There are two new breeds competing at Westminster in 2013. The American Kennel Club determines the eligibility of breeds to compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and at any other shows held by AKC member clubs. Generally, the AKC will consider a breed for recognition if the breed shows sufficient numbers and geographic distribution in this country, and a growing interest is demonstrated by an active parent club.
Here are the new breeds for 2013:
Photo credit: Carol Beuchat
RUSSELL TERRIER (Terrier Group)
The Russell Terrier is considered the ultimate working earth terrier due to their small size (10″ to 12″ tall) and unique chest. The hallmark of the breed is its small, oval-shaped, spannable, compressible chest, which allows them to hunt efficiently below ground, pulling, pushing and bending through tight turns and narrow tunnels. Their origin dates back to the 1800’s in England where they were utilized for fox hunting and carried horseback in terrier bags. Pack hunters, they are non-confrontational, not a sparring breed. They are predominantly white with spots and come in three coats – smooth, broken, and rough. They are athletic, intelligent, and fiercely loyal.
Photo credit: Curt Willis
TREEING WALKER COONHOUND (Hound Group)
The energetic Treeing Walker Coonhound is perfectly suited for the task for which it was bred – tracking and treeing wild raccoons. Developed from the Walker Foxhound, the Virginia Hounds, and the earliest English Foxhounds brought to America, the Treeing Walker is a fast, alert, hot-nosed hunter with superb endurance, treeing ability and the desire to perform. It has a clear, ringing bugle voice or a steady clear chop with changeover at the tree. Today’s Treeing Walker retains the same color and similar conformation to the Walker Foxhound. The breed is intelligent, confident and sociable.