Which Breeds Are American?

Below is a representative list of dog breeds widely considered to have originated (or been developed) in the United States. Some are recognized by major kennel clubs (like the American Kennel Club), while others are more regionally known or recognized by alternative registries such as the United Kennel Club. Note that various sources may claim slightly different origins or development histories for certain breeds, but these are among the most commonly cited U.S.‐born breeds:Sporting & Gun Dogs:

• American Water Spaniel – Developed in the Great Lakes region; known for hunting and retrieving.

• Boykin Spaniel – Originated in South Carolina as a versatile hunting companion.

• Chesapeake Bay Retriever – Created along the Chesapeake Bay for retrieving waterfowl; prized for strength in cold waters.

Terriers:

• American Hairless Terrier – Derived from the Rat Terrier, officially recognized for its hairless variety.

• American Pit Bull Terrier – Developed from British bull-and-terrier types, refined in the U.S.

• American Staffordshire Terrier – Shares roots with the Pit Bull; recognized as distinct in the AKC.

• Boston Terrier – Originated in Boston from crosses of bulldog‐type and terrier‐type dogs, becoming the “American Gentleman.”

• Rat Terrier – Bred for rodent control on farms; recognized for its intelligence and agility.

Hounds:

• American Foxhound – Descended from British hounds, refined by early American hunters; known for speed and stamina.

• American English Coonhound – Evolved from English Foxhounds for tracking raccoons.

• Black and Tan Coonhound – Derived from the American Foxhound and Bloodhound, specialized for raccoon or large‐game hunting.

• Bluetick Coonhound – Developed in the southern U.S. for raccoon hunting, known for its distinctive “blue” coat pattern.

• Plott Hound – Traced back to German hunting dogs brought to the U.S. by the Plott family in North Carolina.

• Redbone Coonhound – Originated in the southern U.S. with a signature solid red coat.

• Treeing Walker Coonhound – Originated from the Walker Foxhound line; specialized in “treeing” game.

Working Dogs and Utility Breeds:

• Alaskan Malamute – Although historically tied to the Inuit peoples long before the U.S. existed, it is classed (in modern registries) as an American breed because its formal development and recognition took place in Alaska as part of the U.S.

• American Bulldog – Evolved from the working bulldogs of early settlers in the South; recognized by the UKC.

• American Eskimo Dog – Descended from various European Spitz‐type dogs but developed in the U.S. as a companion and farm dog.

• Chinook – Originated in New Hampshire for sled‐pulling and drafting.

Herding & Farm Dogs:

• Australian Shepherd – Despite its name, the breed was developed in the Western U.S. for herding.

• Miniature American Shepherd – A smaller offshoot of the Australian Shepherd, developed in the U.S.

• English Shepherd – Though named “English,” it was fine‐tuned in the U.S. for farm work and herding.

Other Unique American Breeds:

• American Leopard Hound – Possibly one of the oldest tree dog breeds in the U.S., used for hunting varied game.

• Carolina Dog – A landrace descended from dogs that arrived with prehistoric peoples, recognized today as a primitive breed.

• Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog – State dog of Louisiana; developed for hog hunting and cattle work in swampy environments.

• Blue Lacy (Lacy Dog) – Originated in Texas as a multipurpose ranch dog.

• Feist – Umbrella term for a small hunting dog type (e.g., Treeing Feist), long associated with southern U.S. farms.