The AKC Recognizes 3 New Dog Breeds in 2013 | Meet the Breeds

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The AKC Recognizes 3 New Dog Breeds in 2013 | Meet the Breeds

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This year the AKC has recognized 3 new dog breeds that will be eligible to compete at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship in 2013 and at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in February 2014.  Another 15 breeds are waiting on deck in the miscellaneous class to become full-fledged AKC recognized dog breeds and eligible to compete in one of the seven groups (working, sporting, non-sporting, hound, terrier, toy and herding).

Meet the New Breeds

Couretsy of AKC.org
http://www.akc.org/breeds/chinook/index.cfm

The first of our new AKC recognized breeds is the home grown sled dog, the Chinook.  This breed was developed in 1900 in New Hampshire by the Polar explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden.  The name, Chinook, is derived from an Inuit word which means warm winter wind. Seeking to create a powerful draft dog with intelligence, trainability, speed and agility, the breed was developed by crossing mastiffs (draft dogs) with the Greenland Husky and the Belgian and German shepherds.  The result is a gentle, intelligent dog with speed and excellent drafting power.  These big dogs range in height from 22- 26 inches at the shoulder.

Chinooks have a dense double coat that is tan or tawny in color, which sheds heavily twice a year.  The Gentle Chinooks make excellent family pets, as they were not developed for protection you should not expect them to perform as guard dogs. 

Learn more about the breed at the AKC website.

Courtsy of AKC.org
 http://www.akc.org/breeds/portuguese_podengo
_pequeno/index.cfm

The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a small sight hound, standing 8-12 inches at the shoulder.  While they hunt primarily by sight, they also use scent and sound to track their prey. Used mainly for rabbit hunting, this breed is related to the Pharaoh Hound, Cirneco dell'Etna, The Basenji and the Ibizan hound.  Developed over 3000 years ago in the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese  Podengo Pequeno, which is a national dog of Portugal, was just introduced to the United States in the 1990s. 

The Portugeuse Podengo Pequeros come in two coat textures, the smooth coat which is dense and the wire coat which is longer and harsher in texture. They are typically yellow or fawn in color, and may have white markings.  With their erect ears and fawn markings they are reminiscent of their forebears, the Ibizan hound, in miniature.

Intelligent, easy to train and high drive, these dogs make excellent obedience, agility and rally dogs.  Bred to chase all day, they need a job to do and regular exercise.  Be sure to keep them in a fenced yard as their instinct to chase prey can get them into trouble in a suburban or urban environment.

wochmeandmeritail.com/index.asp?ID=6

The third new breed gaining full acceptance this year in the AKC registry is the Rat Terrier. This is another home grown American breed, a multipurpose companion dog that hunts rodents and other vermin both above and below ground.  They course small game as well.

Rat terriers are come in two sizes the miniature (standing 10-13 inches at the shoulder) and the standard (13-18 inches). Their coat is smooth, and comes in any variation of parti-colored patterns made up of large patches of one or more colors (typically black, red, fawn, tan, chocolate, blue or lemon) in combination with white markings.

The breed was developed from a mixture of terrier and hound crosses.  Ancestors of the Rat Terrier include the Fox Terriers, the Manchester Terrier, Old English White Terriers, the Bull Terrier, as well as the Beagle, Toy Fox Terriers, Whippets and Italian Greyhounds added into the breed in more recent times. From 1910 through the dust bowl era of the 1930s, the Rat Terrier was one of the most common American farm dogs, valued for their ability to keep vermin at bay.

They are loyal and playful companions, however they may be aloof with strangers. Intelligent and very active, they make excellent obedience, rally, agility, and earth dogs.  Their smooth coats shed very little and are easy to maintain with a curry comb. Learn more about them at www.AKC.org

The AKC's Miscellaneous Dog Breeds

Breeds awaiting full AKC recognition are placed in the Miscellaneous Class until the AKC sets a date for full recognition.  These breeds that we can expect to see entering the AKC over then next 2 years include:

Azawakh

Belgian Laekenois

Bergamasco

Berger Picard

Boerboel

Cirneco dell'Etna

Coton de Tulear

Dogo Argentino

Lagotto Romagnolo

Miniature American Shepherd

Peruvian Inca Orchid

Pumi

Sloughi

Spanish Water Dog

Wirehaired Vizsla 

Who's on Top? 2010's Top 10 American Dog Breeds

American Kennel Society dog breeds labradour retreiver popular dogs

Who's on Top? 2010's Top 10 American Dog Breeds

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The American Kennel Club recently published it's 2010 ranking of the most popular American dog breeds. And the Labradour Retreiver is holding strong as the most popular breed- for the 20th consecutive year! Labs are also the favorite breed of Canada and the United Kingdom. They've earned their top spot with their friendly demeanor, athleticism, brains, loyalty, and big hearts.

Check out the Top 10 American Breeds:

1. Labrador Retrievers
2. German Shepherds
3. Yorkshire Terriers
4. Beagles
5. Golden Retrievers
6. Bulldogs
7. Boxers
8. Dachshunds
9. Poodles
10. Shih Tzus

How does your pooch measure up?

For a complete rankings list go to http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm.

Meet the Portuguese Water Dog

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Meet the Portuguese Water Dog

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Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog has officially arrived at the White House. After some controversies as to the 6-month old PWD’s origin, the Obama’s welcomed the first pooch to his new home last April 14. Apparently, Bo was a gift from Ted Kennedy (who also has 2 PWDs from Bo’s breeder) after Bo’s first owners gave him up. I’m not very familiar with this breed so I came up with this research:

Portuguese Water Dog History

Aptly named the Portuguese Water Dog, this canine breed was originally a fisherman’s dog in Portugal. Known for its strength and exceptional swimming ability (the PWD can swim all day), it was the perfect fisherman companion (to retrieve fishing nets, carry messages from the boat to shore, guard boats, and dove for fish).

Appearance: The PWD is a medium built dog. The size and height proportions range from 20-23 inches, 42 to 60 pounds for males; and 17 to 21 inches and 35 to 50 pounds for females. The body is solid, muscular and well-balanced.

PWDs have wavy or curly coat in black, brown or white (or combinations of these colors). Despite its thick coat which requires regular grooming, the Portuguese Water Dog is known to be a hypoallergenic breed, which means dog lovers with mild allergies may very well consider it for a pet.

Temperament: Portuguese Water Dogs are sound in spirit, highly intelligent, loyal and obedient. However, this breed is a very active dog, indefatigable, and energetic. These dogs are also very sociable so it’s not a good idea to leave them alone for long periods.

For more information about Portuguese Water Dogs, you may visit these websites:
Portuguese Water Dog Club of America
American Kennel Club

If you're thinking about getting a PWD, seriously consider if this dog breed is right for you.
Don't support puppy mills or buy from pet stores.
Adopt a dog from a shelter or animal rescue. Visit helping pups or petfinder.com

photo of "Bo" via: People.com

Is My Dog Breed Right for Me and My Family?

Is My Dog Breed Right for Me and My Family?

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Dogs are not possessions. They are friends. They are family members. And if you’re going to share your home with a dog, you need to be ready for the joys and the responsibilities.

Questions to consider when choosing a dog:

• Are you an active person?
• Do you have allergies? (If you do, read For Dog Lovers with Pet Allergies)
• Do you have kids?
• Do you live in an apartment?

Should you get a large dog or a smaller dog?

If you live in an apartment, a smaller dog breed may be best unless you have time to take your dog out on walks every day.

Larger dog breeds generally have greater needs than smaller ones (in terms of food, exercise, hygiene, veterinary services, etc.) Seriously consider this: Do you have the time, energy, and money to care for a larger dog?

However, if you’re looking for a jogging or a walking partner, small dogs may not be the best companions. Large dogs are perfect for this lifestyle.

Dogs and Temperaments

Like people, dogs also have their own temperaments. Some dogs are more aggressive than others. Some dogs are friendlier while others are more reserved. Some are playful, some are overprotective, some are lazy, some are naughty, some are more affectionate, and so on.

For litters, it may be difficult to tell whether a pup has a quiet or a friendly temperament. Getting to know the parents may give you a better idea on what the pup would be like. A breeder can provide you with the information you need. Dogs in shelters can be observed by the people who care for them.

Research the natural temperament of specific dog breeds. For instance, Terriers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Saint Bernard tend to be more energetic and more protective than other breeds. Labradors and Retrievers are known to be very-friendly, even to strangers.

Siberian Huskies are intelligent dogs but they can be very independent and more difficult to train. Chihuahuas, French Bulldog, Dachshund, Corgi, Basset Hound and Pekinese tend to be lazy and prefer a more leisurely lifestyle.

Use the internet to learn more about dog breeds that you‘re considering. You can also ask vets, responsible breeders, and people from the shelter. Finding a dog who can adapt more easily to you and your family’s lifestyle will surely be a great start to a lasting friendship.

Small Dog Breeds I Love

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Small Dog Breeds I Love

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Beagle

Beagles are energetic, fun-loving dogs, and great around children which makes them a wonderful family companion. A very smart dog that is easily trained with a highly sensitive sense of smell. Beagles have short coats which makes grooming easy.

However, because Beagles have a natural flare for hunting, and have a tendency to follow the nose, they should be kept in a well-fenced home. In addition, because they are very active dogs, they need to be taken out for walks at least twice a day.

Dachshund

Dachshunds come in three different kinds – the smooth haired, wirehaired and the longhaired dachshund. Its coat ranges from cream, tan, grayish, red, black and a combination of these colors. There is a miniature dachshund and a larger one.

In Germany, Dachshunds were used as Badger hunters. It got its name from the German word “Dachs” which meands Bader. These dogs have long body and short legs which give it a fun, clownish appearance.  Quite appropriate because these buddies are fun-loving, friendly and simply dogs who love people.

However, dachshunds do have a temper so they can get easily become annoyed being with small children. If you have other dogs in your home, you should also be aware that Dachshunds have a tendency to get jealous and stubborn. However, when properly treated, dachshunds can be the sweetest dog breed you can ever have.

Chinese Shar-Pei

Isn’t he cute??? This wrinkled buddy is an intelligent, calm, very devoted breed which makes it great as a family dog. Despite the size, a Shar-pei is a very alert and reliable guard dog. A Shar-pei is a strong breed so they must not be left alone with children. Shar-peis also need proper training as they can be stubborn, shy, or overprotective when not handled correctly.

Goldendoodle

As its name suggest, the Goldendoodle is a combination of two breeds –the Golden Retriever and Poodle. This breed is an intelligent, loving, friendly dog both to children and other animals. This breed does not shed so much and is easily groomed. Goldendoodles love to learn and they respond to training very well. They also love water when trained at an early age. Awwww…. how adorable!!!

My Favorite Dog Breeds

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My Favorite Dog Breeds

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Here are three large dog breeds that I would love to have. I know, they're all big and active dogs and right now, I'm just not ready for them. But when I get to live in a bigger house, it will have a spacious lawn and I will have a Labrador Retriever, a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd!

Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is the second most popular dog breed (next to Labrador Retriever) in the world. We are all familiar with popular movie heroes like Shadow (from the movie Homeward Bound) and Air Bud (from the movie of the same title). When I saw Homeward Bound, I instantly wanted my Golden Retriever puppy. Do you remember that scene when Shadow almost didn’t make it?

Golden Retrievers are gentle, friendly, handsome, intelligent.  The breed is a hunter’s loyal companion and a genuine family dog. However, they are energetic dogs who crave for physical activity. They don’t like to mope around doing nothing. They yearn for company, for something to do.  Golden Retrievers can get bored very easily and boredom can lead to behavioral problems.

Because of their affectionate temperament, Golden Retrievers are extremely friendly even with strangers, so if you want a dog who will protect your home, you may want to get another breed. If you want a loving companion to spend most of your days with, a Golden Retriever will never disappoint you.

German Shepherd

Our neighbor has three German Shepherds and each time I pass by their gate, I dare not breathe. Such big dogs! Such commanding presence! Oh, how I’d like to have one of my own.

German Shepherds are intelligent, active, sociable and loving breed. Because of their size, appearance, strength, and intelligence, this breed is usually used for police and rescue operations but they are also great as family dogs. 

In fact, they are ideal as family protectors especially when given a professional training. However, they need to be trained early, starting in their pup years.

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed. Back in the 17th century, Labradors were used as fishermen companions. They are big, strong, and fine-looking dogs that will capture anyone’s attention. 

Labrador Retrievers are instinctively fond of water too!  They love to swim so it’s best for them to live near the water. They are very playful and have lots of energy.  Just like Golden Retrievers, Labradors are gentle, friendly, kind and very generous. Because of their loving nature, they are affectionate with everybody- children, other animals, and even strangers.

Photos: 1, 2, 3