SELECTION FOR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The need for dogs such as Wolfhounds (wolf hunting) and Setters (field bird hunting) resulted in the development of strains that excelled in particular areas. The strains gradually evolved into separate breeds of dog, with most of the clarification and demarcation between the breeds going on in the past 100 to 150 years.

A breed is, by definition, a group of dogs related by descent, and reproducing certain characteristics that the breeders agree to recognise as the ones distinguishing the breed.

Breeds of dogs have been further categorised into groups of similar function. The actual breeds that make up a group can vary slightly around the world. The Rottweiler was in the 'non-sporting' group in Australia and in the 'working dog' group in most other countries. Nowadays, the Rottweiler is mostly found in the 'utility' group.

The groups are as follows:

Hounds - dogs developed for pack hunting, including sight and scent hounds.

Gun dogs - used for hunting and retrieving.

Working Dogs - developed for animal herding, pulling loads and guarding.

Utility - dogs bred for varied pursuits including guarding.

Toy - smaller breeds developed mostly as house dogs and lap dogs.

Terriers - bred to hunt and kill vermin.

Non Sporting – a group with generalised abilities rather than specific duties.

Just as the various breeds that make up a group tend to have a similar function, so do the temperaments within a group. This generalization applies best to the more uniform groups, e.g. hounds, gun dogs, terriers and working dogs. The utility, toy and non-sporting groups are not as uniform in type or temperament, so the comments apply far more loosely to these dogs.

Information contained from - "The New Dog Owner's Manual" - Written by Dr Karen Hedberg