* Different Organizations, Different Standards: Different kennel clubs and organizations recognize different breeds. Some may have strict standards, while others are more inclusive.
* New Breeds Emerging: New breeds are constantly being developed through selective breeding, making it hard to keep a definitive count.
* Landrace Dogs: Many dogs around the world aren't officially recognized breeds but are unique populations specific to certain regions.
However, here's a general idea:
* The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 190 breeds.
* The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognizes over 350 breeds.
* The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes over 160 breeds.
So, a rough estimate would be that there are likely hundreds of recognized dog breeds in the world, with even more unique populations of dogs that haven't been officially classified.