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Pet
Tracks
ALL-AMERICAN DOGS
with Jan Jaeger
With the Fourth of July holiday falling almost midweek this year, we get several days to enjoy the festivities normally associated with the celebration of our independence as a country. The fireworks, gatherings of family and friends and, in many places, special parades and commemorative events revitalize our patriotic fervor and renew our appreciation for our history and personal legacies.
While thinking about our exceptional heritage, I am reminded that the canine world has its uniquely American roots too. The American Kennel Club (AKC) considers 11 dog breeds All-American. Three of these breeds are credited with being truly original to this country, and the other eight breeds are allowed to claim all-American status by virtue of their long-term development on American soil.
The most popular of the American breeds is a native of Boston. Ranking 15th in the number of 2006 AKC registrations, the Boston Terrier, a product of the English Bulldog and white English Terrier, is a perky, small, short-haired dog permanently dressed in a black and white tuxedo. His formal attire and calm disposition earned him the nickname "American Gentleman." Interestingly, the Boston Terrier is not the most favored breed in Boston and has, in fact, seen a decline in popularity in the city from #8 in 2004 to fall off the top ten chart last year at #11.
My own personal favorite, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, is thought to have originated from two surviving St. John's water dogs stranded from a wreck of an outbound English ship off the coast of Maryland in 1807. Folklore suggests the brown male and black female were the progenitors of a line that bred in other sturdy hunting dogs such as Labradors, coonhound and water spaniels to produce an athletic, courageous and intelligent retriever. Renowned for its ability to retrieve hundreds of waterfowl a day from the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its protective attitude toward family and catch, today's Chessie is bred to have a kinder, gentler nature.
The American Water Spaniel was the first mid-sized retriever developed in this country as an all-around hunter to work from skiff or canoe as well as to flush and retrieve upland game on the ground. Thought to be a mixture of the Irish Water Spaniel and Curly-Coated Retriever, he is an excellent swimmer with a thick, wavy coat that protects against water and weather. Intelligent, eager and friendly, he is also an excellent watchdog and family companion. Ranking 133 out of the 155 AKC breed registrations, this Spaniel is more popular in the Midwest, and is the official state dog of Wisconsin.
Other breeds earning the right to be called All-American include the Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Artic sled dog breeds and a cousin to the Samoyed, Siberian Husky and the Eskimo dogs of Greenland and Laborador. A native Inniut tribe, the Mahlemuts, who settled in the upper western part of Alaska, are believed to have developed this breed to pull their sleds and carry their gear. The Malamute played a significant role in history by aiding Artic and Antarctic explorers and by using their freighting skills and strength to deliver mail and supplies.
The American Eskimo Dog, originally called the American Spitz, originated from Nordic Spitz, not from working sled dogs. The "Eskie" was popular in German immigrant communities in the 19th century, and with its agility, alert appearance and stunning white coat, it gained recognition as a performer in traveling circuses.
An enduringly popular breed, the Cocker Spaniel, can trace its roots back to the landing of the Mayflower. The name "Cocker" came from its use in hunting woodcock. The Cocker Spaniel has been exhibited in this country since the early 1800s.
The American Foxhound goes back to the mid- 1600s, but it is the father of our country, George Washington, who is credited with developing the Virginia hounds that are the foundation of today's breed. In the 1780s, he imported hounds from England and introduced French foxhounds from his friend Lafayette to improve his line.
Another hound, the Black and Tan Coonhound, a descendent of early English hounds, the Bloodhound and the Virginia Foxhound, was selectively bred to keep the black and tan strain. A working hound used to track and tree raccoons, this powerful and agile scent hound can also hunt deer, bear and mountain lion. Of a medium size, the Black-and-Tan is adaptable to either indoor or outdoor living.
The bulldog-terrier cross known as the American Staffordshire Terrier has existed since the early 1800s, but over the past 50 years careful breeding has produced an "AmStaff" that is affectionate, reliable and good with children. Guilty of a bad reputation that stresses its tenaciousness and fighting ability, this breed was originally used in farm work, hunting game, guarding and serving as a companion.
The Australian Shepherd came to this country when their Basque sheepherders began immigrating in the 1800s, and probably got the name from those Basque to came to this country by way of Australia. Intelligent and active, the dogs gained popularity through their work at rodeos and horse shows.
The Toy Fox Terrier was developed by breeding small Fox Terriers with other toy breeds. With the intelligence and determination of a terrier and the devotion and easy maintenance of a toy, this compact and athletic dog has a lot of punch per pound. This relative newcomer
received AKC recognition in January 2003. I
Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Willie guinea pig and two budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com. | 
