The American Kennel Club

The American Kennel Club is the country’s (if not the world's) largest breed registry. It issues the standards that define breeds. The AKC’s list of pure breeds contains information on everything from appearance to attitude, offering a biography and detailed growth plan for your pet. With the recent addition of several breeds to the miscellaneous class, the AKC recognizes over 150 individual breeds and 162 varieties in all (a variety is a class within a breed; for example, the dachshund breed has three varieties: smooth, longhaired and wirehaired).