All pedigree dogs belong to one of seven different groups. These are groups that breeds of dogs are separated into. The seven groups are Pastoral, Terrier, Hound, Toy, Gundog, Utility and Working. We will be covering each of these groups over the next few months to give you an insight into their purpose and what sort of dogs belong to them.
This month we are starting off with the Utility group. The Utility group is a bit of a miscellaneous group because it is made up of such a variety of different dogs. It contains the most diverse selection of dogs out of all the groups. The dogs featured in this group were all bred for a specific purpose, but unlike some of the other groups their jobs were not sporting or working related. Some of the dog breeds fall into this category because they don't really fit into any other group. For many breeds in this group their original purpose is no longer needed, so now they serve a completely different purpose. For example Dalmatians used to run alongside a horse and cart, but they are no longer used for this.
Another thing you might notice about the Utility group is that the dogs are not all similar size. In fact, the size difference varies quite a bit in this group. There are smaller dogs such as the Shih Tzu and Toy Poodle, and much bigger breeds such as the Dalmatian. You will find the right size breed of dog from within this varied bunch.
What 'Utility' really means is 'fitness for a purpose'. These breeds have been bred for a specific purpose that is not necessarily needed any more. As this group is so diverse it is often difficult to easily identify dog breeds that belong in the group. Other canine groups are a little more obvious and their breeds much more simple to identify. The group of dogs in the Utility group contains some breeds that are the oldest documented dogs on record. If you are unsure of what dogs are in the Utility group then take a look at the list below.
Dogs Listed In The Utility Group:
- Akita
- Boston Terrier
- Bulldog
- Canaan Dog
- Chow Chow
- Dalmatian
- Eurasier
- French Bulldog
- German Spitz (Klein)
- German Spitz (Mittel)
- Japanese Akita Inu
- Japanese Shiba Inu
- Japanese Spitz
- Keeshond
- Kooikerhondje
- Korean Jindo
- Lhasa Apso
- Mexican Hairless (Intermediate)
- Mexican Hairless (Miniature)
- Mexican Hairless (Standard)
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Poodle (Miniature)
- Poodle (Standard)
- Poodle (Toy)
- Schipperke
- Schnauzer
- Shar Pei
- Shih Tzu
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Tibetan Terrier