Judie Amyot: Unique, unusual, unheard of?

This is one of the rarest dog breeds with only a few thousand worldwide. Originating in the Netherlands, very few were exported to other countries until the 2000s, having caught the attention of dog lovers in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and North America. Its name translates roughly to “stand by (me) dog” and as one would guess, it is a faithful and reliable family companion. Historically, this breed was used for hunting foxes, small game and birds and is a proficient tracker and a good guard dog. It loves the water and makes an excellent farm-working dog with a gentle disposition around children and other animals. It participates in many activities such as agility, obedience, triathlon, endurance and frisbee, to name a few.

Kooikerhondje

Say what? It’s pronounced “coy-ker-hawnd-yuh” or something close to that but what’s in a name, anyway? This small, spaniel-type sporting dog is of Dutch ancestry and was originally used as a working dog particularly for duck hunting with its white plumed tail instrumental in attracting the quackers. It is a lively, agile and good-natured breed that is faithful, easy-going and friendly in the home. Often referred to as “the little white and orange dog with a big heart”, it goes through life with a cheerful character.

Mudi

Bred for herding, this rare dog breed from Hungary has a curly coat, a sharp intellect and an energetic personality. It excels at agility, is a true working breed, herding both cattle and sheep and makes an excellent search and rescue dog. It is estimated that there are no more than a few thousand Mudi worldwide with the greatest numbers being in Hungary, followed by Finland. This breed is a loyal protector of property and family members without being overly aggressive.

Kai Ken

Known as the “tiger dog” because of its striped brindle coat, this breed comes from an isolated region of Japan, the Kai region, and is a rare dog even in its native land. Traditionally used to hunt a wide range of game in the mountains of Japan, it is athletic and intelligent with a strong desire to hunt. It learns quickly and is willing to please its companions, making it a devoted, trustworthy guardian. It is an excellent swimmer and has even been known to climb trees in pursuit of game.

Chinook

Not to be confused with the winds out west, this is a breed of sled dog and is the official state dog of New Hampshire. The Chinook is a rugged working dog and devoted family pet known for intelligence, patience and eagerness to please. It is calm, people oriented and is wonderful with children. Easily trained, it excels in sledding, obedience, agility, herding and search and rescue work. Yet, it is on the verge of extinction and is among the scarcest AKC breeds.

Otterhound

From England, this breed is a scent hound and is considered endangered with only around 600 worldwide. It is big, boisterous, affectionate and a great swimmer, originally bred to hunt otters, that in medieval England were preying on fish in rivers and stocked ponds. It has a waterproof coat and webbed feet and can swim all day without tiring. It is a friendly dog that makes a great family companion.

It is unlikely that you will ever see your neighbours walking one of these breeds of dogs nor adopt one yourself due to their scarcity, but it’s always interesting to learn about something that isn’t a doodle, poodle or an al dente noodle!

Judie Amyot is a volunteer with Animatch, a non-profit dog adoption service. For more information, visit www.animatch.ca

dollsndogs712@gmail.com