At the 2013 Westminster Kennel Club Show, Best in Show went to an Affenpinscher. Never heard of the breed? How about the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever or the Finnish Lapphund that were at Westminster? Learn about these three lesser known dog breeds below, who knows, maybe one of the breeds would be a great fit for your family and lifestyle!
1) Affenpinscher
According to the American Kennel Club:
“The Affenpinscher (translated from German as Monkey-Terrier) is a peppy dog that has the face and impish nature of a monkey. This wire-haired terrier-like breed acts like a bigger dog as he proudly struts around. The coat of an Affenpinscher is usually black, but they also come in gray, silver, red, belge or black and tan.
One of the most ancient of toy dogs, the Affenpinscher originated in Central Europe (Munich, Germany and France), where they earned the nickname "little devil with a moustache." During the 17th century, small terriers were frequently kept around stables, on farms or in stores where they served as ratters. Bred down in size, these small terriers became companions in the home and kept mice from overrunning their mistresses' boudoirs.”
2) Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
According to the West Minster Kennel Club:
“This breed was developed in the early 19th century in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia to toll, or lure, and retrieve waterfowl. Originally bred to resemble a fox, the playful action of the Toller retrieving a stick or ball thrown by the hunter along the shoreline arouses the curiosity of the ducks offshore and lures them within gunshot range. This medium-sized, powerful, compact, balanced dog is the smallest of the retrievers. An ideal hunting companion, Tollers are ardent observers of life and full of energy. This breed has more zest and joy for life than most, and is enthusiastic and successful in hunting, conformation, obedience, agility, and search & rescue.”
3) Finnish Lapphund
According to the West Minster Kennel Club:
“The Finnish Lapphund is a reindeer herding dog from the northern parts of Scandinavia. The breed is thought to have existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, as the helper dog of the native tribes. In modern day, Lapphunds are popular as family pets in their native Finland. They are devoted to their family, friendly with all people, highly intelligent and eager to learn. The dogs have a thick, dense coat that comes in a variety of colors and beautiful, soft, expressive faces. They are strong but very agile.”
Do you have experience with these breeds? Tell us about it below and help people learn more about them!
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