To kick off the first week of 2022, the American Kennel Club (AKC) announced that two new dog breeds are joining their ranks this year – Mudi and Russian Toy. These two breeds are unique and very different. Here are some facts about both and how they gained recognition from the AKC!

The Mudi

The Mudi is a medium-sized herding dog that generally grows to about 15-18 inches tall and weighs around 20-25 pounds. These playful, intelligent, and energetic pups were originally bred in Hungary during the 1930s. While they almost disappeared entirely during World War II, they have slowly been making a comeback for the past 50 years. Still a relatively rare breed, the Mudi is becoming more popular in Europe and North America. It has excellent working dog skills, excelling in herding and search and rescue.

The Mudi’s unique medium-length, curly coat can be a combination of one, two, or three different colors, with six color combinations recognized by the AKC. Their coats are low-maintenance, requiring very little grooming, and these pups shed less than most dogs. 

Mudis are high-energy dogs that typically demand over an hour of medium-intensity exercise and a half-hour of high-intensity exercise per day. They are very eager to please, easy to train, and generally healthy breeds, typically living 12-14 years.

To learn more about the Mudi, visit the websites of the American Kennel Club or the North American Mudi Alliance.

The Russian Toy

An active, affectionate, good-natured breed, the Russian Toy is designed as the perfect companion pet. These dogs were first bred during the Russian Revolution as a variation of the English Toy Terrier and initially had short hair. Now, both long-hair Russian Toys are just as common as the short-haired variety, if not more so.

These tiny pups measure in at 8-11 inches in height and can weigh up to 6.5 pounds. They are generally healthy dogs and can live for 12-14 years. Russian Toys are highly intelligent dogs and if they aren’t provided enough mental stimulation, they tend to create jobs for themselves. 

These dogs live for human interaction and are happiest spending their days following their people around and curling up in laps for long naps. They can be protective of their family but are typically easy to train. Russian Toys usually adapt to whatever the people around them are doing, and are just as happy to lounge on the couch all day as they are to take a long walk or play a game of fetch.

To learn more about The Russian Toy, visit the websites of the American Kennel Club or the Russian Toy Breed Club UK.