NEW YORK – They're ready to enter 2026.
Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club's list of recognized breeds Tuesday, making them eligible to compete in many dog shows across the U.S. and likely increasing their visibility among pet lovers.
One of the newcomers is a terrier named after the US President. The other is a toy dog from Cold War Russia. The third is a centuries-old French hunting hound. Here's a closer look:
Basset from Brittany
Stats: 12.5 to 15.5 inches (32 to 40 centimeters) at base of neck; 23 to 39 lbs (10.5 to 17.5 kg)
Topline: A hardy, sociable, compact hound that can hunt all day and needs mental and physical stimulation.
pronotic: bhahYY 'We are in TORAN-yes
Translation: Fawn, short dog from Brittany.
History: Coarse-coated, red-colored versions of these dogs date back to at least 16th-century French aristocratic circles. In recent years, the breed has been promoted in the United States by Cindy Hartman, a service dog trainer from South Carolina, who brought a pair of Fauves puppies from France in 2001. Since then, she has trained and placed about 20 Fauves dogs as medical assistance dogs for people with diabetes, she said.
Quote: “They're damn smart, and so if you want a dog that's going to lay around all day, the Fauvist is not for you,” Hartman said. “But still, when they are struggling mentally and physically, they are happy to come with you and spend the evening on the sofa.”
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Stats: 8 to 14 inches (20 to 36 centimeters) at base of neck; 8 to 25 lbs (3.5 to 11 kg)
Topline: A tough, energetic little dog that will rid your barn of rodents, warn you of strangers, take up dog sports – or simply entertain you with its antics.
History: Originally considered a short-legged variant of the Rat Terrier, these dogs were recognized as a separate breed in 1999. The breed was named after President Theodore Roosevelt because of his love of dogs, including terriers.
Quote: “They know how to make you laugh,” says Cindy Rickey of Waynesville, N.C., secretary of the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Club of America. While many terrier breeds are known for their independence, her Teddy competes in obedience. “They are terriers without a doubt, but they also have a great desire to please,” she explains.
The Russian tsvetnaya bolonka
Statistics: Up to 10¼ inches (26 centimeters) at base of neck; 7 to 9 pounds (3 to 4 kilograms)
Topline: A sweet but smart little companion who wants playful interaction rather than just snuggling (although he likes that too).
Pronunciation: zwit-NEE'-ah boh-LON'-ka.
Translation: Russian colored lapdog.
History: The breed was developed in Soviet-era Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) after World War II as a pet for apartment dwellers. American fans have been working to bring lapdogs (the correct plural) to the United States since the early 2000s.
Quote: “Having a lapdog is like having a three-year-old running around your house… They can enjoy spending time on the couch with you, but you have to be willing to play with them and entertain them,” says Denise Dang of Oklahoma City, secretary of the Russian Colored Lapdog Club of America. Owners also need to take care of the thick, wavy coat, which sheds little but can tangle. Even if you cut your hair fairly short, it's smart to take a bath every couple of weeks, Dang says.
The big picture
The AKC recognizes 205 breeds, including these three newcomers. Fanciers of many other breeds (although there have not yet been “doodles” or other popular poodle hybrids) have voluntarily entered into a process that requires years of breeding, documentation, and consensus building.
The club does not limit the number of breeds it may ultimately recognize. Spokeswoman Brandi Hunter Munden says this is not “adding dogs indiscriminately” but rather providing “an established framework for growth, breed standards, competition and education in the United States.”
Controversy
Animal rights activists have long condemned dog breeding and the AKC for supporting it, and this year the criticism escalated into a lawsuit over the health of French bulldogs, pugs, dachshunds and Chinese Shar-Peis. The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking a court order to stop the AKC from continuing to promulgate the current “standards” or ideal characteristics for these breeds.
PETA accused the Kennel Club of providing “breeding schemes for ugly, unhealthy dogs.”
AKC denies the allegations and asks the court to dismiss the case, calling the lawsuit frivolous. The club said it “has been and remains strongly committed to the health, welfare and proper treatment of all dogs.”
