6 Interesting Dog Facts

How Many Dog Breeds Are There?

The American Kennel Club recognized its 201st breed in January 2024 when the Lancashire Heeler was added to the AKC registry. The first breed to be recognized by the AKC was the pointer in 1878. But worldwide, more breeds make the cut. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale officially recognizes 360 breeds. The FCI, also known as the International Canine Federation, is the largest international federation of kennel clubs with members, associates and partners in 98 countries. 

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Toto at Risk of Extinction

Experts warn that the Cairn Terrier, which rose to fame as Dorothy’s dog in The Wizard of Oz, has HALVED in popularity over the last 10 years, reports the Daily Mail. 

In 1930s, the Cairn was one of the top five most popular breeds in the UK. Following the release of the iconic film in 1939, demand for the breed skyrocketed. But in the first quarter of 2023, the fearless little terrier saw a 42 percent decrease in popularity compared to the year previous. Due to the sharp decline in numbers, there are fears the breed will enter The Kennel Club’s Vulnerable Native Breeds list, which highlights British and Irish Breeds at risk of disappearing.

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An Ancient, Unlikely Friendship

Dogs evolved from a now-extinct species of Pleistocene wolves between 18,800 and 32,100 years ago, after early humans in Europe or western Siberia formed an unlikely partnership with the canines. The dog was the first species to be domesticated by humans, predating the domestication of horses and ruminants by 10,000 years.

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Oldest Dog Breed

The Guinness World Book of Records cites the Saluki as the world’s oldest known breed of domesticated dog. Believed to have emerged in 329 BC, Saluki dogs were revered in ancient Egypt where they were kept as royal pets and even mummified after death. Carvings found in Sumer (present-day southern Iraq) closely resemble a Saluki and date back to 7000 BC.

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The Tallest Dog Breed

The immense yet graceful Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed of dog, standing nearly three feet at the shoulder and weighing up to 180 pounds. Bred to be big game hunters, this fast and fearless ancient breed gained popularity in 15th century Ireland by helping control the wolf population.

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The Smartest Breed

The Border Collie is widely considered to be the smartest dog breed. A Border Collie named Chaser famously learned the meaning of over 1,000 proper nouns.

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This article was originally published in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!