Aria, a Bergamasco, spends her days at The Quirky Pet in Montpelier, Vermont.
Photo by Phil Monahan
Whether or not you approve of the American Kennel Club or their work—many dog lovers prefer mixed breeds or rescue dogs—the organization does have tremendous influence on the world of dogs. Yesterday, it was announced that four new breeds would receive “Full AKC Recognition,” which means that there are now a minimum number of dogs in the breed geographically distributed throughout the U.S., as well as an established breed club of responsible owners and breeders. The four newly recognized breeds are the Spanish Water Dog, the Cirneco dell’Etna, the Bergamasco, and the Boerboel. You may remember the sweet Bergamasco above from our “Guess the Breed” contest earlier this year.