The number of dog breeds worldwide varies depending on the kennel club or canine registry referenced. Here are the key figures from major organizations:
- The American Kennel Club (AKC), which is U.S.-based, currently recognizes about 200 to 222 dog breeds
- The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), an international body, officially recognizes around 339 to 360 breeds globally
- The UK's Kennel Club recognizes approximately 221 breeds
Because different organizations use varying criteria for breed recognition and classification, the total number of recognized dog breeds ranges roughly between 195 and 360. Including experimental and designer breeds (crossbreeds without official status) could push this number closer to 500 or more, but these are not officially recognized as distinct breeds
. In summary, there are at least 360 officially recognized dog breeds worldwide, with estimates ranging up to about 500 when including unofficial and mixed breeds. The exact number depends on the registry and definitions used.
