These dog trivia questions come in five rounds: breeds and where they come from, the jobs dogs were bred for, the dog's body and senses, dogs in history, and dog words, sayings and puppies.
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Fun dog trivia questions for a club night
Breeds and where they come from is the long round: the Great Dane is not Danish and the Australian Shepherd is not Australian. The jobs dogs were bred for covers badgers, cattle and the turnspit wheel. The dog's body and senses names the shearing teeth and explains whiskers. Dogs in history meets Togo, Hachikō and Barry. Dog words, sayings and puppies ends with the underdog and the dog watch.
At a shelter fundraiser or at home
Ten questions come up one after another. Tap a choice to see the right answer, a line of explanation and the page it was read on. Scored round asks 20 and marks them all at the end.
Questions and answers
What are some easy dog trivia questions?
Which was the first species to be domesticated? Which ancient breed is known for its dark tongue? What color is a Dalmatian puppy at birth? The answers are the dog, the Chow Chow and plain white.
How many teeth does a dog have?
Around 42. Among them are the carnassials, paired upper and lower teeth whose edges pass each other like shears.
What colors can dogs see?
Yellows, blues and grays. A dog's vision is dichromatic, so its visual world is made of those colors.
How were the answers checked?
Each was read on October 3, 2026 in the Wikipedia article linked under it, usually the breed's own article; the kennel club's founding year comes from its own page. Rankings, records and living dogs are left out, and nothing here is care or training advice.
The Alaskan Malamute is thought to have been bred by the Malimiut, an Inupiaq people of which part of Alaska?Answer: The Norton Sound region. Source: Wikipedia: Alaskan Malamute
The Australian Cattle Dog was created by crossing imported collies with which wild dog?Answer: The dingo. Source: Wikipedia: Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Shepherd took its name from collies that came from Australia. Where were they brought with their sheep?Answer: California. Source: Wikipedia: Australian Shepherd
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was bred to look like the spaniels of which English king?Answer: Charles II. Source: Wikipedia: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Despite its name, the Great Dane comes from which country?Answer: Germany. Source: Wikipedia: Great Dane
The Dobermann was first bred about 1890 by Louis Dobermann. What was his job?Answer: Tax collector. Source: Wikipedia: Dobermann
The Golden Retriever is a breed of which country?Answer: Scotland. Source: Wikipedia: Golden Retriever
The Havanese is a bichon of which island country?Answer: Cuba. Source: Wikipedia: Havanese dog
The Jack Russell Terrier is named after a man of which calling?Answer: A country parson. Source: Wikipedia: Jack Russell Terrier
The Komondor, a large white dog with a long corded coat, is a breed of which country?Answer: Hungary. Source: Wikipedia: Komondor
The Labrador Retriever was developed from water dogs imported from which colony?Answer: Newfoundland. Source: Wikipedia: Labrador Retriever
The Papillon is named for its erect ears. What does papillon mean in French?Answer: Butterfly. Source: Wikipedia: Continental Toy Spaniel
The Portuguese Water Dog began in which region of Portugal?Answer: The Algarve. Source: Wikipedia: Portuguese Water Dog
The Schipperke, known in Flemish as the Little Captain, is a breed of which country?Answer: Belgium. Source: Wikipedia: Schipperke
St. Bernards were first bred for rescue work by a hospice on a mountain pass on the border of which two countries?Answer: Italy and Switzerland. Source: Wikipedia: St. Bernard (dog breed)
Which breed carries the nickname the American Gentleman?Answer: The Boston Terrier. Source: Wikipedia: Boston Terrier
Which breed from Southern Africa is also called the African Lion Dog?Answer: The Rhodesian Ridgeback. Source: Wikipedia: Rhodesian Ridgeback
Which breed from the Congo is known as the African barkless dog?Answer: The Basenji. Source: Wikipedia: Basenji
Which English breed is known as the King of Terriers?Answer: The Airedale Terrier. Source: Wikipedia: Airedale Terrier
Which people of the Russian Far East first developed the Siberian Husky?Answer: The Chukchi. Source: Wikipedia: Siberian Husky
Which sighthound is also called the Russian Wolfhound?Answer: The Borzoi. Source: Wikipedia: Borzoi
Which toy breed from Mexico is the smallest recognized dog breed in the world?Answer: The Chihuahua. Source: Wikipedia: Chihuahua (dog breed)
Which toy breed from Tibet is nicknamed the Chrysanthemum Dog?Answer: The Shih Tzu. Source: Wikipedia: Shih Tzu
Who developed the German Shepherd from 1899, using traditional German herding dogs?Answer: Max von Stephanitz. Source: Wikipedia: German Shepherd
The Xoloitzcuintle, one of several hairless breeds, is the national dog of which country?Answer: Mexico. Source: Wikipedia: Xoloitzcuintle
The Yorkshire Terrier was bred mostly by people who worked where?Answer: In cotton and woolen mills. Source: Wikipedia: Yorkshire Terrier
The jobs dogs were bred for 16
A hearing dog is trained to alert its handler to what?Answer: Important sounds, such as a doorbell or a smoke alarm. Source: Wikipedia: Hearing dog
A herding dog is also known by which name?Answer: A stock dog. Source: Wikipedia: Herding dog
The Beagle was bred mainly to hunt which animals?Answer: Rabbit and hare. Source: Wikipedia: Beagle
The Dachshund was bred to scent, chase and flush out which burrowing animal?Answer: The badger. Source: Wikipedia: Dachshund
Gun dogs are also known by which name, after the game they help to find?Answer: Bird dogs. Source: Wikipedia: Gun dog
Hounds that follow prey mainly by speed, keeping it in sight, are sighthounds. What is their other name?Answer: Gazehounds. Source: Wikipedia: Hound
In which country were the first training schools for service dogs set up, during the First World War?Answer: Germany. Source: Wikipedia: Guide dog
Newfoundland dogs excel at which job, helped by webbed paws and a thick double coat?Answer: Water rescue. Source: Wikipedia: Newfoundland dog
The oldest guide dog school in the United States was founded in 1929. What is it called?Answer: The Seeing Eye. Source: Wikipedia: The Seeing Eye
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was bred to herd which animals?Answer: Cattle. Source: Wikipedia: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Poodle is a breed of which type of dog?Answer: Water dog. Source: Wikipedia: Poodle
The Saluki was once used by nomadic tribes to do what?Answer: Run down game animals. Source: Wikipedia: Saluki
Since the Middle Ages the bloodhound, a large scent hound, has been used to track what?Answer: People. Source: Wikipedia: Bloodhound
Terriers were first bred to hunt vermin. The word terrier comes from the Latin for what?Answer: Earth. Source: Wikipedia: Terrier
The turnspit dog was bred to run on a wheel. What did the wheel turn?Answer: Meat as it cooked. Source: Wikipedia: Turnspit dog
Which spotted breed, first bred as a hunting dog, was also used as a carriage dog by firefighters?Answer: The Dalmatian. Source: Wikipedia: Dalmatian dog
The dog's body and senses 10
A dog sees the world in which colors?Answer: Yellows, blues and grays. Source: Wikipedia: Dog
A dog whistle sounds in a range that people cannot hear. Who invented it in 1876?Answer: Francis Galton. Source: Wikipedia: Dog whistle
What are the paired upper and lower teeth whose edges pass each other like shears called?Answer: Carnassials. Source: Wikipedia: Carnassial
What color is the coat of a Dalmatian puppy at birth?Answer: Plain white. Source: Wikipedia: Dalmatian dog
What do the whiskers of a dog help it to do?Answer: Sense objects that could hit its nose, ears or jaw. Source: Wikipedia: Dog
What is the digit that grows higher on the leg than the rest of the foot, so that it does not touch the ground when the animal stands, called?Answer: A dewclaw. Source: Wikipedia: Dewclaw
What marks out the Rhodesian Ridgeback from other breeds?Answer: A ridge of hair that runs along its back against the rest of the coat. Source: Wikipedia: Rhodesian Ridgeback
When American fanciers wrote a standard for the French Bulldog, which kind of ear did it prefer?Answer: The erect bat ear. Source: Wikipedia: French Bulldog
Which ancient breed is known for its dark tongue?Answer: The Chow Chow. Source: Wikipedia: Chow Chow
Which breed has a head described as egg-shaped?Answer: The Bull Terrier. Source: Wikipedia: Bull Terrier
Dogs in history 13
A mosaic in the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii carries the Latin caption cave canem. What does it mean?Answer: Beware of the dog. Source: Wikipedia: Beware of the dog
A statue of the terrier Greyfriars Bobby sits on a street corner in which city?Answer: Edinburgh. Source: Wikipedia: Greyfriars Bobby
About how many sled dogs ran in the Great Race of Mercy in 1925?Answer: About 150. Source: Wikipedia: 1925 serum run to Nome
Barry, a rescue dog of the Great St Bernard hospice, is credited with saving more than how many lives?Answer: 40. Source: Wikipedia: Barry (dog)
Canis Minor, the lesser dog, is a constellation with which bright star?Answer: Procyon. Source: Wikipedia: Canis Minor
The Dickin Medal honors animals for gallantry in military service. In which year was it begun?Answer: 1943. Source: Wikipedia: Dickin Medal
The dingo is a lineage of dog found on which continent?Answer: Australia. Source: Wikipedia: Dingo
Hachikō, remembered with a bronze statue at Shibuya Station in Tokyo, was a dog of which breed?Answer: Akita. Source: Wikipedia: Hachikō
In the Odyssey, what is the name of the faithful dog of Odysseus?Answer: Argos. Source: Wikipedia: Argos (dog)
In which year was the American Kennel Club founded?Answer: 1884. Source: American Kennel Club: Labrador Retriever
The sled dog relay of 1925 known as the Great Race of Mercy carried an antitoxin for which disease?Answer: Diphtheria. Source: Wikipedia: 1925 serum run to Nome
Togo was the lead sled dog of which musher?Answer: Leonhard Seppala. Source: Wikipedia: Togo (dog)
Which was the first species to be domesticated?Answer: The dog. Source: Wikipedia: Domestication of the dog
Dog words, sayings and puppies 12
A dogfight, in the language of pilots, is what?Answer: An aerial battle between fighter aircraft at close range. Source: Wikipedia: Dogfight
Corgi is a Welsh word. What does it mean?Answer: Dwarf dog. Source: Wikipedia: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
In a contest, who is the underdog?Answer: The one largely expected to lose. Source: Wikipedia: Underdog
In the dog paddle, how does a swimmer lie in the water?Answer: On the chest. Source: Wikipedia: Dog paddle
On a ship, how long does a dog watch last?Answer: Two hours. Source: Wikipedia: Dog watch
Up to about what age is a young dog generally called a puppy?Answer: 12 to 18 months. Source: Wikipedia: Puppy
What can a newborn puppy not yet do?Answer: Open its eyes. Source: Wikipedia: Puppy
What does the idiom "top dog" mean?Answer: The boss or the leader. Source: Wikipedia: Top Dog
What is a dog ear, in a book?Answer: A folded-down corner of a page. Source: Wikipedia: Dog ears
What is cynology the study of?Answer: Dogs. Source: Wikipedia: Cynology
What is Dog Latin?Answer: A phrase or jargon that imitates Latin. Source: Wikipedia: Dog Latin
What is known about the origin of the phrase "raining cats and dogs"?Answer: It is of unknown origin. Source: Wikipedia: Raining cats and dogs
How this list was compiled
Written for this site; nothing was copied from another list. Questions and wrong choices are our own. Each explanation restates, in our own sentences, facts from the page named and linked beside it. Each answer was checked on 2026-10-03 against the English Wikipedia article linked beside it (https://en.wikipedia.org, text under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license), fetched that day and usually the article on the breed itself; the founding year of the American Kennel Club was read on the club's own page (https://www.akc.org). This site is not affiliated with the American Kennel Club or with The Seeing Eye, the guide dog school one question names. Left out on purpose: popularity rankings of breeds, oldest-dog and fastest-dog records, living dogs, and anything about feeding, health or training. Nothing here is advice on choosing or keeping a dog. Not repeated here, because other quizzes on this site already ask them: the dog that orbited the Earth in 1957, the two dogs that came back from orbit in 1960, the town the 1925 relay reached and the dog on its last leg, the star of the dog days, the hound of the underworld, and what a guide dog does. Levels are our estimate: easy is fair for any table, medium suits people who know dogs, hard will stump most of them. Each round is stored easiest first, and each question carries the date its page was read. Licence: own work