How To Identify The Breed Of Your Dog

How to identify the breed of your dog?

The cheapest solution is to just identify the breed of your dog manually. It is possible to conduct a DNA analysis of your dog, this should give you more information on the breed of your dog. You could also consult with the breeder who sold you the dog, as they will probably know the lineage of the dog and potentially have certification of its breed status.
DNA identification

There are various places where a DNA sample of the dog can be taken (using a swab taken from the cheek). It should be noted that these results are not guaranteed to be correct, also many breeds are actually created from a mixture of other breeds, so for example a dog breed may be mislabeled in this way. One example of this service happydogdna.com, no endorsement is given for this service, please take it as a jumping off point for researching the subject.
Manual Identification

Identify all the relevant stats of your dog.

Weight
Height (to the withers not the head)
Note the shape of the face and the head.
Check the eye colour, the ears.
Check the fur of the dog
Check the tail of the dog, note though that some dogs may have had their tail docked
Check the behaviour of the dog, as certain breeds have specific temperaments, also certain breeds where bred to have specific skills, so for example if the dog is very good at smelling out small animals, this is an indicator that it may be a scent hound
How vocal is the breed

Contact a breeder

Contact a breeder of dogs, preferably one who breeds the type of dog you think you have. For a fee or possibly for free they may be able to advise you as to the type of dog you have.
Contact the seller of your dog

The person who sold you the dog may have more information at the very least about the parents dogs of your dogs. From this you already have more information, they may have certifications on the nature of the breed of dog. Some dogs can be directly traced back to the progenitor dog for that breed.

List Of Types Of Dogs

Here is a list of all the types of dogs out there, there is some duplication in this list of the types of dogs which exist as some breeds are known by multiple names:

Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Africanis
Aidi
Airedale Terrier
Akbash
Akita Inu
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
Alaskan Malamute
Alpine Dachsbracke
American English Coonhound
American Eskimo Dog
American Foxhound
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Appenzeller Sennenhunde
Argentine Dogo
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Australian Terrier
Azawakh
Basenji
Basset Hound
Barbet
Bavarian Mountain Hound
Beagle
Bearded Collie
Beauceron
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Laekenois
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Bergamasco
Berger Picard
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bichon Frise
Black and Tan Coonhound
Black Russian Terrier
Bloodhound
Bluetick Coonhound
Boerboel
Bolognese
Border Collie
Border Terrier
Borzoi
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Boxer
Boykin Spaniel
Bracco Italiano
Briard
Brittany
Brussels Griffon
Bull Terrier
Bulldog
Bullmastiff
Cairn Terrier
Canaan Dog
Cane Corso
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Caucasian Ovcharka
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
Cesky Terrier
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chihuahua
Chinese Crested
Chinese Shar-Pei
Chinook
Chow Chow
Cirneco dell'Etna
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Collie
Coton de Tulear
Curly-Coated Retriever
Czechoslovakian Vlcak
Dachshund
Dalmatian
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Doberman Pinscher
Dogue de Bordeaux
Elo
English Cocker Spaniel
English Foxhound
English Pointer
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Estrela Mountain Dog
Eurasier
Field Spaniel
Finnish Lapphund
Finnish Spitz
Flat-Coated Retriever
French Bulldog
German Longhaired Pointer
German Pinscher
German Shepherd Dog
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Spitz
German Wirehaired Pointer
Giant Schnauzer
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greyhound
Harrier
Havanese
Ibizan Hound
Icelandic Sheepdog
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Wolfhound
Italian Greyhound
Jack Russell Terrier
Japanese Chin
Japanese Spitz
Jindo
Kai Ken
Karelian Bear Dog
Keeshond
Kerry Blue Terrier
Kishu Ken
Komondor
Kooikerhondje
Kuvasz
Labrador Retriever
Lagotto Romagnolo
Lakeland Terrier
Lancashire Heeler
Leonberger
Lhasa Apso
Löwchen
Maltese
Manchester Terrier
Mastiff
Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
Miniature Schnauzer
Moscow Watchdog
Mudi
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Norfolk Terrier
Norrbottenspets
Norwegian Buhund
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwegian Lundehund
Norwich Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Old English Sheepdog
Otterhound
Papillon
Parson Russell Terrier
Pekingese
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Perro de Presa Canario
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Pharaoh Hound
Pit bull
Plott
Pointer
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Portuguese Podengo
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
Portuguese Pointer
Pomeranian
Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Pug
Puli
Pumi
Pyrenean Shepherd
Rafeiro do Alentejo
Rat Terrier
Redbone Coonhound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Russell Terrier
Russian Toy
Saint Bernard
Saluki
Samoyed
Schapendoes
Schipperke
Scottish Deerhound
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog
Shar Pei
Shiba Inu
Shih Tzu
Siberian Husky
Silky Terrier
Skye Terrier
Slovensky Cuvac
Sloughi
Small Munsterlander Pointer
Smooth Fox Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Spanish Mastiff
Spanish Water Dog
Spinone Italiano
Stabyhoun
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Sussex Spaniel
Swedish Lapphund
Swedish Vallhund
Thai Ridgeback
Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Tosa
Toy Fox Terrier
Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Whippet
Wire Fox Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Wirehaired Vizsla
Xoloitzcuintli
Yorkshire Terrier

collie dog

The Collie dog is a sociable, intelligent dog. It makes an excellent family pet, as it has a good natured personality, it is loyal and devoted. This type of dog tends to get along with strangers and family alike. However they are sensitive dogs so need significant amounts of attention from owners.

Collies originated from Scotland, they were bred to herd and drive livestock. The breed was a favorite with Queen Victoria in the 1800's.

The collie breed so more famously known for its role in the TV series Lassie. It is a medium sized dog, with a fairly long dense undercoat. The coloring of the coat goes from white, sable or blue merle.

For grooming a Collie requires that its coat be brushed at least once a week. More frequent brushing is required during shedding season. Collies generally live from 12-14 years, and specific health problems with this breed include PRA, thyroid issues, epilepsy, skin irritation and bloat.

Poodle

A poodle is a breed of dog which comes in many varieties, including toy, miniature and standard. They come in many different colors including blue, black, white, apricot, silver, brown and red. Poodles are retrievers, or gun dogs, and are still used in that role. The unique way that the poodle is cut came from the need to keep the major joints of the poodle warm while they were in water, while the rest of the body was shaved to have less drag in the water.

The poodles coat is thick and does not shed significantly. This means that they require extensive care and grooming if kept to show standards. The origination of the name poodle comes from Pudel (German), which is shortening of Pudelhund, a translation of this would be splashing dog. Standard poodles have a median lifespan of ~12 years, while miniature and toy poodles had a median lifespan of ~14 years. However some toy poodles can live up to 17 years with a healthy lifestyle

Border Terrier

A border terrier is a small breed of dog with a rough group. It was originally bred to hunt vermin and fox as well as being used to hunt otters and badgers. They were bred from Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Bedlington Terriers. The Border terrier takes its name from region where it came from being the border between England and Scotland.

They are affectionate, well tempered obedient, alert and fearless. They tend to get on fine with other dogs, however if they do take a dislike to another dog they will start a fight and can be difficult to stop. Activity wise these dogs will adapt to the owner, so they do not necessarily demand a lot of exercise but are happy to get some. This breed does like company and is not suited to be being left alone for long periods. Border terriers are not task oriented dogs, but their love of people and even temper makes them an ideal therapy dog for children and elderly.

Boxer

The Boxer breed of dog was originally developed in Germany. It is a stocky, medium-sized short-haired dog. The boxer was bred from the bulldog and the now extinct Bullenheiser and is part of the molosser group. The name boxer may be derived from the tendency this breed has of playing by standing on its hind legs and playing with its front paws as if boxing.

Boxers are energetic, bright and playful. They tend to be good with children. Exercise wise they are a very active dog and need significant amounts of exercise to stop them getting bored and causing bad behaviour such as digging or chewing. By nature boxers are not aggressive of vicious but they do need to be socialized, they are generally happy with smaller dogs or puppies but with other adult dogs problems can occur.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are a large breed of dog, they were developed as gun dogs to get waterfowl and game which had been shot during hunting. So they were bred to have a soft mouth to not damage game and for the love of water. These dogs are very versatile and are employed in roles such as illegal drug detection, hunting and as guide dogs. These are lovable, intelligent dogs with lovely charm. They can be easily training and are patient and gentle with children. Golden retrievers are also very friendly with other dogs, as this dog has very little if any guarding instincts. Although they do not attack they do make good watchdogs as they will alert on the approach of a stranger. Retrievers are happiest when they are surrounded by people. They are not dedicated to only one owners and are generally friendly to strangers or those familiar.

The Golden Retriever came from Britain, originating from a mixture of the flat-coated retriever and the tweed water spaniels. Golden Retrievers are fairly active dogs, they require a moderate level of exercise per day, this breed is likely to get obese if fed to much or not having enough exercise. They need to be groomed at least once a week, and even daily when they are shedding (this season is normally in the spring as the dog loses its thick winter coat). Ear cleaning is also advisable to stave off ear infection.