Meet the 6 New Breeds Competing at the Westminster Dog Show
Published on January 25, 2012
The Westminster Kennel Club welcomes six new breeds into the ring this year: American English Coonhound, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Finnish Lapphund, Cesky Terrier, Norwegian Lundehund and Xoloitzcuintli. Each breed has its own charms and quirks, but one thing is certain — we can’t wait to see them all compete!
The American English Coonhound
A descendant of the English Foxhound, the American English Coonhound is known for speed and endurance, and was typically used for fox and raccoon hunting. This breed is a member of the Hound Group.
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
A member of the Herding Group, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a native of Switzerland and the smallest of the four tricolored Swiss Mountain Dogs. He’s a very energetic dog known for his loyalty to his master.
Finnish Lapphund
The Lappie, as he’s called, was originally used for reindeer herding in northern parts of Scandinavia and sports a double coat that makes hot weather unbearable. It’s not just his face that’s sweet like a teddy bear; the breed is a friendly and sociable member of the Herding Group.
Cesky Terrier
A less-excitable member of the Terrier Group, the Cesky is one of the Czech Republic’s national breeds and was developed to hunt small game by working in packs. Don’t confuse "less excitable" with "inactive," though — this breed never stops needing exercise and socialization.
Norwegian Lundehund
The Norwegian Lundehund, a member of the Non-Sporting Group, is nicknamed the “Puffin Dog” due to his use in hunting puffin. This breed is beautiful and loyal but can be a challenge to own.
Xoloitzcuintli
Despite its recent inclusion in the show, the Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eats-queen-tlee if you’re ambitious, or you can just go with Xolo) is one of the world’s older breeds and is said to be the first canine of the Americas. Central American and Mexican traditions state that the breed wards off evil spirits and intruders, but even without those attributes, this member of the Non-Sporting Group is an excellent companion dog and comes in three sizes.
Be sure to look for all of Vetstreet’s Westminster Dog Show coverage in the upcoming weeks.
