Love me, love my name! The American Kennel Club recognizes 190 dog breeds, and more foreign breeds are finding their way to our shores every day. If you’ve ever looked at a dog breed name and thrown your hands up in the air (looking at you, Xolo) or bluffed your way through it, we’ve got your back.
Check out the spelling of the dog breed, then scroll down to see the phonetic pronunciation and learn a little about each breed.
Beauceron
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWah5TiFTu_/
Pronounced Bo-ser-on. A herding and guard dog of northern France named for the Beauce region.
Belgian Malinois
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdLdIKjHc_/
Pronounced Mal-in-wa. A Belgian shepherd dog breed now best known for their use as guard dogs. Named for the city of Malines.
Coton de Tulear
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdHEXJAlwA/
Pronounced Cah-TON de Tu-lay-ahr. Named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar and their fluffy cotton wool coat, the Coton is a playful small dog, related to the Bichon.
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ-x2M0Amvc/
Pronounced ENT-leh-boo-cur. A member of the Sennenhund family, related to the Greater Swiss and Bernese Mountain Dog. Named for the Entlebuch region of Switzerland at the foot of the Alps.
Keeshond
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWc7_KChnRI/?
Pronounced KAYZ-hon, plural Keeshonden. A medium-sized spitz dog related to the Pomeranian. Named after famous Dutch patriot Cornelis “Kees” de Gyselaer.
Kooikerhondje
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWZewOzFA55/
Pronounced KOY-ker-hond. The name is Dutch for “little caging dog,” and the breed was first used to chase ducks into cages. A member of the Spaniel family.
Mudi
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUfHItqlxlb/
Pronounced Moodie, plural Mudik. Hungarian herding dog related to the Pumi and Puli.
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdDhy4B1et/
Pronounced Puh-TEE Bah-SAY Gree-FOHN VON-day-uhn. A small scent hound native to the Vendée region of France bred for chasing rabbits.
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWc0PYwBmN1/
Pronounced Poe-DEN-go Pe-KEN-o. A petite hunting dog bred to hunt small game in packs. Intelligent and friendly, the Podengo also comes in a medium and large size.
Schipperke
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWbJDcMl0tC/
Pronounced SKIP-er-kee. Schipperke means “little shepherd” in their home country of Belgium. This mischievous little dog requires lots of exercise to stay on the straight and narrow.
Spinone Italiano
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdJB-QHuCd/
Pronounced Spin-OH-nay Ih-tahl-YAH-no. The Spinone is a hunting, pointing, and retrieving dog hailing from the Piedmont region of Italy.
Vizsla
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdVDllnak3/
Pronounced VEESH-la. This Hungarian pointer is known for its beautiful red coat and sweet, loving personality.
Xoloitzcuintli
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWbvZrHgJkr/
Pronounced Show-low-eats-QUEEN-tlee. The sacred dog of the Aztecs, this hairless beauty comes in three sizes in its native Mexico.
Hat tip: AKC
