Category: American Foxhound

Most Popular Breeds of 2018

3/23/2019

Once again the American Kennel Club (AKC) has released its most popular breeds in the United States (by registration) for 2018. You can find the top ten on just about any news or dog website, and none of them are a surprise. This is doubly true for the top three, the Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, and Golden Retriever - the Labrador has been reigning supreme for almost three decades.

A few years ago we chose to highlight the breeds at the other end of the spectrum, the 10 with the lowest registrations. I wondered how those breeds fared today, and which were still at the bottom. Lately there has been a push to protect those breeds that are endangered of extinction, most notably by the United Kennel Club’s Vulnerable Breed program. However, it is difficult to gage how rare a breed is while taking the entire world’s registration into account - or working dogs that aren’t registered at all.

Today the AKC recognizes 192 breeds, these are the 10 with the lowest registrations. Keep in mind when comparing 2017 and 2013 only 190 and 177 breeds were recognized respectfully.

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State Dogs

7/4/2015

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Every state in the United States has their own state bird, but only 11 have honored dogs to represent them. As we celebrate our nation’s independence let’s take a quick look at how these breeds stand out.

The Alaskan Malamute was the obvious choice as the state dog of Alaska, but was not chosen as such until 2010. This independent, intelligent breed was originally kept by the native Mahlemut and treated as equals by their owners. The Mahlemut were a nomadic tribe, always moving and the Alaskan Malamute were used to transport their belongings from one camp to the next.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is named for its unique spotted coat and the Catahoula parish in Louisiana; and has been their state dog since 1979. They are one of several cur breeds that originated in the southern states, used as multipurpose farm dogs and hunting companions. Their exact ancestry is unknown, but legend persists that they are descended from war dogs brought by early Spanish explorers.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the first dog to be claimed by a state when Maryland chose them in 1964. Their very existence was tied to the state itself, when a shipwreck off the coast in 1807 caused two Newfoundland puppies to find their way to the mainland. These pups were bred with local retrievers and became specialized in working in the ice packed waters of the bay.

The Boston Terrier was given the title of state dog by Massachusetts in 1979. Another breed tied to the state that holds it, the Boston Terrier was developed in the state capitol that shares its name. Their main ancestor was an English White Terrier known as Hooper’s Judge, who was born in England but later imported to Boston. His offspring became the foundation stock of the breed and were later crossed with French Bulldogs and possibly Bull Terriers to widen the gene pool and decrease their size.

The Chinook is one of the least known of the state dogs and was adopted by New Hampshire in 2009. This breed was created by explorer Arthur Walden in the early 1900s on his farm in New Hampshire. Although they do not match the classic northern appearance, the Chinook was in fact bred as a sled dog. Although the name Chinook means ‘warm winter winds’ in Inuit, the breed obtained its name from one of Walden’s favorite dogs.

The Plott Hound was named the state dog of North Carolina in 1989. Although classified as a coonhound, their main prey is larger animals such as boar and bear. They are also the only coonhound that has an ancestry that does not trace back to England, but rather to Germany. They descend from Hanoverian Hounds brought by Georg Plott when he settled in North Carolina, with a bloodline that was protected for generations.

When it comes to state dogs Pennsylvania is the ‘odd man out’, as their dog did not originate in the United States at all. The Great Dane (chosen in 1965) is a German breed, said to have been a great help to early settlers as a hunting and working dog. A second non-American breed was also suggested at the time, the Beagle, but it was the Great Dane that held the votes.

Like several other breeds, the Boykin Spaniel was developed in South Carolina, where it became the state dog in 1985. Its ‘founding father’ was found outside a church in Spartanburg and given a home by Alexander White. The stray outclassed his hunting retrievers and he sent him to Whit Boykin for training. Boykin crossed him with several other gundog breeds and produced an excellent turkey dog and retriever. This breed even has its own holiday, with Boykin Spaniel Day taking place annually on September 1st.

Texas adopted the Blue Lacy as its state dog in 2005, and it is the only breed that has gained this title without being recognized by any major kennel club. A working breed, they were originally kept by the Lacy brothers who moved from Kentucky to Texas in 1858. The Lacy family primarily used them for herding their free-roaming hogs.

The American Foxhound became Virginia’s state dog in 1966, although they were developed in several states from European hounds brought to the United States over a period that spans hundreds of years. George Washington kept his own pack of Foxhounds, making this breed doubly patriotic!

Wisconsin selected the American Water Spaniel as their state dog in 1985. It was developed in the Fox and Wolf River Valleys of the state, but also became popular in Michigan and Minnesota. While it remains unknown which breeds were used in its creation, it is a classic water dog and guesses have included the English Water Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, Field Spaniel, and Poodle.

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Most Popular Breeds of 2014

4/1/2015

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Once again the American Kennel Club (AKC) has released the most popular dog breeds in the United States according to their registrations. No dog lover was surprised to find the Labrador Retriever once again led the pack while the Golden Retriever and German Shepherd Dog rounded out the top three out of 178 recognized breeds.

Aside from the recent rise in the French Bulldog it was a fairly predictable list - but what about the dogs at the bottom of the list? Are these dogs simply new breeds or falling out of favor? Certainly many of their fanciers would tell you they like their dogs being 'unpopular' as over and ill breeding plagues many top breeds. However, these numbers have a downside, as they dip too low it also affects the breeding pool.

In our article we will take a closer look at the bottom ten breeds individually, both by the numbers and as a chance to get to know some 'uncommon' breeds.

#169 - Sussex Spaniel
2013 - #162
2009 - #159

The Sussex Spaniel was developed in the late 18th and early 19th century by A.E. Fuller in Sussex, England. After his death the breed became scarce and barely escaped extinction after WWII thanks to Joy Freer. Despite being saved their numbers have never been strong. In its homeland the Sussex is even more uncommon and is listed with The Kennel Club's (KC) as a Vulnerable Native Breed.

#170 - Canaan Dog
2013 - #164
2009 - #156

In the 1930s Rudolphina Menzel became fascinated with primitive dogs that had survived outside of human intervention in the Negev Desert. Through careful breeding and domestication she adapted these pariah dogs for military work. The Canaan Dog was first recognized by the Israel Kennel Club in 1973, but was not accepted by the AKC until 1989. It is estimated they number between 1200-1400 worldwide.

#171 - Skye Terrier
2013 - #161
2009 - #155

Legend states that the Skye Terrier owes its existence to a Spanish shipwreck that brought a Maltese off the coast of the Isle of Skye which bred with local terriers in the 1600s. Some have suggested that Welsh Corgis or the Swedish Vallhund may have been used in their development. Like the Sussex Spaniel, the Skye Terrier is also listed by the KC as a Vulnerable Native Breed.

#172 - Pyrenean Shepherd
2013 - #169
2009 - #107

The Pyrenean Shepherd has worked with sheep in the Pyrenees Mountains of France for centuries alongside the Great Pyrenees. It is possible that another French herder, the Briard, was used in their development. In their homeland this is a common breed, both as a companion and as a working dog.

#173 - Otterhound
2013 - #172
2009 - #161

Possibly one of the rarest dog breeds today, the Otterhound has existed since the 13th century. Huge packs used to exist throughout England, tasked with hunting the 'vermin' otter from fishing waters. When the killing of otters was outlawed in 1978 this breed no longer had a place in the modern world. Another Vulnerable Native Breed only 22 pups were born in the United Kingdom in 2014.

#174 - American Foxhound
2013 - #176
2009 - #162

The American Foxhound was bred from several European hounds in the 1600s, its main ancestor being the English Foxhound. While AKC registrations are low it is important to note that many American hunting dogs are registered with the United Kennel Club (UKC) rather than the AKC and some packs are not registered with either club.

#175 - Harrier
2013 - #173
2009 - #163

The Harrier may be the oldest surviving scenthound with a documented pack tracing back to 1260. Although never recognized by the KC this breed does still exist in the United Kingdom. Its stronghold is Northern Ireland, where fox hunting is still legal and this breed is the locals' favorite hound for the sport. It is estimated at least 100 packs still exist there.

#176 - Cesky Terrier
2013 - #174
2009 - Unrecognized

A fairly 'new' breed, the Cesky Terrier was not created until after WWII and was not recognized by the AKC until 2011. Still gaining a foothold in the United States it is the National Dog of the Czech Republic and not considered rare in its homeland.

#177 - English Foxhound
2013 - #177
2009 - #164

The English Foxhound has existed since the late 16th century and although fox hunting is outlawed in its homeland it is not considered in danger there. Like the American Foxhound a large number of these dogs in the United States are actually registered through the UKC.

#178 - Norwegian Lundehund
2013 - #175
2009 - Unrecognized

Norwegian Lundehund's were originally developed to hunt puffins off the coasts of Norway and were used extensively for this purpose from the 1600-1800s. One puffin hunting became illegal the breed became rare and was almost extinct after WWII and two distemper outbreaks. Today there are somewhere between 1500-2000 dogs worldwide, most remaining in Norway.

In the end popularity really comes down to where you are located (although the Labrador Retriever still reigns supreme in many countries). Most of these 'rare' breeds still have high numbers in their homelands, or even with other kennel clubs in the United States. Of these ten only three breeds (all from the United Kingdom) have dangerously low counts worldwide - the Sussex Spaniel, Skye Terrier and Otterhound.

To many this may seem the word endangered or vulnerable is too harsh to use to describe a dog breed, as they are all one species. After all, what place does a dog bred to hunt otters have in the modern world? Still, they are a living piece of history and to their fanciers they are the only breed that matters.

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American Trackers - The Coonhounds

2/19/2015

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There are few dogs that bring to mind the landscape of America solely with their name and perhaps none are as clear as the Coonhound rooted in the deep south. For most this mental picture calls for the Black and Tan or Redbone, but many do not know there are six coonhounds that are recognized by major kennel clubs. Although developed in the United States, the ancestry of these scenthounds is European. They, along with curs and fiests, make up the group of hunting dogs known as treeing dogs. Bred for the ability to tree game rather than sending it to ground depending on the specific breed or type can hunt anything from small squirrels to bears and mountain lions.

Like much of Colonial America's history the tale of the coonhounds origin is rich, if somewhat muddled through the years. All of the coonhounds (save the Plott) share the same ancestry, which begins when the first packhounds were brought to the New World. Two such packs primarily led to the development of the American Foxhound, and later the coonhounds.

The first documented pack was imported from England in 1650 by Roger Brooke to Maryland. His dogs were English Foxhounds (primarily black and tan rather than the more traditional tricolor), brought for the sole purpose of the gentry's game of foxhunting. Brooke became the first Master of Hounds in the United States, a tradition his family continued even after his death.

In 1770 George Washington, who was an avid hunter, imported a pack of English Foxhounds to Virginia. In 1785 he was gifted French hounds by his friend the Marquis de Lafayette. It is believed these dogs were the blueticked Grand Bleu de Gascogne which were interbred with his existing dogs. A second outcross was made in the 1830s, this time with Irish hounds to help increase the packs' speed.

The dogs from these packs spread outward and would become the American Foxhound with other unknown dogs added throughout its development. This new breed become as adapt against fox as its ancestors, however it still struggled against animals that took to the trees. After the American Revolution and as settlers began moving west and south these hounds were beginning to be kept by hunters that were not always wealthy and often on foot. In this new role as food provider its inability to tackle other prey became more evident so selective breeding became focused on improving its treeing ability and increasing its range of prey. Overtime they developed and became coonhounds, with many different varieties due to the large number of settlements and differing terrain throughout the states,

Today five coonhounds share this stock, the English, Bluetick, Black and Tan, Redbone, and Treeing Walker. The English (sometimes called the American English or Redtick) is the oldest of these breeds. It was first recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1905 under the name English Fox and Coonhound (the Fox was later dropped). Like many working dogs that are ''rare" to the show ring it did not gain American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition until more than a century later in 2011. Although the redtick is the preferred coat pattern other colors still appear including bluetick as well as bi and tricolors.

The Bluetick has managed to retain a coat similar in appearance to its ancestor, the Grand Bleu de Gascogne, its French ties stronger than its cousins. Today there is still a larger, more hound-like bluetick known as the American Blue Gascogne (unrecognized by kennel clubs). Originally seen by the UKC as a variant of the English Coonhound the Bluetick did not split as a breed in its own right until 1946, but AKC recognition was slightly earlier in 2009.

Treeing Walkers are tricolor (white, black and tan) and were developed from a pack of American Foxhounds that had originated as English Foxhounds imported by Thomas Walker. An outcross from a stolen dog - known only as Tennessee Lead - was the basis for a separate coonhound strain of Walkers. Like the Bluetick, the Treeing Walker was once lumped with the English Coonhound, but were separated a year earlier in 1945. The AKC would not follow suit until 2012.

The Black and Tan shows an influence of the Bloodhound both in its coloring and heavier body. Although it is still related to the other coonhounds through Foxhound blood it is clear far more than a single Bloodhound or two was used in its development. The Black and Tan was the first coonhound to be recognized by the UKC in 1900 and the AKC in 1945.

It may be that the Redbone obtained its name from its solid red coat, but it is more likely it came from an early breeder, Peter Redbone. It is believed the deep red of their coat comes from an influx of Irish hounds. Early dogs were not solid red, but rather had a black saddle that was slowly bred out. This was the second coonhound to be recognized by the UKC in 1902, however, its AKC recognition would come in 2011.

This leaves only the Plott Hound, which holds no English or French ancestry and shares no ties with the other coonhounds. They are in fact German, descending from a handful of Hanoverian Hounds brought to North Carolina in 1750 by George Plott. Hanoverians traditionally hunt boar, but through careful breeding adapted to their new prey (particularly black bear) and homeland. Through generations the Plott family carefully guarded the bloodline, making only one documented outcross with a ''leopard spotted bear dog". The Plott Hound was recognized by the UKC in 1946 and the AKC in 2006.

Some may call the coonhounds outdated in the modern world, but their fanciers would argue that perhaps their time outside of the woods is just beginning as their registrations rise and their popularity grows, slow, but steady. Certainly hunters would argue, whether their dogs are used for the traditional hunt, field trials or nite competitions. Regardless, each year children around the country still relive the tale of Old Dan and Little Ann in the words of Wilson Rawls' "Where the Red Fern Grows", ensuring the tale of at least two Redbone Coonhounds and a boy live on.

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Most Popular Breeds of 2018

State Dogs

Most Popular Breeds of 2014

American Trackers - The Coonhounds

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