fondness for dogs, including terriers<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe quote: “They know how to get you to laugh,” says Cindy Rickey of Waynesville, North Carolina, the secretary of the American Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Club. While many terrier breeds are known for being independent-minded, her Teddy competes in obedience. “They’re terriers, no doubt about it, but they also have this tremendous desire to please,” she explains.<\/p>\n
The Russian tsvetnaya bolonka<\/p>\n
The stats: Up to 10\u00bc inches (26 centimeters) at the base of the neck; 7 to 9 pounds (3 to 4 kilograms)<\/p>\n
The topline: A sweet but clever little companion that wants playful interaction, not just snuggling (though it likes that, too).<\/p>\n
The pronunciation: zvit-NEYE’-ah boh-LON’-kah<\/p>\n
The translation: Russian colored lapdog<\/p>\n
The history: The breed was developed in Soviet-era Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) after World War II as a pet for apartment dwellers. American fans have been working to establish bolonki (the proper plural) in the U.S. since the early 2000s.<\/p>\n
The quote: “Having a bolonka is like having a 3-year-old kid running around your house. \u2026 They can enjoy their time lying on the couch with you, but you’ve got to be prepared to play with them and keep them entertained,” says Denise Dang of Oklahoma City, the secretary of the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Club of America. Owners also need to care for a thick, wavy coat that’s low-shedding but can get matted. Even if it’s cut fairly short, a bath every couple of weeks is wise, Dang says.<\/p>\n
The big picture<\/p>\n
The AKC recognizes 205 breeds, including these three newcomers. Fanciers of many others \u2014 though, as yet, no “doodles” or other popular poodle hybrids \u2014 have voluntarily entered a pipeline that takes years of breeding, documentation and consensus-building.<\/p>\n
The club doesn’t limit the number of breeds it might eventually recognize. Spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden says it’s not “adding dogs indiscriminately,” but rather providing “an established framework for growth, breed standards, competition and education in the U.S.”<\/p>\n
The controversy<\/p>\n
Animal-rights activists have long deplored dog breeding and the AKC for supporting it, and the\u00a0criticism hardened this year into a lawsuit\u00a0over the health of\u00a0French bulldogs, pugs, dachshunds and Chinese shar-peis. The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking a court order to stop the AKC from continuing to promulgate the current “standards,” or ideal characteristics, for those breeds.<\/p>\n
PETA accused the kennel club of providing “blueprints for the breeding of deformed, unhealthy dogs.”<\/p>\n
The AKC denies the allegations and has asked a court to dismiss the case, calling the suit frivolous. The club said it “has been \u2014 and remains \u2014 firmly committed to the health, well-being and proper treatment of all dogs.”<\/p>\n
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