January 7, 2020
Meet the Two New Dog Breeds Recognized by AKC in 2020
Last week, the American Kennel Club announced that two new dog breeds will join their ranks in 2020 – the Dogo Argentino and the Barbet. Before these unique pups make their debut on the dog show stage, we’ve gathered some fun facts about them, and talked to one of our own DogWatch Dealers who is very familiar with the one of the breeds. Enjoy!
Dogo Argentino
The Dogo Argentino hails from, you guessed it, Argentina. This large dog (88-100 pounds when full grown) stands out in the crowd thanks to its powerful build, bright white coat and shiny black nose. The Dogo Argentino is a working dog, originally bred to hunt big game such as pumas and wild boar. Nowadays, these dogs can play a variety of roles including as guard dogs, police working dogs, search and rescue dogs, and as beloved pets.
The Dogo Argentino can be a loyal, affectionate family dog, but given their strong protective instincts, early socialization and training is extremely important. In other words, this is not the breed for a first-time dog owner. For the dedicated, experienced pet owner, a Dogo Argentino can be a wonderful companion, exercise buddy and a great fit for dog sports like agility.
Barbet
The second new breed, the Barbet, is medium-sized, curly-haired water dog originally from France. To learn more about this intelligent, athletic and adorable dog, we spoke with Veronica Matthews, a DogWatch Hidden Fence Dealer from Central Ontario who owns and breeds Barbets.
DogTails: What initially drew you to the breed?
Veronica Matthews: I was drawn to the Barbet breed because they are a blend for me of the perfect family companion. Being medium sized, they are big enough to hike with but small enough to lift if you had to. Their non-shedding coat allows for a decided lack of dog hair tumbleweeds despite having 4 in the house. AND temperament, as retrievers they are biddable, smart and happy.
DT: What is your favorite thing about Barbets?
VM: My favorite thing about Barbets is they love playing with other dogs but truly enjoy their human companions.
DT: What kind of home is ideal for a Barbet?
VM: Barbets are suitable for first-time dog owners as well as experienced owners. Exercise is moderate I would say but you can really ramp them up by how you raise and train them.
DT: What is the name and age of your current Barbet(s)?
VM: Currently we have RubyTuesday (aged 3) and her daughter PennyLane (aged 1). Both are solid Black. Alice is 2 year-old and has a white chin and has white markings on her chest. Desiree is our newest addition at 10-1/2 weeks and she has a lot of white on her legs, chest, chin and nose. [See photo above]
Thanks Veronica! In addition to DogWatch of Central Ontario (currently operated by Veronica’s son Alex Matthews), Veronica runs a kennel named RoVer Barbets and her dog RubyTuesday will be having puppies at the end of the month (January 2020). Best wishes to Ruby and her pups!
To learn more about the Dogo Argentino, the Barbet, or any other dog breed, visit the American Kennel Club’s website.
