1.
dog breed
A recognized type or breed of dog, distinguished by physical traits and ancestry (e.g., Shiba, Poodle, Labrador).
Compound of 犬 (the Sino-Japanese reading of 犬, dog) + 種 (kind, species). The suffix 種 is widely used for breeds and varieties of animals and plants.
Pronunciation
The standard reading is けんしゅ. In casual speech, especially among pet owners, いぬしゅ is also heard, on the model of 猫種 (cat breed), but dictionaries give けんしゅ.