The Mudi (left), a farm dog of the Hungarian species, and the Russian Toy are the newest breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Sandor Ujvari/MTI/AP; American Kennel Club/AP
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Sandor Ujvari/MTI/AP; American Kennel Club/AP
The Mudi (left), a farm dog of the Hungarian species, and the Russian Toy are the newest breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Sandor Ujvari/MTI/AP; American Kennel Club/AP
NEW YORK (AP) — An athletic Hungarian farm dog and a diminutive pet of past Russian aristocrats are the latest breeds in the American Kennel Club’s purebred lineup.
The club announced Tuesday that it will recognize the Russian toy and the mudi. That means they are eligible to compete for Best in Show at many US dog shows, including the AKC’s annual Grand Championships and the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club show.
The mudi (pronounced “moody”) descends from long lines of Hungarian sheepdogs before the museum’s director took an interest in the breed and gave it a name around 1930. Fans say the medium-sized furry dogs are vigorous , versatile and workers. capable of herding sheep, hunting boar, catching rats, and competing in dog sports such as agility and dock diving.
“They’re very perceptive and have a subtle quality” and are very easy to train, but they need things to do, said Kim Seiter, a dog agility trainer from Oak Ridge, New Jersey, who has four of them. “They are not for the idle person.”
The dogs, the proper plural being “mudik”, appeared on postage stamps in their homeland in 2004, as did other Hungarian breeds.
The Russian toy developed from small English terriers that captured the imagination of Russian elites in the early 18th century. The tiny dogs, which are supposed to weigh no more than 6.5 pounds (2.7 kg), have a leggy silhouette, a cheerful expression and a lively demeanor, breeders say.
“They are extremely affectionate” with their owners, but can be reserved with strangers and need to meet a lot of new people as puppies, says Nona Dietrich of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a breeder and member of the Russian Toy Club of America. “And they’re funny. They have a great attitude.”
The AKC is the oldest purebred dog registry in the United States. It recognizes 199 breeds, including two newcomers, and acts as the governing body for many dog shows.
Recognition requirements include having at least 300 dogs of the breed distributed in at least 20 states and enacting a breed standard that specifies ideal characteristics, from temperament to toes. Many popular hybrid or “designer” breeds, such as Labradoodles and puggles, are not recognized, but may one day be if breeders decide to seek them out.
Some animal rights and welfare advocates deplore dog breeding and the purebred market, saying it fuels puppy mills and abandons adoptable pets in shelters.
The AKC says that breeding can be done responsibly and retains somewhat predictable characteristics that help people find and commit to the right dog for them.
