Unusual Breed: Bergamasco

This is one of several breeds that are seen with a corded coat, though usually it is more of a form of plate-like mats that are said to be "felt-like". This is caused by the presence of three coat layers on the dog. After an initial treating of the coat of a young dog, the mats will form and stay that way for the rest of the dog's life.

They are a guardian and herding breed, believed to have originated in what was Persia. Unlike most herding dogs, the Bergamasco was bred to be able to independently tend the flock, though to also take some direction from the shepherd. They are highly intelligent because of this. They come in shades of black and grey, including merle, and may have white markings. Interestingly enough, despite the presence of the merle gene, completely blue eyes and a lack of pigment to the lips, nose, or eye rims are either very undesirable or disqualifications in a show setting.

The breed nearly became extinct after World War II when there was not as much of a need for wool, but was saved from "mongrelizing" of the face of the earth by a single Italian breeder. Though the breed is, overall, rather healthy, there is a significant incidence of bloat, hip dysplasia, and eye problems.


Image is from Wikimedia Commons under a creative commons license. Sources are Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America and Embrace Pet Insurance Pet Health Center.

Unusual Breed: Fila Brasileiro

It's been longer than I thought since my last Unusual Breed post.

A female Fila Brasileiro

The Fila Brasileiro or Brazilian mastiff is an unusual dog in the fact that it is bred for extreme distrust and aggression toward strangers. So much so, that a Brazilian proverb is "Faithful as a Fila dog." It is a guardian breed and is prized for its ferocity. Videos are very easy to find of these dogs showing their aggression toward people, which is encouraged. In fact, for a dog to receive its championship the Fila Brasileiro Association requires the dog to pass a temperament test that includes the following, which is a direct excerpt from the standard:

• Attack with a stick. The dog is supposed to attack in front of the handler, without being coached, and the exhibitor or handler will remain in his position. It is forbidden to touch or to beat the animal.
• Shooting test. There will be blanks fired at a distance of five meters from the dog. The dog should express attention, show self-confidence and self-assurance.
• During all performances in the ring, the judge will analyze the behavior and temperament of the entrant, paying attention to his expression. During the temperament test the following should be observed:
• The dislike of the animal to strangers.
• The self-assurance, courage, determination, and braveness of each dog. 

Needless to say, this is not the dog for everyone. Because of selection for this sort of behavior, these dogs are illegal in several countries, including the United Kingdom. I am against Breed Specific Legislation, but in the wrong hands a Fila could be extremely dangerous. Even though they are loving to their family, it is probably not the best idea to take a Fila for an unmuzzled walk around town or to let them run free because they could be a danger to people, especially those not familiar with the distrusting nature of the breed. They are brilliant at what they were bred for, so if someone is in need of protection for whatever reason the Fila would be a good choice.

The Fila is accepted by the FCI and NZKC. They are prone to some serious health problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia, luxating patellas, bloat, osteochondritis (a cartilage issue), and panosteitis (a bone issue in young, large breed dogs) and often have very short lifespans.

Image is copyright free from Wikimedia Commons.

Unusual Breed: Pražský Krysařík

A typical black and tan Pražský Krysařík

Also known as the Prague ratter, it is said that it could be the smallest breed in the world. Though the record smallest dog is a Chihuahua, as a breed the Chihuahua can be fairly large. So, as Irish wolfhounds are the largest breed but the record is held by a great Dane, it is possible this claim could be true. The breed was developed in the Czech Republic and is currently not accepted by any major breed registry.

This tiny breed was bred to be non-utilitarian. Due to this, the name "Prague ratter" is probably not in reference to the dog's abilities in killing rats. It is usually seen in a smooth coated black and tan, but red or other differently colored dogs and dogs with longer fur are sometimes seen. It is rarely seen outside of Prague. They are very delicate with thin leg bones that are prone to being broken. I am unsure of other health problems in the breed, but patellar luxation is mention on the Pražský Krysařík Club of Czech Republic website.

Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain much information on this breed in English. Because of this, my main source for material was Dr. Bruce Fogle's The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. According to this book, the Prague ratter is characterized as follows:

Height: 6-9 inches (16-22 cm)
Weight: 2-6 pounds (1-3 kg)

Here is the standard from the Pražský Krysařík Club of Czech Republic.

Image is from Wikimedia Commons under a creative commons license.

Unusual Breed: Lundehund

The Lundehund

The Lundehund is a Norwegian breed also known as the "puffin dog," with descriptions dating back as far as the 1500s. They were used by poor farmers to collect the bright-beaked birds which provided them with vital meat, especially in years when crops failed. They can be termed unusual in many ways: both due to their obscurity and their unique features. They are known for having extra toes on their feet: six or more total per paw. This was to help them grip while they went collecting puffins on rocky cliffs. They are also unusually flexible and their ears can close to protect them from dripping water.

Six toes on each paw: four + double dewclaws

When the puffin became a protected species, the breed's popularity dropped. It became nearly extinct before some concerned Norwegians saved it after World War II. Only five dogs remained. Today, it is a companion and is loved by its native Norway, though numbers still remain rather low.

They are accepted by the FCI, UKC, and recently the AKC. According to the AKC, the Lundehund is characterized as follows:

Size: 12-15 inches
Color: red sable and white or white and red sable, the red varying in shade
Temperament: protective, loyal, alert, energetic. Wary of strangers but not aggressive

Images are from Flickr.com on a Creative Commons license: one, two

Unusual Breed: Ca de Bestiar

Also known as the Ca de Bestiar Mallorca, Perro de Pastor Mallorquin, Mallorquin Shepherd, and Majorca Shepherd Dog. This breed first caught my attention after I purchased a copy of Dr. Bruce Fogle's The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. They look rather remarkably like black field-bred Labrador Retrievers, but they are indeed exceptionally different when it comes to behavior.

The breed is Spanish in origin, coming from the Balearic Islands. It is a herding and guardian breed, and was bred for function rather than looks. The ancestry is of unknown dogs from the European mainland. They are black in color, but do quite well in hot climates. They are bold, tenacious, independent dogs and are described as "uncomplicated, unsophisticated, and utilitarian." Their popularity has been spreading to other parts of the world, including South America where it is used as a guardian dog. There is also some effort to used it to protect sheep ranches from coyotes in North America.

It is accepted by the FCI and UKC, though the FCI standard is currently unavailable in English. According to the UKC, the breed is characterized as follows:

Height: 22-24 inches
Weight: 77-88 pounds
Coat: short
Color: black
Overall, the standard appears to be a very loose.

Here's a video of one of these dogs herding. I can't get over how much they look like my Ebon.

Image is copyright free from Wikimedia Commons. 

Unusual Breed: Barbet

A black Barbet. I believe this dog is in France

The Barbet is a French water dog that is the ancestor of the poodle, or at least one of the ancestors. According to some sources, the two breeds were refered to as the same dog for a number of years. It is a very old breed, its first written mention being in 1387. The name "Barbet" comes from the French word for beard, which is clearly appropriate! It is a rarely heard of breed, and at last count there were only around 60 in the United States. The breed comes in multiple colors, but is most often seen in black or liver.

Black and liver Barbet pair in Poland

The breed is fairly versatile: able to hunt, retrieve, point (though possibly not so well), and even work in aiding sailors (something which made the Portugese water dog famous). It is an ancestor to numerous other breeds, including the aforementioned poodle, Newfoundland, and the griffons. It nearly became extinct after World War I, but since then its numbers have grown. However, its popularity pales in comparison to its historical numbers.

The breed is accepted by the FCI, CKC, UKC, and the AKC FSS. According to the FCI, the breed is characterized as follows:

Height: 53-65 cm, the females being smaller than males
Color: black, brown, fawn, or grey with or without white markings up to and including piebald. All shades of fawn are allowed. Also, solid white. 
Behaviour: even-tempered, social, water-loving, and attached to its master
Faults: numerous. I'll let you read them for yourself if you are curious. 

For fun, here's a Barbet lure coursing: 

First Image is copyright-free, second is under a Creative Commons license and is property of Pleple2000, both are from Wikimedia Commons

Unusual Breed: Carolina Dog

 Two Carolina dogs

The Carolina dog is red feral-looking breed with upright ears, and long straight or slightly curved tails. They were discovered roaming free in the area of South Carolina and Georgia some time ago, and in subsequent years were captured so that they could be studied. They are classified as a pariah dog (a group that includes the dingo, New Guinea Singing Dog, Canaan dog, Basenji, and many more), due to their "primitive" behavior, and are believed to have become what they are today after decades or possibly centuries of roaming free through the swamps and forests of the South. In appearance, they do rather strikingly resemble the more famous Australian dingo. This is why the breed has the nicknames that it does: American dingo, Dixie dingo, Southern aboriginal dog, and so on. A captive breeding program has been in effect for the last thirty years. Now, these dogs make good pets.

The Carolina dog is considered a rare breed. They are not accepted by the AKC, and not even the AKC Foundation Stock Service.  It is not one that very many people know of, though their popularity is quickly expanding. One rather intriguing aspect to this is the growing number of pet Carolina dogs in the area of South Carolina and Georgia, where I live. I have a neighbor that owns one. They are not an uncommon sight, and in fact it is not that unusual to find one or two of them in local shelters.  Dogs believed to be Carolina dog mixes are also rather common. Due to this fact, a very large portion of residents are familiar with the breed's appearance if not their name. Even though it is a rare breed, it's likely locals would say otherwise.

The breed in accepted by the ARBA and UKC, among others, and there is an effort being made to get them into the AKC FSS. According to the UKC, the breed is characterized as follows: 

Height: 17¾ to 19 5/8 inches (45 to 50 cm)

Weight: 30 to 44 pounds (15 to 20 kg)

Color: deep red is preferred, but all shades of red are acceptable. Black and tan, piebald, and saddle markings are allowed but not preferred. 

Faults: long, wavy, broken, or curly coats; liver, Dudley, or butterfly noses are minor faults; undershot or overshot bite, short or throaty neck, a twisting or curling tail or one held over the back are serious faults

Disqualifications: Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid (the nice way of saying missing testes). Viciousness or extreme shyness. Solid white coat color. Albinism.

Images used are copyright-free from Wikimedia Commons