'Funny little dog' makes it big: American Kennel Club recognizes Danish-Swedish Farmdog
The American Kennel Club announced a new addition to its exclusive, prestigious roster on Thursday, making the Danish-Swedish Farmdog eligible for competition.
The dog will now be able to join hundreds of other purebred breeds in the "working group" on the American Kennel Club's event circuit this year. They may even make a cameo appearance at televised competitions like the National Dog Show and AKC National Championship in the coming months.
The Danish-Swedish Farmdog is the 202nd breed to receive full recognition from the club, a well-known canine advocacy group and the world's largest purebred dog registry.
Found in farms across Denmark and southern Sweden, the Danish-Swedish Farmdog was used to perform a number of tasks related to land maintenance, including pest control. The breed, originally called the Danish Pinscher, are a "people-oriented, friendly, loving companion," according to the kennel club.
"This compact working dog is very versatile, loves a challenge and having a job to do," Gina DiNardo, the Club's executive secretary, said in a statement. "It would make a wonderful addition to a family that is able to provide it with the exercise and mental stimulation that it needs. As always, we strongly encourage prospective dog owners to do their research to find the best breed for their lifestyle.”
Danish-Swedish Farmdog makes leap from 'rural life' to television screen
The exact origins of the Danish-Swedish Farmdog are still pretty unclear, but up until the 1960s, they could be found "all over" the northern European countryside, according to the club.
The Danish-Swedish Farmdog became a "natural part of Danish rural life," performing a number of tasks including mouser, livestock herder, hunting dog, watchdog and family companion. The canine even performed at the circus, playing the role of clown assistant, the American Kennel Club said.
According to the AKC, the decline of the breed came later, when industrialization took hold in Denmark and Sweden. But a "few country folks," namely the Danish Kennel Club and the Swedish Kennel Club, continued the breeding and retrieval of the dogs, saving the "little farmer's dog" from extinction.
"With its new name, Danish-Swedish Farmdog, this funny little dog is one of the newest of the national breeds in Denmark and Sweden, although it has been proven that its ancestors go far back in history," according to the American Kennel Club.
Now, the dog will compete alongside and against other canines in the working group because they, like Doberman Pinschers, Siberian Huskies and Great Danes, are "bred to assist man and excel at jobs like guarding property, pulling sleds and performing water rescues," according to the American Kennel Club.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Danish-Swedish Farmdog now recognized by American Kennel Club
