The American Kennel Club (AKC) announced on January 4, 2022, that it recognizes two new breeds in its roster, the Mudi and the Russian Toy.
The AKC is the world’s largest and oldest purebred dog registry, and every year it adds new breeds to its registry, which now totals 199 breeds. In 2020, it added the Dogo Argentino and the Barbet.
“We’re thrilled to have two unique breeds join the registry,” the executive secretary of the AKC, Gina DiNardo said. To meet the criteria for new breeds, a minimum of 300 to 400 dogs of that breed must be geographically distributed within the United States, and there should be an established breed club behind the dog.
The Mudi
The Mudi is a herding breed originating from Hungary. It can easily be mistaken as a mixed breed by some because of its resemblance to a Miniature Poodle and a German Shepherd.
They are born with floppy ears, which will then appear pricked in adulthood. Their tails come in varying lengths, from bobtails to long, full-length tails, and sometimes they are born without one or with just a natural stump tail.
The average adult height is 15 to 19 inches, and they weigh around 18 to 30 lbs. Their head and front limbs are covered with short, straight, and smooth fur, while the rest is wavy or slightly curled.
Its colors range from black to brown, while its coat pattern can be speckled, brindled, or spotted. Coat maintenance is very easy, and they are light to average shedders.
Being a herding dog, they are active, agile, and playful, but they can be easily bored and tends to bark a lot if left unattended.
Susanne Bergesen of the Mudi Club of America said that Mudis are not great for first-time dog owners and can get bored if constantly drilled. “They are thinkers, love to learn, learn quickly, and do not need lots of repetitions to acquire most skills,” she said.
The breed is considered rare, with approximately 450 Mudis in the US and around 4,000 worldwide.
The Russian Toy
The Russian Toy or the Russkiy Toy or Toychik is one of the smallest breeds in the world but with a big personality. It stands around 8 to 11 inches and weighs 3.5 to 6 lbs.
Its origins date back to the Russian aristocracy, and it was bred as a rat fighter or a watchdog with a “mean” bark. Their numbers only stand at 775 in the US and very much resemble a Chihuahua and are quite often compared.
They have small heads with large eyes and triangular ears, and their coats can either be smooth or long-coated. Colors come in four shades: black, tan, brown, and solid red.
The Russian Toy is an active and cheerful dog and very loyal to its owners. They love to snuggle and are great companions but can be aloof with strangers.
The two new breeds are now eligible to compete at all levels of events sanctioned by the AKC.
