AKC Recognizes Two New Dog Breeds

The American Kennel Club just announced the full recognition of two new dog breeds, the American Hairless Terrier and the Sloughi on January 1st 2016, This brings the total number of AKC dog breeds to 189.

“We’re excited to welcome these two unique breeds into the AKC family,” AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo said. “Both breeds make wonderful companions for the right family. If a dog lover is interested in the American Hairless Terrier, Sloughi or any other AKC breed, we encourage them to visit AKC.org to learn more about the breed and determine if they’re a fit for their lifestyle.”

Sloughi

The Sloughi is a medium-sized, smooth-coated, athletic member of the Hound group,  It is part of the Sighthound Family. An ancient breed, it is treasured in North Africa for its hunting skills, speed, agility, and endurance over long distances.

 

The breed is considered noble and somewhat reserved. It has been described as having a gentle, melancholy expression. The breed should be exercised on leash or in a large fenced area since they love to run and chase. They tend to be quite sensitive and do best with positive training and are usually loyal to their owner.

Its smooth coat requires a weekly brushing.

American Hairless Terrier

The American Hairless Terrier is a small to medium sized, active member of the Terrier group. Ancestors of the breed were bred to hunt rats and other vermin, and today the breed excels in many AKC dog sports like disc or frisbee.

The breed comes in both a hairless and coated variety, although the coated dogs still carry the hairless gene. The American Hairless Terrier seems to cause fewer allergic reactions than other breeds, so they may be a good choice of pet for allergy sufferers.