Are you familiar with the Italian Bergamasco, the patient sheepdog pictured here? Or the powerful hunting dog, the Dogo Argentino?
These are just two of the fourteen dogs who are hoping to become fully recognized by the American Kennel Club
in the next few years. Before the AKC fully recognizes a breed, the dog
and its parent club must go through an application stage called the
Miscellaneous Class. The requirements are daunting. The parent club has
to submit a detailed breed history, various photographs of the puppies
and dogs,
and strict breeding and judging standards. But for these devoted breed
proponents, the payoff is worth the effort. Full recognition gives their
dogs the opportunity to compete at the AKC dog shows and be in
competition to win the coveted Best in Show prize. For now these breeds
are working toward the date when the 14-member AKC Board of Directors
vote to award them full recognition. You may not know these dogs today, but there's no doubt you'll be seeing their names in the coming years.
AKC Miscellaneous Class Breeds
Alice van Kempen, Animal Photography
Azawakh
If you're looking for a loyal sighthound with a protective streak, then the svelte, elegant
may be your match. The aloof breed hails from the Sahel region of
Africa, a desert area that encompasses parts of Mali and Niger,
including a region called the Azawakh Valley. There, the Azawakh
protected the nomadic Touareg people and guarded their tents; he also
played a role in hare, antelope and wild boar hunting. Because the
Azawakh is so devoted to his people, he might bark at strangers, and he
requires extensive socialization in puppyhood so he can adapt to new
situations later in life. Since he has thin skin and not much body fat,
the Azawakh would not do well in extremely cold or wet conditions —
he'll thrive in a home with abundant exercise and a comfortable place to
rest.
Eva Maria Kramer, Animal Photography
Bergamasco
The 's stunning coat looks like it requires expensive professional
grooming, but don't be fooled — her hair is much easier to care for than
you think. The Bergamasco's corded or matted fur is actually a
combination of three different types of dog hair — confusingly called
dog hair, goat hair and wool — that weld together into mats. That long
mop of hair protects her eyes from the sun and her skin from mosquito
bites. Grooming this dog might seem like a daunting task, but her hair
care is relatively simple. Just remember to clean her face after meals
to prevent a wet wool odor, and maintain the natural oils in her coat by
not using shampoo to bathe her. Appearances aside, the Italian
Bergamasco is a patient sheepdog who excels at obedience, hiking and
even therapy visits with hospital children or people with disabilities.
A lice van Kempen, Animal Photography
Boerboel
Weighing in at 145 to 155 lbs., the is one of the most athletic breeds
in the mastiff category. This is a very dominant dog, so the breed is
best for people who have large-dog experience. In her homeland of South
Africa, the Boerboel worked as a farm dog, aggressively guarding her
land, herd and human family. The breed arrived in the United States in
the early 1980s. With her short wash-and-wear coat, the Boerboel
requires only basic grooming. Due to her guard dog instincts, it's
critical that these canines are introduced to new sights, sounds, people
and situations as early and as often as possible.
, Flickr
Chinook
Bred as a versatile sled dog, the friendly is best known for his love
of children. His name means "warm winter winds" in the Inuit language,
and he lives up to it. He excels at mushing, hiking, sledding and
skijoring, a winter sport in which a person on skis is pulled by dogs.
The breed sports a thick, tawny-colored double coat that sheds lightly
every day. He also wears drop or prick ears, but you won't be able to
tell which until he's 4 to 6 months old. In 1927, a team of 16 Chinooks,
including the first dog in the breed (whose name was "Chinook")
accompanied Admiral Richard Byrd on his first expedition to Antarctica.
Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Cirneco dell'Etna
The rare has a fascinating history: She's believed to have descended
from dogs left behind by the Phoenicians along the coast of Sicily.
Depictions of the breed appear on Sicilian coins minted as early as the
3rd century B.C. She's named for Sicily's Mount Etna, and silently
hunted rabbits, hares and even birds in her native Italy. This dog is a
spectacular jumper, so be prepared to install a high yard fence and
watch what edibles you leave out on the counter — a short baby gate
isn't going to keep this canine from traveling to where she wants to go.
With her thin coat and bony body, the Cirneco isn't built to handle
extremely cold weather; you'll also need to watch for muscle and toe
injuries from running.
Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Dogo Argentino
In 1920s Argentina, a young man named Antonio Nores Martinez dreamed up
a dog who could hunt big game, control vermin and guard property in his
country's diverse terrain: mountains, lake country and harsh plains.
The fulfilled that dream, but wasn't officially recognized in Argentina
until after Nores Martinez's death in a robbery. The breed features a
huge head and a smooth white coat that sheds heavily and requires weekly
brushing. This powerful dog can weigh up to 100 lbs., and has an
extremely strong prey drive, so he's not a good choice for a first-time
dog owner. He needs a firm leader who can provide constant training,
adequate exercise and appropriate outlets for his energy.
Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Peruvian Inca Orchid
When Spanish conquistadors invaded Peru, they stumbled across strange,
hairless dogs lounging in orchid-scented homes. They named them "perros
flora," Spanish for "flower dogs." Called the in English, this
physically sensitive breed comes in hairless and coated varieties. The
fur of the coated dogs comes in many lengths and textures, and some
canines have a narrow patch of hair atop the head, not unlike a mohawk.
The hairless dogs require moisturizing lotion, dog-safe sunscreen and
some kind of sweater in the winter. Peruvian Inca Orchids are also
emotionally sensitive, so use positive reinforcement and kind words in
training.
Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
In his native Portugal, the three sizes of the Podengo are considered one breed. But here in the U.S., the
— "pequeno" is Portuguese for "small" — is his own breed, separate from
the medium and large sizes of the dog. The Pequeno measures 8 to 12
inches in height and 9 to 13 lbs. in weight. He's a pack dog, bred in
Portugal and Spain to hunt rabbit. When trained well, the rustic little
Pequeno has a friendly, positive attitude and gets along well with other
dogs. He recovers quickly from fear, and his hearing and sense of smell
are extremely sensitive. He succeeds in agility competitions, and will
thrive in any environment, as long as he exercises every day.
Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Pumi
The energetic is a Hungarian herding breed who loves to work. From
competing in agility competitions to simply lounging on the couch, this
dog is down to do whatever you want to do. The Pumi grows to between 22
and 30 lbs., and requires daily exercise, like jogging, hiking or
chasing tennis balls. You can care for his beautiful corkscrewed coat at
home with biweekly combing, but remember not to blow-dry his gorgeous
locks — air-drying will do the trick. Pumik (plural for Pumi) are
typically reserved around strangers, but warm up quickly. They get along
well with children and other pets if raised with them. The breed also
has a tendency to herd ducks, cats, other dogs and, if you can believe
it, people.
Barbara O'Brien, Animal Photography
Rat Terrier
The all-purpose can proudly claim to be made in the USA. Her
popularity soared in the early twentieth century on American farms,
where she hunted small game and killed rats and other vermin. She comes
in miniature and standard sizes, and is a blend of , and , among other
breeds. This dog is silly, fearless and vocal, and is known to be calmer
than other terrier breeds. One of her famous fans was President
Theodore Roosevelt. But if she's bored, a Rat Terrier can easily tear up
a home as majestic as the White House. Engage this agile and athletic
dog in constant games, exercise and training, and she'll learn to mind
her manners.
Nick Ridley, Animal Photography
Russell Terrier
The feisty , like many of the terrier breeds, was originally employed
for vermin control. Don't be fooled by his little frame: Although he
only weighs 14 to 18 lbs., his intensity for life is huge. He's an
active and intelligent dog with a strong hunting instinct, so early
socialization and firm, consistent training are a must. He thrives in
family with an active lifestyle, and is very devoted to the people he
loves. Enter him in agility and Earthdog competitions and watch this
little terrier put his big energy to work. He is a distant cousin to the
Eva Maria Kramer, Animal Photography
Sloughi
The sleek is a smart and affectionate sighthound who is built for
speed. In his native North Africa, he lived with the nomadic Berber
people and hunted jackals, gazelles and desert hares. His strong prey
drive is still very much apparent, so make sure you're there to
supervise the Sloughi around other pets. He quickly forms an unbreakable
bond with his family, which makes rehoming a Sloughi very difficult.
He's also fast in mind and body, so make sure your yard is secure — an
underground electric fence won't stop this breed from chasing squirrels
across the street.
Sam Clark, Animal Photography
Wirehaired Vizsla
The history of the remains somewhat mysterious, because many records
of his existence didn't survive World War II. Development of the breed
began in the 1920s in the Austria-Hungary region by hunters and
falconers who wanted a different version of the Vizsla, the national dog
of Hungary. They bred a dog with the hunting qualities of the original ,
but added a heavy, dense wire coat so the dog could better withstand
cold winters. Aside from coat texture, the Wirehaired breed is a bit
taller and more laid-back than her Vizsla cousin. She has a high drive
to please, and some call her a "Velcro dog" because of how she sticks to
her person. Whether you want her to hunt waterfowl or work as a therapy
dog, your wish is her command.
0 comments:
Post a Comment