3 more in the Kennel

Three new dog breeds — the berger Picard, lagotto Romagnolo and the miniature American shepherd — have joined the prestigious ranks of the American Kennel Club, the organization announced Monday. These pups can now compete in the AKC’s 22,000 annual canine events, along with the 184 other dog breeds already deemed eligible.

“Each of these breeds is unique and will make wonderful companions to a variety of people,” AKC spokesperson Gina DiNardo said in a statement.

The berger Picard ( inset top) is an “athletic” pooch from France that was bred to be a working companion, while the miniature American shepherd ( inset middle) is a small herding dog from the United States that’s “eager to please, devoted, goodnatured, and intelligent,” according to the AKC.

The lagotto Romagnolo ( inset bottom) can trace its roots to Italy and possesses rare talents as the “only purebred dog in the world recognized as a specialized truffle searcher.” Danika Fears