The earliest American dog breeds existed thousands of years before European arrival. They are intelligent and closely bonded to human partnership. That’s why today I have put this list of American Dog Breeds.
Native American Dog Breeds
Carolina Dog (American Dingo)
The Carolina dog was a breed of medium-sized dog native to the Southeast US.
Hare Indian Dog (extinct)
The Hare Indian Dog was originally bred in Canada by Hare Indians for coursing.
Tahltan Bear Dog (extinct)
It was an indigenous breed kept by the Tahltan First Nation. The breed went extinct in the 70s.
Fuegian Dog (extinct)
The Fuegian Dog was used by the Yaghan and Salk’nam natives to hunt animals. It is the only dog naturally domesticated from the fox.
Techichi (extinct)
It is an extinct breed of small dog bred by the Toltec culture.
Xoloitzcuintli
Xolo received its name from the Aztec god of death and fire, Xolotl. Xolos were among the first breeds recorded by the AKC.
Peruvian Inca Orchid
It is an ancient breed that is known to have been kept during the Inca Empire.
Editor’s Pick
North American Dog Breeds
United States
American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a short-haired dog that can be traced back to the Bull Dogs.
American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier, also known as the AmStaff, originated from the Old English Bulldog and the White English Terrier. It is a banned breed in several parts of the US.
American Bulldog
The American Bulldog is a stocky and heavily built dog that is descended from ancient Mastiffs that originated in Asia. The dog was originally bred to be a farm utility dog and weighs between 60 and 100 pounds. The average American Bulldog lifespan is 10 to 12 years.
American Foxhound
The American Foxhound was bred to hunt foxes by scent and is currently the state dog of Virginia. The breed was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886.
American English Coonhound
The American English Coonhound is descended from hunting hounds. The breed has proven popular with coon hunters and is an excellent choice if you have kids or other animals.
Black and Tan Coonhound
It was developed in the US with the main purpose of being a raccoon hunting dog.
Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound was developed from a mix of French hounds brought to America by European settlers.
Redbone Coonhound
The Redbone Coonhound is primarily a hunter of small game that hides in trees. The breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1902.
Treeing Walker Coonhound
The breed’s origins trace back to the mid-18th century in the southern US. The name reflects the breed’s main characteristic of chasing prey up a tree. They are highly intelligent, making them fast learners. The UKC recognized the Treeing Walker Coonhound in 1945.
Plott Hound
The ancestors of today’s Plott Hounds arrived in the United States in the mid-1700s with their German masters. It was later developed in the mountains of North Carolina, and as today, it is the only breed originating in North Carolina.
American Leopard Hound
The breed is descended from dogs brought to the Americas by Spanish conquistadors.
Mountain Cur
The Mountain Cur is a working dog breed developed for trailing small game as well as for guarding family and property.
Black Mouth Cur
The origin of the Black Mouth Cur is believed to be in Mississippi or in the mountains of Tennessee. It is a bit unclear. As far as I know, there’s no authoritative history of Black Mouth Cur bloodlines.
Tennessee Treeing Brindle
The breed has its origins in the areas in and around the Appalachian and Ozark Mountains. The Tennessee Treeing Brindle tends to be intelligent and has a keen sense of smell.
Feist
The Feist was developed in the rural South and Appalachian mountains. It was used in the development of the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier. The breed is identified more by the way it hunts.
American Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier was bred primarily for protection against vermin on the farm or ranch. Their coat comes in a variety of colors.
Toy Fox Terrier
The Toy Fox Terrier was first registered in the US with the UKC in 1936, and it is a direct descendant of the Smooth Fox Terrier.
American Hairless Terrier
The breed was developed from naturally hairless Rat Terriers.
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier was bred from the English Bulldog and a white English terrier.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
It was developed in the Chesapeake Bay area during the 19th century.
Boykin Spaniel
It was bred for hunting wild ducks and turkeys in the Wateree River Swamp of South Carolina.
American Water Spaniel
The breed was developed in Wisconsin in 1985. The American Water Spaniel has an average life span of 10 to 13 years.
Chinook
The Chinook is New Hampshire’s official state dog.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
The Catahoula Leopard Dog became the state dog of Louisiana in 1979.
Canada
Labrador Retriever
The breed has its origins in the Canadian province of Newfoundland. The breed is known for its huge appetite. They have proven to have a high success rate at becoming guide dogs. They have also been used in military and police work.
Newfoundland
The Newfoundland was used as a working dog for fishermen in Newfoundland. It is affectionate and playful with nearly everyone.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The breed originated in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Mexico
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is a Mexican breed of toy dog that weighs between two and six pounds.
Chinese Crested Dog
The breed originated from Mexico as a descendant of the Mexican Hairless dog.
Chamuco (Mexican Pit Bull)
It was developed in Mexico during the 1970s. The name “Chamuco” translates to “devil.”
South American Dog Breeds
Dogo Argentino
Dogo Argentino was bred in the early 20th century in Córdoba, and it is kept principally for hunting large game.
Fila Brasileiro
It is a Brazilian breed of large working dog of mastiff type. In Turkey, it is illegal to own and breed a Fila Brasileiro.
Brazilian Terrier
It is a dog breed developed in the early 20th century in Brazil.
Campeiro Bulldog
The breed was traditionally used in Brazil as a catch dog. The FCI recognized it in 2025.
Cimarrón Uruguayo
The Cimarrón Uruguayo is large in size and originated in Uruguay.
Patagonian Sheepdog
The Patagonian Sheepdog is intelligent and eager to learn, and originated from the shepherds of the United Kingdom.
Gaucho Sheepdog
It is a dog breed that originated in the Pampas, Brazil, and it is used for herding sheep and other livestock.
Cordoba Fighting Dog (extinct)
The Cordoba Fighting Dog is an extinct breed of fighting dog. It was a type of dog bred in Córdoba, Argentina, to fight each other in a dog-fighting pit.
The breed was famous for its incredible ferocity. For instance, the Cordoba Fighting Dogs could not run in packs, as they would attack fellow dogs. It became extinct shortly after Argentina passed Article 3.8 of Law 14.346, which banned animal fights.