To kick off 2018, the American Kennel Club announced yesterday that two newly eligible dog breeds will join their ranks. Before they make their debut on the dog show stage, we’ve gathered some fun facts about both of the unique new breeds. Enjoy, and good luck to all the dogs competing next month at the 2018 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City!

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

A small dog with a big name and a bigger personality, the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje (pronounced Coy-ker-hund-tsje) is the newest member of AKC’s Sporting Group. The Kooikerhondje hails from the Netherlands, and was bred to hunt duck. Its name in Dutch means “little cage dog,” as it is trained by hunters to use its long white fluffy tail to lure ducks into a duck cage trap (or “Eendenkooi”). The Kooikerhondje has been popular in the Netherlands for centuries, and appears in paintings by 17th century Dutch masters Rembrandt and Jan Steen.

The Kooikerhondje has a lovely reddish brown, black and white coat that is easy to maintain with regular brushing. The breed is small enough for apartment living, but does need regular exercise. The Kooikerhondje’s sensitivity to sound, while an asset in hunting, may make it ill-suited to a home with very small children. Happy, lively, intelligent and eager-to-please, the Kooikerhondje can make a wonderful companion for many people and families with older children.

Check out the Kooikerhondje in action in this clip from the Animal Planet TV series “Dogs 101”!

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (GBGV) has now joined the ranks of their smaller relatives, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV), as a new member of the AKC’s Hound Group. The AKC provides a helpful breakdown of this breed’s long name: “‘Grand’ is a French word that means large, so it fits the bigger version of the two Basset Griffon Vendéen breeds. ‘Basset’ means low. ‘Griffon’ is a type of wire coat, and ‘Vendéen’ comes from Vendée, the region of France where the breed originated.”

The GBGV is a scent hound that was bred to hunt larger animals, including wolves and deer, as well as track smaller game like rabbits and hares. They typically hunt in packs, and enjoy being part of a group. The GBGV is a friendly, laidback hound that nevertheless needs lots of exercise to channel that working dog spirit. Don’t let those short legs and droopy ears fool you – these are energetic, athletic hounds that love to run, play and explore!

To learn more about the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen and other dog breeds, visit the American Kennel Club’s website.

Photo Credits
In Featured Image: “Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen” by Eelco Roes is licensed under CC BY 2.0. (Image is cropped.)
“Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen” by Eelco Roes is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“A kooikerhondje” by Burner83 is licensed under CC BY 1.0.