Dog meet dog
American Kennel Club adds a pair of breeds to its roster, the first since 2016
A spirited Dutch duckluring dog and a friendly French rabbit hound are now running with the American Kennel Club’s pack.
The club says it’s recognizing the Nederlandse kooikerhondje and the grand basset griffon Vendeen. They’re the first breeds added to the roster since 2016.
They’re eligible for many dog shows this year but can’t compete at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club show until next year.
The Nederlandse kooikerhondje goes back hundreds of years in Holland. The smallish, brownand-white, spaniel-style dogs can be seen in some Dutch Old Master paintings. “They’re actually like a toddler that never grows up,” said breeder D. Ann Knoop-Siderius. She said they are happy, sometimes naughty and “very playful.”
Kooikerhondjes were trained to help hunters attract ducks into net-covered canals. The elaborate setups waned in the 19th century, and the dogs neared extinction during the Second World War, before a baroness set out to bring them back.
There are now about 7,000 worldwide and they’re well-suited to agility and other canine sports, Knoop-Siderius said.
The grand basset griffon Vendeen (GBGV) is one of a number of long, low-to-the-ground basset breeds with centuries-long roots in Europe. The AKC has for decades recognized a smaller cousin, the petit basset griffon Vendeen, and the long-eared basset hound.
GBGVs are known for their speed, stamina and cheerful nature, but owner Megan Esherick finds them to be “a pretty laid-back breed.
“They’re happy to get up and do things if you ask them to, but they’re not particularly busy, in terms of pacing back and forth or throwing a ball in your lap,” says Esherick. Her nine-year-old GBGV, Juno, has competed in agility, obedience and other events.
Some animal-rights advocates say encouraging interest in purebred dogs fuels puppy mills.
The AKC says conscientious breeding doesn’t negate shelter dogs’ need for homes but does allow people to choose pets with somewhat predictable characteristics, helping to make lasting matches.