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NEW YORK — An Italian truffle-sniffer, a French sheep herder nurtured back from near-extinction and a small Californian shepherd are joining the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized dog breeds.
The lagotto Romagnolo, the berger Picard and the miniature American shepherd will be eligible as of July 1 to compete in the AKC’s shows and canine sports competitions, the organization announced Monday. That means they could show up at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show as soon as next year.
With the newcomers, the AKC’s pedigreed pack consists of 187 breeds. “What they have in common is that they all make great family pets,” AKC spokeswoman Gina DiNardo said.
