AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB RECOGNIZES NEW BREEDS.
- This raises the total number of breeds to 189
(CNN)American Hairless Terriers and Sloughis have joined the elite ranks of dog breed recognition.
The
esteemed pups were added to the American Kennel Club's list of
recognized breeds on Tuesday. It is the largest registry of purebreds in
the world, with 189 breeds.
"We're excited to welcome these two unique breeds into the AKC family," AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo said.
Being recognized by the AKC will allow them to compete in more than 22,000 events this year.
The
road to becoming recognized by the AKC can take several years. Breeds
have to have a National Breed Club behind them, like the Sloughi has the
American Sloughi Association. The breed club then petitions to be added to the Miscellaneous Class, where they can compete with other breeds not yet recognized.
While
there is no established timeline for adding new breeds, dogs typically
compete in the Miscellaneous Class for up to three years, according to
the AKC.
The American Hairless Terrier is joining other breeds in the Terrier group, such as the Rat Terrier and Miniature Schnauzer. The breed was started in the United States in the early 1970s when a hairless puppy named Josephine was born into a litter of Rat Terriers. Although hairless is in the breed's name, this dog can be born with a full coat of hair.
The Sloughi, also known as the Arabian Greyhound, is joining the Hound group,
along with other popular breeds like the Greyhound and Beagle. This
ancient breed is prized in North Africa for its hunting skills and
endurance to run long distances. This breed requires lots of exercise
and room to run. The first Sloughi arrived in America in 1973.
The 10 Newest Dog Breeds
#1 – Alaskan Klee Kai
This mini-husky was worked on by an Alaskan native from 1970-1988 before it really became a breed of it’s own. Although not recognized by all kennel clubs, it has been considered an official breed by the UKC since 1997.
#2 – American Bulldog
Bulldogs have varied histories that date back well into the past, but the American Bulldog really became a breed of it’s own and saved from extinction in the United States after World War II.
#3 – American Bully
The American Bully was fully established in the mid-1990’s after various breeds being mixed to create a wonderful family companion. While often confused with the American Pit Bull Terrier, they are not the same breed.
#4 – Chinook
This breed derives from one male ancestor born in 1917, the breed almost became extinct after the 1960’s. However, they were soon revived and recognized by AKC in 2013 as their 176th breed.
#5 – Labradoodle
While the Labradoodle isn’t a recognized breed, they’ve become a common household family member since it’s debut in 1955.
#6 – Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog
The history of the Catahoula varies, some dating back to the early 1900s, with Teddy Roosevelt using them as hunting dogs. The breed, however, was only labeled the official breed of Louisiana in 1979.
#7 – Miniature American Shepherd
Miniature American Shepherds are essentially just small Australian Shepherds bred for their size. Since their founding in 1968, they’ve been widely used for herding, agility, and more.
#8 – Puggle
Although not a recognized breed by any major kennel club, the Puggle has grown tremendously popular and has remained relatively consistent in standard.
#9 – Shiloh Shepherd
Created in the United States in 1974 as a new line of German Shepherds, the Shiloh Shepherd are much larger and more companion-like than their older working counterparts.
#10 – Silken Windhound
The first Silken Windhound litter was whelped in 1987, with the breed club forming in 1999. These beautiful sight hounds are used just as other members of their group, such as Greyhounds and Borzois.
