Unusual Breed: Kooikerhondje

This small breed is also known by such names as the Dutch decoy dog.

Though the original Kooiker was a rather old breed, the current version only dates back to the 1940's. Before then, the breed was seen in the work of some very famous Dutch painters. After World War II it was basically gone and the Baroness Van Hardenbroek van Ammerstol began work to recreate the breed. She hunted down dogs that looked similar to the breed she remembered, and these became the foundation for the modern Kooikerhondje.

A typical Kooiker face

Whether new or old, these small dogs have been used as duck decoys. Supposedly, their plumed tails act as a lure to draw the ducks into nets, where they are then trapped. The method is actually rather complicated, and required the use of special traps that needed a lot of upkeep. Since the tail is given an important status, emphasis is placed on its plumed appearance. The breed has also been used to hunt pest species outside of duck season.

These dogs are rather small, measuring fifteen to sixteen inches tall. Their feathered coat is reminiscent of certain spaniels. The breed only comes in one color variation: red piebald with black hairs on the ears. The preferred facial markings are also clearly defined: a white stripe down the face with prominent red on the cheeks.

Though once a prominent working breed, the Kooiker is now primarily a companion.

Sources are the American Kennel Club, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, and Kooikerhondje Club of the USA. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Český Fousek

This breed is also known as the Bohemian Wire-haired Pointing Griffon

As the name implies, this is a breed hailing from the Czech Republic, which was once Czechoslovakia. The breed was once a very popular working dog in its country of origin, but in the aftermath of World War I the breed nearly died out. The breed began recovering, but World War II only made things worse. The breed was later "regenerated," using stock that fit with what the breed was supposed to look like, mixing with pointers from Germany. The breed is once again a popular hunting companion in Slovakia and, of course, the Czech Republic.

"Fousek" refers to the beard

Exact breed history is arguable, with some claiming the breed dates back to the 1400's. However, though there are references to local dogs of the era, there aren't any specifics and it's very possible that the dog was very different from the Český fousek of today. The first reference that can be confirmed only dates back to 1883, so it's difficult to say when exactly the current type began to appear.

The Český fousek is an all around working dog, able to track, point and retrieve over land and in water. They have a high working drive, and the breed's trainability is one major reason why they are so popular in the Czech Republic. They are also gentle and social, making them rather good family dogs.

The coat is wiry and the color is liver, with or without roan, including dogs that are mostly roan. In appearance, there is at least some resemblance to the other liver roan pointing breeds, such as the German wirehaired pointer, wirehaired pointing griffon, and Stichelhaar. Due to the breed's versatility, it is beginning to become more popular outside of its native country.

Sources are the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Pointing Dog Blog, Klub chovatelů českých fousků, and Venaticus Major. Google translate used for pages not in English. Images are from Wikimedia Commons or Flickr.com under Creative Commons licenses: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Jämthund

The Jämthund is also known as the Swedish Elkhound

Today's unusual breed is actually quite popular in its native Sweden: the Jämthund. Currently, it's really unusual to find the breed in such countries as the United States. This breed and the Norwegian Elkhound were apparently once considered to be one and the same and were shown together. The FCI has considered them to be separate breeds since 1941, with the standards calling for the Jämthund to be significantly larger. Hunting needs required a larger, more powerful dog as Jämthunds were expected to not just hunt elk, but to do such things as take on a bear.

Standards for the Jämthund seem to emphasize a strong, sturdy, capable dog. Interestingly enough, there are a number of marked points that now differentiate this breed from the Norwegian Elkhound, including such things as tail curl and some notes on facial structure. Temperament calls for an energetic dog that is courageous and capable, but also very calm. There is a strict color standard, allowing only one color with specifics to where the pale markings on the dog must be, and also what they look like. Some of the traits deemed unfavorable are also interesting, such as not fitting the aforementioned color standard and having anything other than a loosely curled tail with fur that's rather profuse. The really is a lot of mention of coat markings and the tail.

As for health in this breed, I have found evidence of hip dysplasia, thyroid issues, renal issues, cysts, and progressive retinal atrophy.

Sources are Fédération Cynologique Internationale, United Kennel Club, PubMed, MyPets, and Svenska Jämthundklubben. Image is from Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons license.

Unusual Breed: Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

The Australian stumpy tail cattle dog is also known as the stumpy tail cattle dog, stumpy tail, and stumpy

The Australian stumpy tail cattle dog looks quite a bit like the Australian cattle dog, and the two breeds do share some history. The origins of both breeds are believed to started with crosses between collies and other herding dogs with the dingo. However, there are some notable differences between the two breeds. The stumpy is significantly lighter in build and has longer legs when compared to the Aussie. Though the two breeds come in basically the same two colors (red and blue), blue stumpies cannot have tan points, while blue Aussies must have tan points. Stumpies are also natural bobtails and, as is so often the case with bobtails, puppies with tails are born regularly. However, docking of tails appears to not be allowed by the standard, and thus only the dogs born with a bobtail can be shown. Some standards only imply this, but others state outright that docking will cause a dog to be eliminated from the show right.

Stumpies are medium in size, ranging between seventeen and twenty inches in height. The breed is what you would expect from a herding breed: active and intelligent. Aiming to please, they learn quickly. They also tend to be wary with strangers and quite loyal to their owners. However, aggression isn't allowed as, according to the standard, the dogs must be able to be examined by a judge. As for the breed's health, a number of issues can occur. These include deafness, elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and hip dysplasia.

I do find it quite interesting that the blue coloration seen in this breed has been attributed to early breeding to merle collies, when the "blue" in the stumpy and the "blue" that is merle have completely different genes that cause them. 

Sources are the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, United Kennel Club, Australian National Kennel Council Ltd, Canada's Guide to Dogs, and Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog Club of NSW Inc. Image is from Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons license.

Unusual Breed: Bavarian Mountain Hound

This breed is also known as the Bayerischer Gebirgsschweißhund, also spelled Bayerischer Gebirgsschweisshund

A Bavarian mountain hound

The Bavarian mountain hound is a breed originating in Germany. The breed is still rarely seen outside of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and, of course, its native Germany. In these countries, they are most often seen working with game wardens and foresters. They are commonly used for blood tracking, where wounded game that has run off will be tracked down and retrieved. It appears the majority of the members of this breed are bred to track and are working dogs.

The breed dates back to the mid-1800s. Before then, there was a more general landrace-type "bracken" that eventually led to breeds such as the Hanoverian hound and, of course, the Bavarian mountain hound. The BMH began forming into its present form when a preference came for a smaller, lighter hound than the significantly larger Hanoverian. This preference came after the predominant method of hunting changed.

In appearance, the breed is medium-large in size averaging twenty inches tall and between fifty-five and seventy-seven pounds. Bitches are usually significantly smaller than dogs. The predominant color is masked red, with or without brindle stripes.

I couldn't find much information on the breed, however they do appear to be rather healthy. The major issues are ear infections and "happy tail," with entropion, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy appearing on occasion.


Sources are the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, Bavarian Mountain Hound Society of Great Britain, Hillock Kennels, and Dr. Bruce Fogle's The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Lacy Game Dog

The Lacy Game dog is also known as the blue Lacy, red Lacy, Lacy dog, Lacy hog dog, and Texas Lacy game dog. Though commonly called the blue Lacy, this is a bit of a misnomer as not all Lacys are solid blue. Tricolor and red dogs are also seen.

A red Lacy puppy

Today's unusual breed is a fairly obscure one, despite being the state dog of Texas. The term "Lacy" comes from the Lacy brothers, who first began the development of this cur-type breed. Since the breed can be considered a type of cur, there is a lot of variation in its type. For example, according to the Texas legislature, the breed is eighteen to twenty-five inches tall and between thirty and fifty pounds. Sources are conflicting as to what exactly went into making the Lacy. Scenthound, greyhound, English shepherd, coyote, and wolf are all mentioned when the breed's history is discussed. No matter what the ancestry, they were bred to be tough working dogs. An all around breed, these dogs were used for such purposes as herding, tracking, working trapping lines, and hunting hogs. There is a major emphasis on working ability among those that breed these dogs.

This blue Lacy is a working hog dog

Perhaps the most well-known use of this breed is in hog hunting. Wild boar are a major nuisance animal that frequently destroy crops. This invasive species has to be gotten rid of in some way, but their intelligence can make them near impossible to trap. So, hunting has become the best way to handle a growing problem. For a hog hunter, dogs can be an indispensable tool. One major advantage to using dogs is that they can track down the elusive hogs. However, this isn't an animal that can be easily treed or cornered until the hunter arrives. Hogs can be incredibly aggressive, which could spell death for a dog with the wrong temperament. A hog dog has to be tough enough and smart enough to find the hog and then keep it busy without winding up injured. Frequently, hog dogs will wear protection in the form of reinforced collars to help prevent them from being gored. Lacys may also work with other breeds while hunting hog, including pit bulls, American bulldogs, Catahoulas, and other breeds of similar type.

Lacy game dogs are not for everyone, and the best homes would be with someone who will work the dog regularly. They require a great amount of exercise and mental stimulation, and the easiest way to satisfy both of these is by giving the dog a challenging job to do. Generally, these dogs are not suggested for owners who don't already have a job for the dog to do. They also don't make first-time dogs, so it's best to already have experience with dogs before bringing a Lacy home. This is also not a good dog for an urban environment, as they need room to run.

The Lacy game dog is not currently registered with any of the major kennel clubs, but several smaller registries, including a number of breed-specific ones, accept them. Some groups are working towards the breed's acceptance into such registries as the AKC.

This breed is a rather healthy one due to the need for soundness in a working breed, though I did find evidence of color dilution alopecia and skin allergies sometimes popping up.

Sources are the National Lacy Dog Association, Lacy Game Dog Registry, Texas Lacy Game Dog Association, True Blue Lacys, and Net State. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses: one, two, three.

Unusual Breed: Kromfohrländer

A Kromfohrländer in one of the two acceptable coat types: rough.

This breed originated in Germany through crossing of the wire fox terrier and grand griffon vendeen, with perhaps a bit more thrown in the mix. It's a fairly modern breed, with its status as a unique breed only being recognized in 1955. The breed comes in two acceptable coat types: rough and smooth. The differences are purely texture-based, with rough being wiry and smooth being soft, as the length of the coat can vary. Coat color does not have a lot of variety with the only acceptable pattern being white with red patches. In appearance, this breed is often compared to a wire haired Parson Russell or Jack Russell terrier. It is medium sized, ranging in height from fifteen to eighteen inches and weighing between twenty and thirty-five pounds.

A smooth Kromfohrländer

Since the breed is fairly obscure, it's obvious why it could be confused with a mixed breed or maybe even a "designer breed" by those who are not familiar with it. The breed is rarely seen outside of its native Germany, and it's even more uncommon to find it outside of Europe. The registries that do accept this breed disagree as to where it should be placed. While the UKC places the breed in with the terriers, the FCI has placed it in with the toy and companion breeds. It's even been given its own section in the group (Group 9 Section 10), which is fairly unusual for the registry. Both placements do seem to be fitting. Though there has clearly been terrier influence on the breed, it was originally bred for companionship. As such, it's known for having a good temperament. Adaptability and high spirited-ness are also traits that are considered key traits of the breed.

The major health concern in the Kromfohrländer is stifle-joint disease, which is inherited. Other conditions are also sometimes seen, namely epilepsy and cataracts.

Sources are the United Kennel Club, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, Finnish Breed Association for Kromfohrländer, and Complete Dogs Guide. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Mudi

A blue merle mudi, one of the many colors the breed comes in.

A yellow mudi

The mudi is a herding breed that originated in Hungary, and as such the pluralization of mudi in the language of their country of origin is mudik. The breed comes in quite a few colors: white, yellow, black, brown, gray, and graybrown (fawn) as well as merle in combination with any of the last four colors. The most common color is black. There are also more than a few non-standard colors that are sometimes seen. The actual names of the colors varies by registry. While the AMA gives the names above, the FCI uses quite different designations. Mudis can be born with a partial or complete bobtails, which, though rare, are not considered faults.

The origin of the breed is believed to come from the mixing of native Hungarian dogs and German herding breeds with pricked ears. The breed was found as a shepherd's dog living in Hungary rather than being specifically created from these stocks. There is some dispute as to the age of this breed and the other Hungarians: the puli and the pumi. The breeds appear to be more closely related than many want to believe, with dogs that look more like the mudi being born every once in a while into litters of the other two breeds. As with so many breeds, the mudi nearly died out during World War II. During the 1960s, the remaining dogs were bred from to create the breed as it is known today.

Health issues seen in the breed are rather varied and include hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, elbow dysplasia, skin problems, albinism, wheat allergies, cataracts, and epilepsy. It seems that epilepsy is of greatest concern.

Sources are the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, American Kennel Club, and American Mudi Association. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Dunker

A Dunker in one of the two acceptable colors.

The Dunker is not a very well known breed outside of its native Norway. It is, perhaps, the only breed of hound that comes in merle. Also unique is the fact that this breed is saddled merle rather than tan pointed or solid. This is also quite unusual. The breed is one of the numerous medium-sized hound breeds found in the world, but one of only a few that come from Norway. It comes in two colors: black saddled tan and marbled (merle) saddled tan, both with white markings. A mask is apparently allowed, but not as accepted as a lack of a mask. In addition, a dog with white crossing into the saddle is also penalized, and a dog more than half white is to be disqualified from showing.

The breed is meant to be somewhat heavily built, durable, and should have endurance. The standard seems to emphasize characteristics required for a successful working hound, including such traits as a muscular build, "wide nostrils," and a hard coat covering durable skin. The breed should be good-natured, with aggressiveness being the only other trait that can disqualify a dog.

The only health information that I could find on the breed is that it can sometimes have hip dysplasia. 

Sources are the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, Pet Health & Care, and Dr. Bruce Fogle's The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Image is from Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons license.

Unusual Breed: Russkiy Toy

A long haired Russkiy toy. The breed is also known as the Russian toy and Russian toy terrier, among other things.

Smooth coated Russkiy toy

At first glance, this breed looks a bit like a cross between a Chihuahua and a papillon. However, the breed comes from Russia and in fact the ancestry is quite different. The history is a bit convoluted, but is is believe that the breed, at least in part, came from the English toy terrier. Mixing between the English toy terriers and local dogs were the origins of what would some day become the Russkiy toy. As you can imagine, with the English toy terrier being the breed's most notable ancestor, Russkiy toys were originally only smooth coated. The long haired variety is fairly recent, with the first long-coated dogs being born in the late 1950's.

Russkiy toys have nearly become extinct on two different occasions. This breed was once popular among the Russian aristocracy, being used for various reasons, including warmth and companionship. When communism began to rise, the breed's popularity plummeted along with the popularity of aristocrats. There was a resurgence of interest in the breed around the end of the world war, partly due to the isolation of Russia from the rest of the world. Then the Iron Curtain fell, popularity dropped off again partly due to the new importation of small foreign breeds. In more recent years, the breed's popularity has been growing again. It is now provisionally recognized by the FCI and the AKC has the breed in its Foundation Stock Service.

These small dogs are prone to virtually all of the issues common in toy breeds, with the most common being patellar luxation, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy. Also, since these dogs are so small, they are at an increased risk of breaking bones. This is especially true of legs when jumping and roughhousing.

Sources are the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, American Kennel Club, Russian Toy Club of America and Russkiy Toy Dog Club of America. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Beauceron

Two uncropped Beaucerons: one in each of their accepted colors: harlequin (merle) and black and tan

A cropped show Beauceron in Poland

The Beauceron is a breed originating in France that was originally bred for its ability to herd sheep and selection was based only on this ability. It is thought that the Briard and the Beauceron originated from the same stock, but were split into separate types according to their coat length some time ago. It is rather large in size, with a harsh coat and ears that may be cropped or left natural. The breed is also known for the double dewclaws that appear on the back legs. The breed is believed to have possibly been one of the breeds that went into the creation of the Doberman pinscher. Today, the two breeds are often confused by those who are not familiar with the beauceron thanks to the similar size, temperament, and frequently cropped ears. Despite this, the breeds are easily distinguished from one another.

Today, the beauceron is commonly used in the same way that German shepherds are: as a rather utilitarian breed that can do search and rescue, police work, canine sports, and act as a service dog. Temperament-wise, the breeds is supposed to be fearless, yet gentle. Though it is popular in France, the breed is unusual in other parts of the world. Other names for the breed include Beauce dog, Beauce Sheepdog, Berger de Beauce, and Red-Stocking. The latter comes from the red that is seen on the breeds' lower legs. Though the usual colors are black and tan or herlequin, other colors were once also rather common, such as solid tan and solid black.

The biggest health issue in the  breed is hip dysplasia, but many other conditions are also common enough  to be of note. Other joint issues, bloat, eye problems, cancer, and numerous other health issues are known to occur in the breed.

Sources are the American Beauceron Club, About Beaucerons, Your Purebred Puppy, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, and the American Kennel Club. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under a Creative commons license or are copyright free: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Porcelaine

Two Porcelaine dogs in Poland. This breed is also known as the Chien de France-Comté

The Porcelaine is one of the remarkably numerous French hound breeds. It is classified as being a medium-sized hound breed and is meant to hunt smaller game. I find it intriguing that the FCI standard actually includes a statement that the general appearance of the dog is "very French looking." Other interesting points follow, such as the requirement of a "sweet" expression, the movement being "lively and gay," a descriptor of a tail hair fault being "like ears of grain," and the reference to the characteristics of the ears by using the term "leathers" but never referring to them as ears. Some characteristics of the hound are meant to be quite distinctive, such as a mostly white coat meant to resemble porcelain, thus the origin of the name. The skin is meant to be speckled, and the ears should be ticked. Dogs range in height from twenty-one to twenty-three inches and in weight from fifty-five to sixty-two pounds.

Once a popular pack hunting dog, the breed's popularity dropped after the revolution of 1789. In fact, it is thought that the breed may have even died out in France. Swiss breeders either restored or re-created the breed, using the last of the dogs originally of this type and mixing in other hounds from Switzerland. Today, the breed is not common and it is mostly restricted to the countries of Switzerland and France. The Porcelaine is thought to be a partial ancestor to the American hounds. I wasn't able to find any information on the breed's health beyond a statement on Wikipedia that proclaims that it is prone to "general dog issues." I suspect this means such common conditions as hip dysplasia are seen.

Sources are the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and Dr. Bruce Fogle's The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Image is from Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons license.

Unusual Breed: Alaskan Klee Kai

This breed is basically a small husky

The Alaskan Klee Kai (or AKK) is a more recently created breed of dog. It began in the 1970s with a single bitch who had been the product of a breeding between an Alaskan husky and a small dog of some sort. She looked like a husky in perfect miniature, and everyone thought it was adorable, so the owner, Linda S. Spurlin decided to create a new breed replicating the first. After some rather harsh selective breeding based on the mantra of "breed the best, cull the rest," the Klee Kai was born. 

Size comparison to a Siberian husky

Alaskan Klee Kais come in three size varieties, several coat types, and multiple colors. They also have the same high incidence of blue eyes that is seen in huskies. The standard is really quite strict, and that probably ties into the harsh breeding practices used in the breed's creation. For example, a long coat is a disqualification, as is the color white, asymetrical markings, and having an uncurled tail. The absence of a mask is also a disqualification, which is ironic because the acceptable dogs have light faces and the usual mask produces a dark face (which is the "unacceptable lack of mask" in the AKK). The breed is still not a very common one, though its popularity has been spreading since it was made available to the public in 1988. The biggest registry that accepts it is currently the United Kennel Club.  

Health-wise, the AKK is prone to a wide variety of ailments including patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, liver issues, heart murmurs, cleft palate, an open fontanel (i.e. soft spot on the head), and retained baby teeth, among many other things.  

Sources are Linda S. Spurlin, the Alaskan Klee Kai Association of America, United Kennel Club, and a breeder. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons license or are copyright free: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Pudelpointer

A black male Pudelpointer

A "dead leaf" Pudelpointer pointing

This German breed was originally derived from, as you may have guessed from the name, the poodle and numerous pointer breeds. Seven poodles were used, as well as almost one hundred of the pointers, to create a fairly utilitarian breed that could track, retrieve, and, of course, point. Though it is quite good ad what it was breed for, it has never been a popular breed. Generally, only people who are serious about hunting will own one.

According to standards, the breed should be heavily built and be "dead leaf," brown, or black in color. The coat should be medium-length and rough and is meant to be good protection against the elements. Most of the faults appear to be those that may impede the ability of the dog to work.

In North America, there are stringent standards set forth by the North American Pudelpointer Alliance in order for Pudelpointers to be bred. This includes the dog being healthy, including being free of such abnormalities as hip dysplasia, and be of good temperament. The males must have a working Utility Title, and females must be able to perform the work the breed was intended for. Despite this, hip dysplasia and skin allergies can be of concern in the breed.

Sources are Fédération Cynologique Internationale, North American Pudelpointer Alliance, and Dr. Bruce Fogle's The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under creative commons licenses: one, two.

Unusual Breed: Appenzeller Sennenhund

An Appenzeller Sennenhund in Poland. It is also known as the Appenzeller mountain dog and Appenzell cattle dog.

A "Havannah brown" Appenzeller

This breed is one of the four Swiss breeds known as Sennenhunde. The other three are the greater Swiss mountain dog (Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund), Bernese mountain dog (Berner Sennenhund), and Entlebuch cattle dog (Entlebucher Sennenhund). All four of the breeds are characterized by a distinctive tricolor appearance with fairly moderate white markings. However, occasionally other colorings are seen. The Appenzeller, for instance, also comes in a "Havannah brown" tricolor, with a liver base instead of black. It is the only one of the four breeds with a curled tail, and it is also medium in size, with a desired height of 50-56 cm.

The Appenzeller Sennenhund originally comes from what is believed to be either a cross of local herding dogs and Roman mastiff-types or from native stock that predated more modern dog breeds. It was not bred for type, but instead for their abilities to herd, act as livestock guardians, and also as watchdogs. The dogs were meant to be very utilitarian, and had to be fast and alert, and able to do their work well on small portions of food. Selective breeding using the herding dogs in the region of Appenzell really began after 1914, when the first breed standard was written. This is when the dogs that would become the Appenzeller Sennenhund were isolated from the other Swiss dogs, and the many-colored, high-pitched barker began to become what the breed is today.

An Appenzeller puppy

Overall, the breed is fairly health, with hip dysplasia being the biggest issue in the breed. They can also have epilepsy, thyroid or eye issues, and are prone to bloat. A more commonly quoted problem with the breed is personality problems coming from a lack of exercise or training. They can become obsessive barkers, probably partly due to the fact that barking was a trait selected for in the past.

Sources are the Appenzeller Sennenhund Club, American Kennel Club, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, and the Appenzeller Sennenhund: Home of the Swiss Alps dog breed. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under creative commons licenses: one, two, three.

Unusual Breed: Austrian Pinscher

This breed is also known as the Österreichischer Pinscher, and formerly the Österreichischer kurzhaariger Pinscher .

This breed is one that is rarely heard about in the United States, and is indeed not often seen outside of Austria. It is derived from what was used as a farmer's dog in Austria and has only been bred as a "purebred" since 1921. They were used for such purposes as livestock drivers and as guardians, which they are quite adept at. Since it was breed to be a working dog, companionship was not a priority in selection, and as such they are known to be biters. They are usually very good with people that they are familiar with, however.

The Austrian Pinscher is more heavily built than the better-known German Pinscher, which is of a similar height, and it is described as being lively, bright, and devoted. In size, the breed is approximately 16 to 20 inches and 26 to 40 pounds. They are most often seen in some form of red, but also come in black and tan, with or without white markings.

There is little information I could find on the breed's health, but they appear to sometimes have hip dysplasia and can be prone to a hereditary heart condition.

Sources are the United Kennel Club, Fédération Cynologique Internationale, and Dr. Bruce Fogle's The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Image is from Wikimedia Commons and is under a creative commons license.

Unusual Breed: Azawakh

A female Azawakh

One of my top five favorite breeds, the Azawakh is one of the few breeds that originates in Africa, specifically from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The breed's name comes from the Azawakh valley, and it was first exported in the 1970s. Its first appearance in the United States was in the 1980's. It is a sighthound that can be fiercely loyal to its people. They can also be quite independent, which has made many remark at how unusual this combination of characters is. They can be hesitant or possibly even aggressive toward strangers. In contrast, they can be very loving and affectionate to those they accept. They have very strong hunting instincts, and anybody who wishes to own one of these dogs must be aware of that. They may do fine with children, but interactions should be approached with caution. It is also questionable whether an Azawakh will be able to live with such things as cats and small dogs. As so often is the case, it depends on the dog and on socialization.

The Azawakh is very leanly built, appearing "rangy." They are usually taller than they are long, and as such often appear to be all legs. They are intolerant of the cold, but handle the heat quite well. They require exercise and without it, like most sighthounds, can become destructive as they will look for ways to entertain themselves. Unlike most sighthounds, this breed can actually be rather reliable off-lead as long as they are trained properly.

The FCI says this dog is the "wrong" color

There is currently much controversy surrounding the acceptance of color in this breed in the Western registries. Some standards, most notably the FCI, accepts only a quite narrow range of color, whereas in Africa these dogs actually come in numerous colors and patterns. Despite this, the FCI only accepts shades of red with certain amounts of white, with or without black brindling or a black mask. I take the view of many Azawakh fanciers, and indeed many breed standards: the breed should be preserved as it appears in its area of origin.

Overall, though fairly healthy, the Azawakh is prone to sensitivity to certain anesthesia and their blood-work may appear odd to the uninitiated veterinarian. Bloat is a concern, as in all deep-chested breeds. Seizures, Wobbler's syndrome, and cystinuria (a kidney issue) sometimes occur. Hip dysplasia is not a problem.

Sources are the AAA, the AKC, tombouktous-azawakhs.de, Vet Street, and the FCI. Images are from Wikimedia Commons and are under a creative commons license or are copyright free: one, two

Unusual Breed: Xoloitzcuintle

Two Xolos, one hairless and one coated.

The Xolo, or Mexican hairless, is one of several hairless dog breeds. So, how do you pronounce the only breed name that begins with an "X?" It's pronounced "show-low-eets-queen-tlee" and the name is derived from the ancient Aztec language. Like all hairless breeds, there is a coated variety. Because of the nature of the hairless gene, coated Xolos can be born in any litter born from two hairless dogs. It comes in three sizes: Toy, Miniature, and Standard. It is a rather healthy breed, but is prone to issues that are very unusual in dogs, such as acne.

The three sizes

The FCI recognizes the Xolo as a pariah or primitive breed, a group which also includes the basenji, Canaan dog, pharaoh hound, and Thai ridgeback dog. As such, they have a particular temperament that can make them a bit difficult to train. It is likely that the Xolo was the first American breed, with evidence pointing toward them crossing the Bering Straight land bridge along with humans.

In Mexico, these dogs were used to treat numerous ailments, acting as living hot water bottles because of their warm skin. In certain areas, the dogs still serve this exact purpose. They were also used as guardians, and sometimes sacrificed on the death of their owner in the belief that they would guide the soul to the afterlife. They were also eaten, considered a delicacy before the arrival of the Spanish.

The Xoloitzcuintle was featured in a rather amusing spot on Animal Plant's Dog's 101.

Sources are the AKC and FCI breed standards and Vet Street. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under creative common licenses: one, two

Unusual Breed: Thai Ridgeback

A Thai ridgeback in red

A "violin" ridge

This is one of a small number of dog breeds that have ridges of hair growing in the opposite direction along their backs. It comes in several colors and the ridge can vary greatly in size and shape. Unlike the Rhodesian ridgeback, which has only one accepted ridge shape, the Thai has eight, including "needle," "arrow," and "lute" among others.As the name suggests, they are native to Thailand and they are considered to be one of the primitive breeds, often called pariahs.

The breed has been used for such things as hunting and as watch dogs and even as carting dogs. They are known for being capable of killing cobras. Their temperament is typical of the pariah breeds, and reminds me very much of the basenji in the descriptions of its character.

A blue Thai

Thai ridgebacks are very active dogs with strong hunting instincts. They are very intelligent, independent thinkers and can be very challenging to train. Often destructive when young, they need exercise and are best behaved when kept active. They generally hate being bathed but they are also quite clean dogs, so baths are probably not often needed. They are sensitive to the cold and do very well in the heat. Though they are generally very quiet, but make good guard dogs. They can be very territorial around strangers. Tenacious in character, they will hunt anything small and are most likely not the sort of dog to have around cats.

As mentioned on Dogs 101 on Animal Planet, there are few outside of their native Thailand and, though mostly a very healthy breed, they are prone to dermoid sinus.  

Main source is the Association of Thai Ridgeback Owners & Fanciers. Images are from Wikimedia Commons under creative commons incenses: one, two, three.

Unusual Breed: Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog

Forgot to post yesterday, so today will be a double post day. I said I'd come back to these guys.

An Alapaha (A-lap´a-ha) blue-blood bulldog

This is an interesting breed, being what I believe to be the only purebred bulldog that comes in merle, as in the dog above. It has been described as "American as apple pie." The author of the Retrieverman blog once mentioned to me that it would make much more sense if the mascot for the University of Georgia was an Alapaha rather than an English bulldog. I have to agree. The Alapaha name is a name heavily associated with the state.

A non-merle

The breed's origins are muddled, but are believed to begin with pockets of dogs in the south such as what were called the old southern white, mountain bulldog, and old country bulldog. Crosses with local curs resulted in the beginnings of what eventually became the modern Alapaha. The dogs were used by various people for a variety of purposes, including hunting and catching wayward cattle. The breed was at risk of extinction until a group of people set out to revive this "Ol' Tymey PlantationBulldog." In the past, the breed has gone through numerous names, including Otto and Catahoula bull (a name now given to crosses between Catahoula leopard dogs and Alapaha blue-blood bulldogs).

The Alapaha blue-blood bulldog is easy to train and a good family dog. It is described as "functional and unexaggerated," which is quite true when compared to numerous other bulldog breeds. They should be fearless without aggression and powerful but not bulky. It is smaller than the American bulldog, but nowhere near as small as the English bulldog. It is not prone to the breeding problems than are so common in the English bulldog. Overall, the breed is meant to be very functional, and many of them are still used for such purposes as protection and as catch-dogs for hunting hogs. However, type can vary greatly depending on what the dogs are being bred for.

The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog Association is very wary of who breeds these dogs and who the dogs are registered with.

Sources are the Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog Association pages on the history and standard of the breed, unless otherwise noted. 
Images are from Wikimedia Commons under creative commons licenses: one, two