Newspaper Page Text
n •
Meet the new breeds
Find out how these dogs made this year's cut in the American Kennel Club's registry.
BY STEVE DALE
THE AMERICAN KEN
NEL CLUB (akc.org)
recognizes 169 breeds
and varieties of dogs,
including four newbies. That may
seem like a lot of breeds, but there
are more than twice that number
worldwide. What is a breed? It’s
a group that shares characteristics,
like haircoat length and tail shape,
which were selectively bred into
the dogs to serve a particular func
tion, such as herding or hunting.
The AKC maintains the oldest
and largest registry of purebred
dogs in the country. Most people
probably have never heal’d of the
newest addi* ions to the AKC’s list:
the Tibetan Mastiff, Plott, Swedish
Vallhund and Beauceron. All were
admitted to “the club” in 2007.
These breeds have been on the
world stage for some time and are
gradually becoming more popular
in America. Years ago, national clubs represent
ing them began the process of gaining official
recognition by petitioning the AKC.
Among the benefits of inclusion in the AKC
are opportunities to participate in its dog shows
and sporting events. Marion Karhatsu, past
president of the American Beauceron Club, says
some owners of that breed were interested in
competing in show’s and in trials demonstrat
ing traits such as tracking, herding and agility,
and “finding an organized venue isn’t easy.” The
AKC, she notes, “has all of that in place.”
Martha Feltenstein, president of the American Ti
betan Mastiff Association, says her group sought AKC
recognition in part to ensure that births and other offi
cial records of the breed would be kept by a well-known
organization. In addition, her group favored the idea
that future decisions about issues related to the breed
“are going to be based on the guidelines of an institu
tion, not on individual prefei’ences,” she says.
The AKC doesn’t consider a breed for registration
unless an organized American breed club is in place.
18
USA WEEKEND • Dec. 7-9,2007
Smart
■H
Swedish Vallhund
Height: 12 to IB inches
Weight: 25 to 30 pounds
History: Dating back 1,000 years, they
were bred to herd cattle in Sweden.
Temperament: “Family-friendly, and
when well socialized, this dog gets along
with other animals and children," says
Rose Martino of Millersville, Md„ past
president of the Swedish Vallhund Club
of America. "If you don't play with them,
they make up their own games and tell
The AKC reviews the breed’s history, which often in
cludes the existence of breed clubs in other nations
where the breed may be better known. While the peti
tion is under review; members of the parent club can
begin participating in AKC events.
“In many instances, when a breed seeks recognition,
it may be in very small numbers in this country,” says
Mari-Beth O’Neill, AKC’s assistant vice president of
customer service. “We want to see then- registry grow’
to at least 300 dogs with three generations of breeding
pedigrees, which may take several years.”
Once that is achieved, the AKC board of directors
Beauceron
Height: 24 to 27.5 inches
Weight: 70 to 110 pounds
History: Used as a herding dog in
France since the 1500 s, the breed fell
out of favor as the nation became
more industrialized. To boost the
breed, supporters have emphasized
its versatility; the animals went to
work for law-enforcement groups
and as military guard dogs.
Temperament: "This dog is not a
wallflower," says Marion Karhatsu
I of Lakeville, Minn., past president
of the American Beauceron Club.
“They're looking for more of a
partnership than to blindly
( follow. It's best to have an
experienced owner."
Website: beauce.org \
4 A -j,
f »3
you about them. They're not 'im
shy about barking."
Surprising fact: Some can V * f
jump vertically, the way cats da ? *
Why I got into Vallhunds:
"When I got my first Vallhund
from Sweden, it arrived in
Maryland in the middle of a hot
summer," Martino says. "That poor
dog must have felt like she came to
hell. But she was so loving."
Website: swedishvallhund.com
iTjVo
• t -yr >./
’* - w ' f. 'V '
fjj? J*b®tan Mastiff
24 10 29 inches
History:’ Cedin'
Monasteries nn lb , et to Protect
Tempe^ n n ™ s home,
Protective," says
r«Q,y, 0 , e i“” ,^ta ! , e , nofNE „
natures, lots of he,r 9uard| an
Surprising fact: Tibet* * ° n 15 necessa ry."
family, believing they have'th* d ° 9s like
and monks that didn't hesouls of nuns
Wt} y 1 got into Tibetan Mnuin!* 0 heaven
interested in anything
from my brother that as a £
. would do well in , J d ° 9 that
rm «w£ Z‘T,‘
- -A0 mJB
reviews the parent club’s numbers, participation ini
AKC events and overall impression, and makes the i
final decision on recognition.
“Certainly, AKC exposure is very important for these i
rare breeds to be able to grow,” says Liz Palika, author
of The Howell Book of Dogs. But she cautions those;
thinking of getting one of the new breeds. “There are
lots of choices,” she says. “What’s important is choosing
the breed with the right temperament for your family.”
To stay ahead of the canine curve, keep your eye on
these breeds now being considered for AKC recogni
tion: Dogue de Bordeaux and Norwegian Buhund. ca
SWCDtSI I VAllt iUNO VANN ARTIIUS BCRTRAND. CORBtS, TIBETAN MASTIFF MARY BLOOM. AKC; BEAUCERON MARTIN RUCGNER GETTY