Once again the Westminster Kennel Club opens the doors to some new breeds to compete for the coveted awards of the dog world. We take a closer look at this year’s six new contenders in the 2012 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.
Adding eligible breeds to the roster is nothing new for Westminster. Last year the club added Boykin spaniels, bluetick coonhounds, cane corsos, Leonbergers, Icelandic sheepdogs and redbone coonhounds. Adding a new breed can take years or decades; a new breed must produce a certain number of uniform litters before it can be considered for eligibility.
American English coonhound, "Game Changer," 17 months old, male (All photos by Dave Baker/Pets Adviser)
American English Coonhound
This tireless hunter was recognized by the AKC in 2011 in the hound group as its 171st breed and makes a debut at this year’s dog show. The American English coonhound is alert, fast and has an impressive endurance. The dog averages 23 to 26 inches in height and has a short protective coat that is easy to maintain. These hounds were originally used to hunt; fox during the day and raccoons at night were the targets, and the dogs have been known to hunt all night long. Let’s hope the endurance will keep them on their paws for the duration of the show.
Cesky terrier, "Katrina," 2 years old, female
Cesky Terrier
Coming in as AKC’s 172nd breed addition is the Cesky terrier, an active small game hunter in the Terrier Group. The short, muscular dog originates from a cross-breeding of the Scottish terrier and the Sealyham terrier in the Czech Republic in the mid-20th century and was intended for hunting in packs. These dogs are wary of strangers and fiercely loyal. They also love to dig and require regular upkeep of their long, soft coats. Cesky terriers average 10 to 13 inches in height and weigh between 16 to 22 pounds. The breed has appeared on postage stamps in its home country and was brought to the United States in the late 1980s.
Entlebucher mountain dog, "Hoss," 5 years old, male
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
The 168th AKC breed addition brings us to the Entlebucher mountain dog, added in the Herding Group. Originating from Switzerland, the dogs were bred to herd cattle in the Alps and other large animals. The Entlebucher is the smallest of the four Swiss mountain dogs, which also includes the Appenzeller Sennenhund, Bernese mountain dog and the Greater Swiss mountain dog. Entlebuchers stand 10 to 21 inches tall and are very active. They have exercise needs higher than most canines and are happiest when they have a job to do, so this isn’t for the casual pet owner or city worker. They are loyal, protective, compact and muscular, and need only minimal maintenance on their short double coats. Please see Pets Adviser’s Entlebucher photo gallery.
Finnish lapphund, "Myles," 2 years old, male
Finnish Lapphund
This next breed has all the makings of a bionic super dog from some of its qualities. The Finnish lapphund, the AKC’s 173rd addition, is capable of bursting into periods of speed and has water-repellant fur! The medium-sized dogs stand around 16 to 21 inches tall and were bred for herding reindeer in Lapland in the northern area of Finland. They were bred to work outside in extreme cold and have a thick double coat that requires regular brushing. These original hunters are intolerant of heat and slowly evolved into herding dogs. The Finnish lapphund is calm and friendly but also agile, alert and needs daily exercise.
Norwegian lundehund, "Nils," 2 years old, male
Norwegian Lundehund
Move over gymnasts; the Norwegian Lundehund is quite the contortionist! Originally bred for retrieving puffin birds from steep and dangerous cliffs, this breed has ears that close different ways at will, six toes on each foot and so much flexibility in its neck that it can flip backward and lay flat on the backbone. This breed from Norway dates back to the 1500s but had its main job cut short when the puffin birds they retrieved became protected species. The breed did come close to extinction but persevered, and it joined the AKC as the 169th recognized breed in the Non-Sporting Group. The Norwegian Lundehund is another loyal and protective dog that is not aggressive toward people. The double coat requires minimal maintenance on this agile canine. It is also officially noted that judges should not ask the handler to display the dog’s neck flexibility at judging; a dog show is too stressful for the lundehund to properly relax his neck and may cause injury if forced to do so.
Standard Xoloitzcuintli, "Armani," 2 years old, male
Standard Xoloitzcuintli
This Non-Sporting Group entrant, also known as the Mexican hairless or Xolo, also comes with an aura of superstition. From our breed profile, the Xolo is one of the world’s oldest and rarest dogs. Xoloitzcuintlis originated in Mexico during the Aztec Empire. In fact, their name is derived from the name of the Aztec Indian god, Xolotl, and itzcuintli, the Aztec word for “dog.” In remote Mexican and Central American villages, the Xolo’s warmth was said to ward off or cure aches and pains, rheumatism, asthma, toothaches and insomnia. Xolos were also believed to safeguard the home from evil spirits and intruders. A healthy, resilient breed, Xolos have no genetic health issues specific to the breed, a rarity in the dog world, and develop very close bonds with their owners. Three sizes are recognized: toy, miniature and standard. Check out our gallery of Xolo pictures — it’s one of the most popular pages on the Pets Adviser website.
Photos: Dave Baker/Pets Adviser
More Westminster Coverage
Pets Adviser has been covering the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show since 2011. Check out these great posts from the past:
- Which Dog Won the Best in Show in 2011?
- Westminster Dog Show 2011 Photo Gallery
- 10 Mixed-Breeds We Should Have Seen at Westminster
- 11 Oldest Dogs Ever to Win Best in Show
- The Sun Will Come Out… for Chewee
- “Buzz Campaign” Not Just for Oscar Wannabes — Dog Show Contenders Do This Too
- 8 of America’s Favorite Breeds Have Never Won Best in Show
- Name Name That That Chow Chow
- Poodle Flying to 2011 Dog Show in Private Jet
- Jane Lynch Should Lighten Up!
