The impetus behind experiments with this type of cross was the desire to achieve a service dog that would not shed and so produce a hypoallergenic dog that is suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. This has not yet been reliably achieved, as Labradoodles have varying coat lengths and textures, and crosses beyond the first generation do not yield a predictable coat type.

And its not just Poodle mixes, many different "designer" dogs (as the media has labeled them) are immerging.

Designer Dog? What s a designer dog you ask? A "designer" dog, as the media has labeled them, is a cross between two pure bred dogs.

Whether or not you choose a pure bred dog or a "designer" hybrid mix, do your homework and research, research, research. Remember, adopting a dog is a life long commitment and not something that should be taken lightly. Before you adopt a dog ask yourself exactly what it is you are looking for in your dog.

How many breeds of dogs are there? Well, that depends on whom you ask. The American Kennel Club, which registers purebred dogs, officially recognizes 150 different breeds of dogs. As of the time of writing this article. This can change.

Dog breeds can be divided into different categories, such as:

Hunting Hounds, including Sight hounds and Scent hounds Gundogs, including Pointers, Retrievers, and Spaniels Terrier Curs and Feists Working (or Utility) Pastoral dogs, including Livestock guardian dogs, Herding dogs, Sheepdogs, and Drovers Sled dog Bulldogs Extinct dog breeds Fighting dogs Toy Dog breeds can also be grouped into similar types such as mastiff types, spitz types, pit bulls, or Lurchers.

For interest sake, ther is also a complete List of Ancient dog breeds.

Fourteen ancient breeds of dog have recently been identified through advances in DNA analysis. These breeds of domesticated dog show the fewest genetic differences from wolves. The breeds are geographically diverse, including dogs from Siberia, Japan, Alaska, China, Tibet, and Africa.

The identification of the fourteen "Ancient" dog breeds was established in the article "Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog" in the journal Science Volume 304 (May 21, 2004).

The following are the dog breeds listed as ancient in the published study and their countries of origin:

Afghan Hound (Afghanistan) Akita (Japan) Alaskan Malamute (United States (Alaska)) Basenji (Congo) Chow Chow (China) Lhasa Apso (Tibet) Pekingese (China) Saluki (Egypt) Samoyed (Siberia) Shar Pei (China) Shiba Inu (Japan) Shih Tzu (China/Tibet) Siberian Husky (Siberia) Tibetian Terrier (Tibet)

Controversy: There is some controversy over the results of the study, as some have noted that breeding between wolves and specific breeds in recent times may have led to inaccurate results. As a result of these breedings, the offspring would have gained genetic similarities with wolves and may mask the truth about the real differences between the breed and wolves before these interbreedings.

KC Recognized Breeds:

Affenpinscher Afghan Hound Airedale Terrier Akita Alaskan Malamute American Eskimo Dog American Foxhound American Staffordshire Terrier American Water Spaniel Anatolian Shepherd Dog Australian Cattle Dog Australian Shepherd Australian Terrier Basenji Basset Hound Beagle Bearded Collie Bedlington Terrier Belgian Malinois Belgian Sheepdog Belgian Tervuren Bernese Mountain Dog Bichon Frise Black and Tan Coonhound Black Russian Terrier Bloodhound Border Collie Border Terrier Borzoi Boston Terrier Bouvier des Flandres Boxer Briard Brittany Brussels Griffon Bull Terrier Bulldog Bullmastiff Cairn Terrier Canaan Dog Cardigan Welsh Corgi Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chihuahua Chinese Crested Chinese Shar-Pei Chow Chow Clumber Spaniel Cocker Spaniel Collie Curly-Coated Retriever Dachshund Dalmatian Dandie Dinmont Terrier Doberman Pinscher English Cocker Spaniel English Foxhound English Setter English Springer Spaniel English Toy Spaniel Field Spaniel Finnish Spitz Flat-Coated Retriever French Bulldog German Pinscher German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Giant Schnauzer Glen of Imaal Terrier Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Great Dane Great Pyrenees Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Greyhound Harrier Havanese Ibizan Hound Irish Setter Irish Terrier Irish Water Spaniel Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Japanese Chin Keeshond Kerry Blue Terrier Komondor Kuvasz Labrador Retriever Lakeland Terrier Lhasa Apso Löwchen Maltese Manchester Terrier Mastiff Miniature Bull Terrier Miniature Pinscher Miniature Schnauzer Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland Norfolk Terrier Norwegian Elkhound Norwich Terrier Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Old English Sheepdog Otterhound Papillon Parson Russell Terrier Pekingese Pembroke Welsh Corgi Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Pharaoh Hound Pointer Polish Lowland Sheepdog Pomeranian Poodle Portuguese Water Dog Pug Puli Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Saint Bernard Saluki Samoyed Schipperke Scottish Deerhound Scottish Terrier Sealyham Terrier Shetland Sheepdog Shiba Inu Shih Tzu Siberian Husky Silky Terrier Skye Terrier Smooth Fox Terrier Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Spinone Italiano Staffordshire Bull Terrier Standard Schnauzer Sussex Spaniel Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier Toy Fox Terrier Vizsla Weimaraner Welsh Springer Spaniel Welsh Terrier West Highland White Terrier Whippet Wire Fox Terrier Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Yorkshire Terrier

Miscellaneous Class Breeds

The Miscellaneous Class is intended as an interim stage. Under current policy, dogs would become eligible for registration at the time that the breed is brought into the Miscellaneous Class. After a limited time in the Miscellaneous Class a date would be set, at which time the breed would become eligible to compete in a variety group at all-breed dog shows.

Beauceron Plott Redbone Coonhound Swedish Vallhund Tibetan Mastiff

Foundation Stock Service Breeds

The Foundation Stock Service (FSS); was created by the American Kennel Club to answer the needs of today's rare breed fanciers. The Foundation Stock Service is an optional record keeping service for all purebred breeds not currently registrable with the American Kennel Club.

American English Coonhound Appenzeller Sennenhunde Argentine Dogo Azawakh Belgian Laekenois Bergamasco Black and Tan Coonhound Bluetick Coonhound Bolognese Boykin Spaniel Bracco Italiano Cane Corso Catahoula Leopard Dog Caucasian Mountain Dog Central Asian Shepherd Dog Cesky Terrier Chinook Coton de Tulear Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Dogue de Bordeaux Entlebucher Mountain Dog Estrela Mountain Dog Finnish Lapphund German Spitz Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen Icelandic Sheepdog Irish Red and White Setter Kai Ken Kooikerhondje Lagotto Romagnolo Lancashire Heeler Leonberger Mudi Norwegian Buhund Norwegian Lundehund Perro de Presa Canario Peruvian Inca Orchid Portuguese Podengo Pumi Pyrenean Shepherd Rafeiro do Alentejo Rat Terrier Sloughi Spanish Water Dog Stabyhoun Thai Ridgeback Tosa Treeing Tennessee Brindle Treeing Walker Coonhound Xoloitzcuintli