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All-American dogs: 10 dogs important to America
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American Foxhound (photo by nick4900)
American Foxhound: the state dog of Virginia
These beautiful dogs are related to the English and French Foxhounds and were bred as scenthounds to hunt foxes. They came across from England in 1650 with Robert Brooke in a pack and stayed with that family for hundreds of years. The French Foxhounds were given to George Washington as a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette. Washington had many hunting dogs, including some of the descendants of the Brooke pack. By cross-breeding the French and English Foxhounds, the American Foxhound was created. Irish Foxhounds were added later to give the dogs extra speed and agility. It was made the state dog of Virginia in 1966.
Because they were bred specifically for hunting by scent, these dogs will follow those instincts to the point of ignoring everything else. They are quick and need plenty of exercise. They are also very smart and have been known to learn how to open gates and fences, and once they get out anything is game. They have a natural ability to chase smaller animals, so any scent or small animal can set them off. Everything is a game, so take extra care while training with this independent and willful breed.
American Water Spaniel: the state dog of Wisconsin
No one is sure quite where the American Water Spaniel came from. They were said to have been bred in the valleys of Wisconsin, where they were the perfect dogs to function on land and in water and would also fit into canoes. They have been used to hunt anything from deer to ducks. The breeds that went into the first American Water Spaniels are a mystery, although there are many theories, including mixes of many different spaniels and retrievers. The breed was extremely popular in the 1920s and 30s, but came to be know as the “Forgotten American.” It was made the state dog of Wisconsin in 1985.
These are fun and loving dogs. They have very curly coats covered with a water-proofing oil. They can be noisy and bark a lot, but this also makes them very good watchdogs. They can be very protective, but are generally good with children and other animals. They love to be part of the party and need enough attention and exercise to keep them from getting bored. They are very smart and easy to train, so long as it is gentle training.
Boston Terrier (photo by daphentor)
Blue Lacy: the state dog of Texas
These dogs are a mix between the English Shepherd, the Greyhound, and a wolf (supposedly). They are named Lacy dogs because of the Lacy brothers, Frank, George, Ewin and Harry, who moved from Kentucky to Texas in 1858. The Blue comes from the blueish hue of their base coat, which is visible even in red or tricolored lacys. The dogs were originally bred to herding hogs, although they have also been know to be good scenthounds. As a fairly new breed, it is not registered in many Kennel Clubs. It was made the state dog of Texas in 2005 and was considered (but not chosen) as the new mascots for Texas A&M University to replace the original mascot of a Collie.
These active dogs are intelligent and easy to train, but can be skittish around strangers and over protective. They can hunt and herd and can handle big game well beyond their size. They are very energetic and determined. Although they are small, they can be rough with young children. They are healthy dogs, but need a job or something to use their energy. They are good at agility activities, which allow them to think and react.
Boston Terrier: the state dog of Massachusetts
This breed originated in 1870, when the forefather of the breed, a Bulldog and Terrier type named Hooper's Judge was cross bred with a French Bulldog in Boston. The exact breed of Hooper's Judge is not known, although it is more than likely a mixture of terriers and bulldogs, probably for show, rather than for specific working traits. It was first named the American Bull Terrier, nicknamed the 'roundhead' breed. The name was changed, however, in the early 1890s. It was the first American breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1893 and was the first non-sporting dog to be bred in America. It was made the state dog of Massachusetts in 1979.
These little dogs are sweet and very trusting, although they can also be very stubborn. They love to be around people and will often consider themselves a member of the family without being invited. They are good with children and other animals and most of them enjoy companionship to the point of being cuddly. They are generally quiet with lower levels of energy and don't tend to bark unless provoked. They are very easy to train, even when stubborn. Boston Terriers carry the nickname of the “American gentlemen of dogs.”
Catahoula Cur (photo by nsuengineer06)
Boykin Spaniel: the state dog of South Carolina
This breed began in South Carolina, where it was carefully bred as a gun dog hunting turkeys. It was named after L. Whitaker Boykin, who was responsible for the breed we know today. Boykin started with a mutt named Dumpy who was found on the street. After mixing Dumpy with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Springer Spaniel, the Cocker Spaniel and the American Water Spaniel, the Boykin Spaniel was born. It was made small enough to fit into boats, but large enough to take down and retrieve game. It was made the state dog of South Carolina in 1985.
These dogs are known to be docile, although they are very intelligent. They have an exception sense of smell, even for dogs and enjoy sniffing out interesting smells. They are incredibly loyal to their owners and are very obedient. Boykin Spaniels love the water and will spend all day in the water if allowed. They are, however, prone to ear infections. They are enthusiastic when given a job and are easy to train.
Catahoula Cur: the state dog of Louisiana
Also known as the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog (a mouthfull), this breed is named after the Catahoula Parish in Louisiana. They are called “Leopard Dogs” because of the prominent spots that cover most of their body, although their coats can be many colors. This dog is considered to be one of the oldest breeds on the American continent, save only for the dogs bred by the Native Americans. They are thought to be descendants of war dogs brought to Louisiana in the 16th century. It is said that Teddy Roosevelt favored Catahoula Curs while hunting. It was made the state dog in 1979 and was made the mascot for Centenary College of Louisiana in 2007.
These dogs are highly energetic and need plenty of exercise and a job to do. They are very smart and friendly and very good with children. They have been known to adopt children to the point of protecting them with little or no encouragement. They have a tendency to dominate, and will often think that they own you, rather than the other way around. This makes them very protective and good watchdog. They are fairly easy to train.
Chinook (photo by electricsheep)
Chinook: the state dog of New Hampshire
The Chinook was originally bred as a sled dog. The breed was created by Arthur Treadwell Walden, who crossed a Husky type with a Mastiff type and used the result, a male named Chinook, as his lead dog and stud. This dog was then bred with other breeds, including German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Shepherds and Canadian Eskimo Dogs. The original Chinook died in the Byrd expedition in Antarctica, but his progeny live on. This breed is rare, with less than 100 puppies being born every year, although there are plans to crossbreed in order to preserve the breed. On June 6, 2009, less than a month ago, the Chinook was made the official state dog of New Hampshire.
The rare Chinooks are easygoing, gentle dogs. They are good with children and other animals. They are very obedient and love to have a job to do. Chinooks are very loyal and see their owner as the leader of their pack or team. They appreciate authority and love to be part of a team, so they will incorporate themselves into the family. They are easy to train through positive reinforcement, but can be willful if forced.
Great Dane: the state dog of Pennsylvania
Although this dog is the only one on this list that did not originate in the United States (it's actually from Germany), it is important nonetheless. This dog was originally bred as a guard dog, a war dog, and to hunt and herd wild boar. They are a mix of Greyhounds and Mastiffs and were known to be able to bring down bears. It is known as the “Apollo of dogs.” This breed has been incredibly popular in the United States and was made the official state dog of Pennsylvania in 1965.
These dogs are very much gentle giants. They are loving and loyal and get along well with people, although they can be protective. They have been known to try to be lap dogs and also tend to lean on people, which can be dangerous to children. They have a low metabolism, so they need exercise, but can also be very lazy. Because of their size, it is important to train them while they are young. They are intelligent and fairly easy to train, but require a dominant leader in order to behave properly.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever (photo by magannie)
Plott Hound: the state dog of North Carolina
The Plott Hound was originally bred as a scenthound to hunt wild boar. Johannes Plott brought boar hounds over from Germany when he settled in North Carolina in 1750. The Plott Hounds were supposedly kept pure, although there was a brief stint where they were bred with a dog not unlike the Catahoula Leopard Dog. There may have been other breeds introduced, but no other record is kept of this. This is one of the only hound breeds that does not originate from England. It was made the state dog of North Carolina in 1989.
As with all other scenthounds, the Plott Hound can easily get distracted by a scent and run off to investigate. They are easy to work with and good with children and other dogs, although they are incredibly courageous and will stand up to a bigger animal under mosts conditions. They require plenty of exercise and space and love to be part of a group. They have a tendency to bark and make good watchdogs. They are intelligent but don't often like to pay attention enough to be trained, so it is a bit of a challenge.
Last, but not least...
Chesapeake Bay Retriever: the state dog of Maryland
In 1807 a ship was sinking off the coast of Maryland and a party was sent out to rescue the crew. Two of the survivors were Newfoundland puppies, a male and a female. The dogs were split up and given to different men, each on a different part of the coast. Both showed an aptitude for the water and were bred with other breeds, mostly retrievers, to create good waterfowl dogs. While both lines were different, they were both called the Chesapeake Bay Ducking Dog in 1877. The lines were carefully watched after that and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the outcome. It became the state dog of Maryland in 1964.
These dogs are happy and affectionate, often known to smile, although bad temperaments can be inherited from ill-tempered parents. They are wonderful family pets and are good with children, although they do tend to chew on things. While they are intelligent, they can sometimes be stubborn, and must be trained with patience. They are lively and enjoy good exercise. They especially love water and retrieving whatever you chance to throw.
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