AKC welcomes 3 new dog breeds

On Friday, January 28, the American Kennel Club added three new dogs to its list of recognized dog breeds.

The new breeds include the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Norwegian Lundehund and the Xoloitzcuintli.

"The AKC is delighted to introduce these three distinct breeds to the public," said AKC spokesperson Gina DiNardo. "Each loveable breed has a unique and diverse history and is a wonderful addition to the AKC."

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog was originally bred to herd cattle in the Swiss Alps.  It is easy to train with strong loyalty. Like most herding dogs, the Entlebucher is high-energy and needs to run around a lot.

The Lundehund is unique in that it has six toes on each foot and an unusually flexible spine. This helps the breed to climb rocky cliffs to hunt puffins, the flightless birds the dogs were bred to hunt. These dogs are considered loyal and sometimes are fearful of strangers if they are not well socialized.

The Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced “show-low-etz-queent-lee”) is considered to be one of the world’s rarest breeds. This dog can be either hairless or coated. According to the AKC, this type is attentive and calm in temperment.

The number of dog breeds has seen tremendous growth since the AKC first started in 1884 with only 9 dog breeds.  Currently there are about 175 recognized breeds that have qualified in different areas to be included on the list.

For more information, check out the American Kennel Club’s website at akc.org. 

Locally, to view some show dogs and different breeds, visit the Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show, coming February 17-21, 2011, at the National Western Stock Show Complex in Denver.