The American Kennel Club, a registry of purebred dogs, recognizes over two hundred official breeds of dogs, while the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, an international federation of many national kennel clubs, recognizes three hundred and sixty-six dog breeds as of September 4th, 2019.

With such a large variety of dogs bred for various purposes — herding, sporting, and working, for example — most kennels recognize various breeds by systematic grouping.

The American Kennel Club recognizes several groups: herding, hound, toy, non-sporting, sporting, terrier, and working. Similar to the AKC, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale divides recognizable breeds into several groups based on appearance and/or role performed by the breed.

Today, we’re going to explore the seven groups recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Herding Group features breeds with a remarkable ability to control the movement of other animals — think, a Collie herding sheep on rural farmland. While most herding breeds live as household pets and do not interact with farm animals, their instinct to herd animals still exists, and many of these breeds have been known to herd their owners, and in particular, the children of the family they reside with.

Common traits for herding dogs include an active and alert mind, agility, athletic prowess, high energy, intelligence, protectiveness, and loyalty.

Some of the most recognizable herding breeds are the Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, German Shepherd Dog, Old English Sheepdog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Shetland Sheepdog.

The Hound Group features breeds that are typically used for hunting. This group is diverse, with some breeds using their enhanced sense of smell to track prey, while others use their sight and increased stamina to pursue targets over a distance.

Not all hounds are created equally — their traits and talents vary by breed. For example, some breeds are prone to “baying” — a loud, deep-throated, prolonged method of barking most often heard when pursuing prey or acknowledging a stranger at the door.

Common traits for hounds include curiosity, independence, and a need to pursue leads. Sighthounds — who use their vision and stamina to track prey — are typically quick and agile. On the other hand, scenthounds pursue at a slower pace, tracking by scent instead of vision. It’s recommended to keep hounds — like all domesticated dogs — leashed or in a secured area to prevent their escape.

Some of the most recognizable hound breeds are the Basset Hound, Bloodhound, Dachshund, Greyhound, Pharaoh Hound, and Saluki.

The Toy Group features breeds with small, endearing faces and tiny bodies. Despite their size, these breeds can be very protective and territorial, and often they act like Big Dogs. Breeds in this group may have large personalities, especially when babied too much. Although many toy breeds are dressed in clothing simply for aesthetics, these small breeds sometimes require protective clothing to shield them from harsh weather.

Common traits for toy dogs include loyalty, vigilance, bravery, and companionship.

Some of the most recognizable toy breeds are the Chihuahua, Miniature Pinscher, Pomeranian, Pug, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire Terrier.

The Non-Sporting Group features breeds that have been bred to hunt or work, but which are now used for show or companionship. This diverse group is made up of breeds that vary in appearance, size, and personality.

Due to the diverse nature of the group, and the variation in breeds — bulls, Spitzes, and Tibetans, for example — it’s better to list the common traits of dogs in general than it is to specify the common traits of these breeds. As such, with these dogs, you can expect common traits for non-sporting dogs to include loyalty, vigilance, and intelligence.

Some of the most recognizable non-sporting breeds are the American Eskimo Dog, Bulldog, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Poodle, and Shiba Inu.

The Sporting Group features breeds that are naturally active and alert. They are friendly, likeable dogs that make excellent family pets. The Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever — both incredibly popular breeds — belong to this group.

Common traits for sporting dogs include high energy, alertness, multi-tasking, swimming, friendliness, and easy trainability.

Some of the most recognizable sporting breeds are the Brittany, Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Weimaraner.

The Terrier Group features breeds that are typically feisty and energetic. These breeds often lack tolerance for other animals — even other dogs — and sometimes have an attitude due to their irritation with others.

Common traits for terrier dogs include high energy, vigilance, possessiveness, loyalty, and playfulness.

Some of the most recognizable terrier breeds are the Airedale Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bull Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, and West Highland White Terrier.

The Working Group features breeds that were bred to perform specific jobs such as guarding property, pulling sleds, and performing rescues on land and in water. These breeds often have strong, muscular bodies, and athletic tendencies.

Common traits for working dogs include intelligence, vigilance, strength, loyalty, and adaptability.

Some of the most recognizable working breeds are the Boxer, Great Dane, Mastiff, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, and St. Bernard.

Now that we’ve learned about the several groups recognized by the American Kennel Club, we can take a look at each group’s strengths, weaknesses, and common personality traits. From here, we can decide which dog group best suits our lifestyle.

Hound breeds are best suited to a rural lifestyle. They enjoy the freedom to run, play, and explore, and their curiosity and keen senses lead them on plenty of new adventures. As hounds tend to follow their senses to track and hunt prey, it is best to keep them leashed or within a fenced-in property if not trained to stay within the property limits. Even well-trained hounds are known to take off in pursuit after wild animals.

Additionally, some hounds are known to bay, and as such, they might not make the best pet for city dwellers due to the proximity of neighbours.

Toy breeds are often prized for their overall cuteness, which in turn leads many of these breeds to be spoiled, pampered, and babied, to the point where they may act bratty. The stereotype of small, yappy dogs exists for a reason; too much babying and a lack of discipline leads to talkative dogs, which is only made worse by the fact that some breeds naturally tend to have loud, high-pitched vocal sounds.

The non-sporting group is very diverse, and as such, many dog breeds have different needs and requirements. However, as these breeds have dwindled from working dogs to family pets, they are simply best-suited for companionship — or performing in shows, if that’s your passion.

The sporting group, like the non-sporting group, is often a popular choice when it comes to family pets. Their friendly demeanour, likeability, and kind appearance make them some of the most popular breeds.

The terrier group, prized for its high energy and fierce loyalty, is a great choice for active households, though they may not be well-suited for households with small children, due to their excitable nature and playfulness, combined with an agitation toward others.

Working breeds are often large, muscular, and athletic, with plenty of energy to burn. Many of these breeds are used for protection, and as such, they can be fiercely loyal to their owners and protective of homes and property. These dogs need to be well-trained as their strength and size give them an advantage regarding most things.

As we near the end of this guide, I want to make it clear that I am not an expert on dogs in any way, shape, or form, and my only experience with dogs comes from personal experiences.

Please use this article simply as a guide to learning the basics of different dog breeds, how and why they are categorized, and how certain breeds are better suited to specific lifestyles.