Talkin Pets

–The Russell Terrier Gains Full AKC Recognition While Three Other Breeds Move into the Miscellaneous Class –

New York, NY - The American Kennel Club^® (AKC^®) expanded its litter of registered breeds on June 27 to welcome the Russell Terrier to the Terrier Group, growing AKC’s family to 175 breeds. Also moving up the ranks to the Miscellaneous class on the same day are the Coton de Tulear, Spanish Water Dog, and Miniature American Shepherd.

“The AKC is excited to welcome this adventurous terrier to the registry,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Energetic and full of life, the Russell Terrier will make a wonderful companion for active people.”

The Russell Terrier is feisty and playful with an enormous amount of energy and a strong instinct for hunting. Originating in England and developed in Australia, the breed was used for fox hunting as well as finding vermin below ground. They are small, confident, and highly intelligent dogs that are devoted and loving family companions. Because of their energy and intensity, Russell Terriers do best

Fiona Cheever/Courtesy Nodie Williams in a family with an active lifestyle. Their weatherproof coat requires minimal grooming beyond brushing and occasional bathing.

To become an AKC recognized breed there needs to be a certain number of dogs geographically distributed throughout the U.S. and an established breed club to watch over them. Breeds waiting to gain full recognition are recorded in AKC’s Foundation Stock Service^® (FSS^®). More information on the process can be found at the AKC’s Web site.

For more information about this breed, visit the American Russell Terrier Club or meet the Russell Terrier in person at AKC Meet the Breeds at the Javits Center in New York City on October 20^th and 21^st or at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship December 15^th and 16^th in Orlando, Florida. Visit www.meetthebreeds.com for more details.

Get social with the AKC! Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

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The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.  Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog.  For more information, visit www.akc.org.

–     The American English Coonhound, Finnish Lapphund, and Cesky Terrier

Gain Full AKC Recognition –

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club^® (AKC^®) expanded its litter of registered breeds on June 1 to welcome the American English Coonhound to the Hound group, Finnish Lapphund to the Herding group, and Cesky Terrier to the Terrier group – growing AKC’s family to 173 breeds.

“The AKC is excited to add these wonderful breeds to our registry and give families even more dogs to choose from,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson.  “From hunters to herders, each breed has a unique history, and makes loving, devoted family pets.”

Comparable to a well-conditioned athlete, the American English Coonhound is an avid hunter known for its tremendous speed and loud voice.  Originally these hounds were used to hunt fox by day and raccoon by night in the American colonies.  Today, they still need regular daily exercise to stay in shape.  They are affectionate dogs that appear alert and confident and make great companions for active owners.  American English Coonhounds are sociable animals that get along well with people and other dogs.  They are very trainable and eager to please.

The Finnish Lapphund is an alert and agile dog.  The first Finnish Lapphunds were the helper dogs of the Sami – a tribe of semi-nomadic people in the northern region of Finland, Sweden, and part of Russia called Lapland.  Because they were originally bred to live and work outside north of the Arctic Circle herding reindeer, Finnish Lapphunds have a thick double coat.  They are intelligent, eager to learn, and are calm and friendly with people.  They make loving and devoted family pets that do well with children and other dogs.

Intelligent and full of energy, the Cesky Terrier was bred to hunt vermin, fox, and badger, among others.  They are active dogs that love to play, and require daily exercise.  Cesky Terriers are loyal to their families, patient, gentle, and get along well with people of all ages, making them a wonderful family pet.  They are anxious to please and easy to train.  Their coat requires daily grooming as puppies and brushing twice a week as adults.

To become an AKC recognized breed there needs to be a certain number of dogs geographically distributed throughout the U.S. and an established breed club to watch over them.  Breeds waiting to gain full recognition are recorded in AKC’s Foundation Stock Service^® (FSS^®).  More information on the process can be found at the AKC’s Web site.

For more information about these breeds, visit the Parent Club section of the AKC website, or meet them in person at Meet the Breeds at the Javits Center in New York City on November 19^th and 20^th or at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship December 17^th and 18^th in Orlando, Florida. Visit www.meetthebreeds.com for more details.

Get social with the AKC!  Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

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The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.  Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog.  For more information, visit www.akc.org.