Rare Dogs in the United States

The Blue Lacy was named after the brothers responsible for the breed - Frank, George, Ewin, and Harry Lacy. The Lacy family moved from Kentucky to Burnett County, Texas in 1858 and brought some dogs thought to be the foundation stock of the breed with them. They developed the breed now known as Lacy dogs or Blue Lacys, the only breed originating from Texas. The dogs are strong and fast, used for herding cattle and hogs and for hunting.

Helen Lacy Gibbs, granddaughter of George Lacy, said in interviews, that the dogs helped them survive the depression by rounding up the free-ranging hogs so that they could sell them.

Although often called Blue Lacys, they come in three basic colors, red, blue, and tri color. They can also have white on chest. They were reputed to be a cross between a hound, (some say sight hound) and wolf or coyote. They were never kept as pets. They were always working dogs and bred especially to be able to work in high heat. They are a high drive dog, intense and active with exceptional jumping ability.

^{Photo by True Blue Lacys}

The Catahoula Leopard dog also called the Catahoula Cur is another breed developed in the US for hunting and herding cattle. They are named after the Catahoula Paris in Louisiana and are the state dog of Louisiana. They are thought to be the first breed created in the US.

The history Catahoula is still a mystery and there are many theories as to their origin. They are striking looking dogs. The coat color may be solid, but many are have unusual merle patterns that give them the name of leopard. While they have no specific eye color, a trait called “cracked glass eye” is common where they may have different colors in the same eye. They are an energetic dog that requires training to be a good family member

^{Photo by .Phattums}

The Carolina dog is is a fascinating breed  found in the wild in southern Carolina. They are a true landrace breed -that is they developed on their own, not by humans. They are very similar to other landrace breeds, most notably the Dingoes in Australia and the New Guinea Singing Dogs. I have written more on this unusual dog.

^{Photo by Kurt Sagmeister}

The Shiloh Shepherd is a breed of herding dog that is still under development since their creation in the 1960s and 70s. It is an attempt to preserve the old style of German Shepherd Dog with a straighter back than the modern show German shepherds.

They are not recognized by any registry at this time other than their own breed club but can be shown in the rare breeds class.They are used for herding, as therapy dogs, assistance and compete in obedience and agility.

^{Photo by Trillhill}

They are a larger dog  than most modern German Shepherd dogs and have a variety of coat types, most having a longer coat than the modern GSD. Breeders focus on temperament, intelligence, health and hips. For comparison, see  The United Kennel Club and How it Differs from the AKC

^{photo posted by Caronna}

The Chinook, the state dog of New Hampshire, is descended from one famous sled dog named Chinook born in New Hampshire in 1917. His father was a mastiff type dog and the mother was a Greenland husky. His owner, Arthur Walden bred many other breeds of dogs to Chinook to produce the type of sled dog he wanted.

Chinook was the lead dog when the first team to climb Mount Washington reached the summit. Walden was appointed lead driver and dog trainer for Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition in 1929. Walden and his single team of 13 dogs moved supplies weighing 3500 pounds, from ship to base, a distance of 16 miles each trip, in two journeys. In 1981 the number of breedable Chinooks had dwindled to 11. Several notable people took up the cause of saving this breed. You can find more about them at chinook.org.

Walden is credited with bringing the sport of dog sled racing to England and with the creation of NE Dog Sled club in 1924 which is still active today

There are many rare dog breeds in the US and in the world. Some are on the verge of extinction. Some are still in the stages of creation. Rare dogs can be very unique and have special requirements. Be sure to research a rare breed carefully before deciding on one for a pet.