National Dog Show's Newest Dog Breeds

Breed Name: Treeing Walker Coonhound

Origin Story: The energetic breed of coonhound was developed from the Walker Foxhound, which descended from English Foxhounds.

Fun Fact: It is known as the "people's choice" of coonhound breeds, due to its ability to track and tree wild raccoons with expertise. 

Breed: Cesky Terrier

Origin Story: In 1949, Mr. Frantisik Horak completed the first breeding between a Scottish Terrier and Sealyham Terrier, which resulted in the Cesky Terrier.

Fun Fact: The Cesky Terrier remains rather rare in most parts of the word, including its native Czechoslovakia.

Breed: Icelandic Sheepdog

Origin Story: The Icelandic Sheepdog's first job was to work sheep, cattle and horses with the Vikings in 874–930 AD. They are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.

Fun fact: It is the only dog native to Iceland. 

Breed: American English Coonhound

Origin Story: When the descendants of the English Foxhound were bred to adapt to rougher terrain, the American English Coonhound evolved.

Fun Fact: The American English Coonhound is an incredible athlete, thanks to all that intense hunting! 

Breed: Xoloitzcuintli

Origin Story: According to archaeologists, Xolos accompanied men on their first migrations across the Bering Straits. Their name, however, is derived from the Aztec Indian god Xolotl and Itzcuintli (the Aztec word for "dog").

Fun Facts: Also known as the Mexican Hairless, the Xolo is considered one of the oldest breeds in North America. 

Breed: Leonberger

Origin Story: The Leonberger breed began in Leonberg, Germany in the 1800s. They were family, farm and draft dogs. They were almost extinct after World War I, but two men kept the breed alive.

Fun Fact: Leonbergers were bred specially to resemble the lion depicted on the town's crest.

Breed: Bluetick Coonhound

Origin Story: This beautiful dog descended from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and the English Foxhound. Until 1945, Bluetick Coonhounds were referred to as English Coonhounds.

Fun Fact: These dogs need a job to stay happy. Their owners must keep them busy at all times. 

Breed: Cane Corso 

Origin Story: The Cane Corso descended from the canis pugnax, the dogs that were used by the Romans in warfare. It was nearly extinct, but enthusiasts of the breed were able to recover it in the 1970s.

Fun Fact: An Italian native, the Cane Corso has been featured in many paintings throughout Italy's history. 

Breed: Finnish Lapphund

Origin Story: Finnish Lapphunds were known to have helped dogs of a tribe of semi-nomadic people in Lapland (the northern region of Finland, Sweden and Russia) called the Sami.The dogs evolved from hunters into herding dogs that helped maintain reindeer.

Fun Fact: When they are working, Finnish Lapphunds can be noisy! 

Breed: Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Origin Story: Entlebuchers were historically used to move cows from pastures in the Swiss Alps. The breed originated from Entlebuch Valley, which is a district of the Cantons Lucerne and Berne.

Fun Fact: Although large in size, the Entlebucher is a happy breed that craves attention from people.  

Breed: Norwegian Lundehund

Origin Story: The Norwegian Lundehund originated on the islands of arctic Norway. They were used to wrestle and retrieve live Puffins for farmers.

Fun Fact: Due to its past work, the Norwegian Lundehund is also known as the Puffing Dog. 

Breed: Boykin Spaniel

Origin Story: In the early 1900s, a dog was found near a church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A churchgoer named Mr. Alexander L. White took the dog home that day. He later sent the dog to his hunting partner, Mr. L. Whitaker Boykin.

Fun Fact: The Boykin is the state dog of South Carolina.