What Are NonSporting Dog Breeds?Nonsporting dog breeds are placed there because they do not fit into any of the other groups.
You will find many popular nonsporting dog breeds in this category, ranging from medium to small dogs.
Dalmatian 
These dogs originated in England. Known as "carriage dogs", they were seen riding atop the carriages next to the driver. The Dalmatian's primary function was to guard property and passengers on long trips. It wasn't until the early 20th century when the dogs made their way to the U.S. where they became mascots of the fire department. This dog is tall and muscular with a short coat that is easy to take care of. Coat colors can be black or red and white. Dalmatians are runners and it is not surprising to see them chasing cars or trucks. They are very standoffish to strangers but love their families. However, they can be stubborn and are difficult to train. Size range is from 18-24 inches at the shoulder and weighs from 40-65 pounds.
This breed originated in China and was used as a hunting dog. Also considered a northern type dog, being related to the Spitz, the Chow has a few distinct features. The first is the black tongue. His body is solid and well proportioned with a thick double coat that requires lots of brushing. The tail curls over the back in the Spitz style. The Chow is a very intelligent dog and can be a little hard headed.They get along great with their families but are wary of strangers. Doesn't do well with other animals. Size range from 18-20 inches with weight of 45-70 pounds.
Most of the nonsporting dogs in this group are small dog breeds. A few of the popular ones are: Boston Terrier 
Maya, photo by woo design
This breed originated in the U.S. and is a descendant of the bulldogs of France and England. The Boston Terrier has a small, muscular body. Its short muzzle limits air intake and makes the dog sound like he has asthma. The short coat is a breeze to comb and comes in colors of brindle, black or brown, all with white markings. He is an intelligent dog and gets along with kids and other pets. Size is from 15-17 inches and weighs from 15-25 pounds.
standard poodle, photo by lucky3110
Poodles originated in France as companion dogs and hunters. The smaller dogs were bred primarily as lap dogs, while their larger counterparts were bred for hunting. These dogs have long ears and a coarse, curly coat which requires weekly brushing and a trip to the groomer for trims and shaves. Colors are white, silver, black and apricot. Poodles are highly intelligent and easy to train, however they are sensitive to their surroundings and if they are not with their family, can become despondent. The sizes for this dog is Toy, 8-10 inches, weight 5-7 pounds. Miniature, 13-15 inches, weight 13-16 pounds, Standard, 20-25 inches and 45-70 pounds in weight.
Harvey, photo by shimmo23
The Shih Tzu is native of China and originated centuries ago. Emperors owned them and pictures of these dogs were found on vases and tapestries. This is a small, long dog with a long, flowing coat. Brushing every few days is a must and professional grooming is required for trims. The Shih Tzu comes with an attitude even though he is a very friendly dog. He says "look at me!" by the way he walks and handles himself. He gets along well with everyone. Size ranges from 9-11 inches with a weight of 10-16 pounds.
Now you know a little about the nonsporting dog breeds. Many make excellent pets, while some, like the smaller dogs, do best with mature couples without children. There are many other nonsporting dog breeds available so give them a look for more in depth descriptions and characteristics at
the American Kennel Club website.
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