State Dogs

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.