Three new rare pooch breeds, a French Berger Picard, a small American Shepherd herding dog and a curly-haired Lagotto Roagnolo Romagnolo truffle hunter have been added to the roster of the prestigious American Kennel Club.
The new breeds have been added to the list of pure-bred canines maintained by the New York-based club, raising the total recognised breeds to 187.
By being added to the list, the trio of rare dog breeds will be eligible to compete in the AKC's 22,000 annual canine events, including the Westminster Dog Show and other prestigious competitions around the country, the club said.
"Each of these breeds is unique and will make wonderful companions to a variety of people," AKC spokesperson Gina DiNardo said in a statement.
The Berger Picard is an "athletic" pooch from France that was bred to be a working companion, while the miniature American Shepherd is a small herding dog from the United States that's "eager to please, devoted, good-natured, and intelligent," the AKC said.
The Lagotto Roagnolo Romagnolo can trace its roots to Italy and possesses rare talents as the "only purebred dog in the world recognised as a specialised truffle searcher."
AKC is a registry of pure-bred dog pedigrees in the United States. This kennel club promotes and sanctions events for pure-bred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the National Dog Show amongst others.
