Introduction
Proper capitalization of dog breed names is an important aspect of writing about dogs. Though it may seem insignificant, consistency and accuracy in breed name capitalization helps establish the writer’s expertise and attention to detail. For dog owners, breeders, and fanciers, precise terminology reflects a commitment to the dogs themselves.
There are some basic rules governing capitalization of breed names, but conventions can vary across different style guides. Decisions around capitalization take into account whether the breed name functions grammatically as a proper noun, whether the audience views breed names as proper nouns, and consistency within a given text.
This article will outline when and why to capitalize dog breed names, analyzing examples and common mistakes. Through a comprehensive examination of capitalization practices, it provides dog enthusiasts, writers, and editors guidance in accurately handling breed names in their work.
When to Capitalize Dog Breeds
Dog breeds should be capitalized when referring to a specific breed as a proper noun. For example: “The Labrador Retriever is an energetic breed that needs daily exercise.” In this case, “Labrador Retriever” is capitalized because it refers to a specific dog breed.
Other examples where dog breeds are capitalized as proper nouns:
- “The Golden Retriever originated in Scotland.”
- “Many people love the loyal temperament of the German Shepherd.”
- “The Poodle comes in three sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy.”
In these examples, “Golden Retriever,” “German Shepherd,” “Standard,” “Miniature,” and “Toy” are all capitalized because they refer to specific dog breeds.
According to this source, capitalizing dog breeds as proper nouns when referring to a specific breed is the accepted rule in most style guides.
When Not to Capitalize
Breed names should generally not be capitalized when used as common nouns referring to dogs in general, rather than a specific breed name. For example, “I love retrieving dogs like labs and goldens.” Here, “retrieving dogs” is not capitalized because it refers broadly to dogs with retrieval instincts, not to a specific breed name like Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever (Source).
Likewise, a sentence like “Spitz breeds like huskies have thick coats” does not capitalize “spitz” and “huskies” since they are common nouns. But a proper breed name directly referring to the Husky breed would be capitalized: “The Siberian Husky originated with the Chukchi people of Siberia.”
Examples
Here are some sentences showing proper capitalization of dog breeds:
The German Shepherd is an intelligent breed.
We took our golden retriever to the dog park.
I love Labrador Retrievers because they have a friendly temperament.
The poodle was carefully groomed before the dog show.
My neighbor has a Siberian Husky with bright blue eyes.
The border collie expertly herded the sheep.
We saw an adorable French Bulldog puppy at the pet store.
I grew up with a fun-loving beagle.
The Doberman Pinscher stood alert while on guard duty.
The Maltese dog happily pranced around in the snow.
Common Mistakes
There are some common mistakes when it comes to capitalizing dog breeds. Here are the most often missed cases:
Beginning of Sentences – When a dog breed starts a sentence, it should be capitalized regardless of whether it is a proper noun or not. For example: “Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds.”
Words Like “My” and “Your” – Words like “my”, “your”, or a dog’s name should not capitalize a dog breed in the middle of a sentence. For example: “I love my German shepherd” or “What kind of dog is your labrador retriever?”
After a Colon – Dog breeds after a colon should not be capitalized if they are not proper nouns. For example: “I love three dog breeds: labrador, poodle, and beagle.”
In Titles – Words like “the”, “an”, and “a” should be lowercase in titles and subtitles when followed by a dog breed. For example: “Training Your Newfoundland Dog” or “10 Facts About the Pug.”
With Abbreviations – Abbreviated dog breeds should only be capitalized if the full breed name is a proper noun. For example: “Golden retriever” can be abbreviated as “golden” but “German shepherd” should be abbreviated as “G. shepherd.”
Importance of Consistency
When it comes to capitalizing dog breeds, consistency is key both within a document and across all documents produced by an organization. As the Medium article states, “The most important thing is to pick one style and stick with it throughout your writing.”
Readers expect consistency, so randomly capitalizing breeds in some places and not others can be confusing. It also looks unprofessional and signals the writing hasn’t been properly edited. As That Proofreader Guy advises, “Being consistent in your capitalization of dog breeds shows readers that you are precise and pay attention to detail.”
Organizations like the American Kennel Club should also ensure brand consistency by capitalizing dog breeds the same way across all marketing materials, web pages, publications, etc. This strengthens their authority and expertise in the minds of dog owners.
While there are reasonable arguments on both sides of whether to capitalize dog breeds, sticking with one style will always be better than haphazard capitalization within a document or brand’s content.
Style Guide Differences
When it comes to capitalizing dog breed names, style guides have slightly different recommendations:
- The AP Stylebook recommends capitalizing dog breeds. For example: Belgian Malinois, Poodle, Siberian Husky.
- The Chicago Manual of Style recommends lowercase dog breed names when referring to the breed in general. For example: belgian malinois, poodle, siberian husky. However, Chicago style specifies capitalizing dog breeds that include a proper noun or adjective. For example: German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois.
- The MLA Style Manual recommends lowercase dog breed names in most cases, unless beginning a sentence. For example: The maltese is a toy dog breed. My family has a Poodle.
So in summary, AP Stylebook is most prescriptive about capitalizing all dog breed names, while Chicago Manual of Style and MLA Style Manual recommend lowercase in most cases.
When Writing for a Breed Fancy
When writing content for dog breed enthusiasts and publications, such as breed club magazines or websites, there are some special capitalization rules to follow. Breed fanciers tend to capitalize dog breed names more often than in other contexts (MLA Style Center).
For example, the American Kennel Club stresses capitalizing breed names, stating “As a proper noun, the breed name should always be capitalized” (AKC). This means breeds like Poodle, Golden Retriever, and Corgi would always be capitalized when writing for breed enthusiast publications.
The justification is that for dog lovers, breed names have taken on the status of proper nouns denoting a specific type of dog. Capitalization shows respect and recognition of each breed’s distinctive history and qualities.
However, there can be inconsistencies. Some breed fanciers may choose to lowercase certain elements of a breed name, like “german shepherd dog” or “italian greyhound” while capitalizing the first word. Following the preferred style of a specific publication is advisable.
The main takeaway is that breed names are much more likely to be capitalized when writing content targeting an audience of breed aficionados.
Capitalization in Other Languages
The rules for capitalizing dog breeds vary across languages. In German, for example, breed names are not capitalized unless they contain proper nouns. “Deutscher Schäferhund” (German Shepherd) is not capitalized, while “Dobermann” is. French follows similar rules, with “berger allemand” (German Shepherd) in lowercase and “dobermann” capitalized.
Spanish capitalizes all dog breed names, whether they contain proper nouns or not. For example, “pastor alemán” (German Shepherd), “labrador retriever,” and “pequinés” (Pekingese) are all capitalized. This reflects the convention in Spanish of capitalizing common nouns referring to nationalities, places, days of the week, etc.
In Russian, most breed names are lowercase. Capitalization is only used for breeds containing proper nouns like place names, such as “Немецкая овчарка” (German Shepherd). Otherwise, breeds are lowercase, e.g. “лабрадор ретривер.”
Japanese does not capitalize any dog breeds at all. Breeds are written in katakana script without any capital letters. For example, German Shepherd is written ジャーマンシェパード in katakana.
So capitalization rules for dog breeds vary widely between languages. Some capitalize all breeds, others only capitalize proper nouns, while some like Japanese use no capital letters at all.
Conclusion
In summary, capitalization rules for dog breeds vary based on the style guide being followed. The key rules to remember are:
– Capitalize dog breed names derived from proper nouns, such as people’s names or places (e.g. German Shepherd).
– Do not capitalize descriptive breed terms, such as retriever or terrier (e.g. golden retriever).
– Be consistent in your capitalization of breed names within a document.
– Follow the capitalization preferences of the target publication or style guide.
– Capitalize all words when referring to a specific dog show or breed fancy.
Proper capitalization of dog breeds lends an air of professionalism and consistency to any dog-related writing. Following standard style rules shows respect for the breeds and helps avoid confusion. When in doubt, defer to the preferences of the intended publication or check an authoritative style manual.