AHC/WI: 50 Dog Breeds of America

Number Eight: [Texas] Captain Blazer

The Captain Blazer traces its origins back to the original Spanish settlers of Texas in the 1700s. Its name is believed to be derived from corruption of the names of one of the settlers, Capt. Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon, who settled the area that would become South Texas. As a large landowner, de la Garza brought a large number of cattle into South Texas and needed a dog that would do well at guarding the herd and assisting in moving them toward Mexico. Turning to the Xoloitzcuintle, which were quite common in his native Mexico, the Captain began breeding with the Poodles that his wife and daughters had purchased while visiting Spanish controlled Louisiana. However, it was not until Great Danes accompanying American settlers in Texas in the 1800s arrived that the pedigree was finalized. As the cattle boom occurred in the late 1800s and cattle drives became more common, the Texas Blazer became the preeminent dog for cowboys and cattle hands in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Yet, when the cattle economy became to dwindle as states diversified the popularity of the dog plummeted and the breed almost went extinct during the Great Depression. Luckily, a few dedicated Texans kept the Captain Blazer breed alive and when the demand for a large, hypoallergenic (which was derived from its Poodle ancestry) dog breed arose in the late 1900s, the Captain Blazer returned to prominence, becoming the dog of choice for many Texans once again.

Standing at 3/4's the size of its Great Dane ancestors, the Captain Blazer is quickly rising in popularity throughout breeding circles in the United States and has recently risen in popularity in neighboring Mexico. It is a breed known for its intelligence and stamina, however, it does tend to have a smaller than normal litter size, resulting in surging prices as demand for this historic breed increases dramatically.

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Got the basic idea for the dog breed for Virginia written up. Once that is posted I will be working on Rhode Island next...unless it is already taken.
 
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Number Nine: The Cajun Bayou Hound

So named for its origins in the swamps of Louisiana, the Cajun Bayou Hound is a mix of several French and American breeds. Its earliest ancestors were French dogs brought down with the original French settlers, which mixed gradually with an influx of American breeds as Louisiana was settled more by non-French speakers. The Bayou Hound became its own, recognized breed sometime in the mid-19th century, with reports of a "grey, brown, and black dog" accompanying their Cajun masters almost every day to day activity they carried out. The Bayou Hound acted, of course, as a hound, while also exhibiting some retriever characteristics and acting as a rudimentary guard dog. There are some legends that the Bayou Hound's were used in alligator hunts to draw the reptiles onto land, though those are unsubstantiated. The breed is still most commonly located in Louisiana and surrounding states, where it is beloved for its loyalty and spirited disposition. A famous pair of Bayou Hound's are Napoleon and Josephine, owned by the famous clan of swamp people, the Antoine's- stars of the TV show Swamp Folk. This has had the indirect effect of raising desires for Bayou Hound's across the country (which Louisianans say is the only good thing to come out of that damned TV show).

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Okay, Texas and Louisiana already taken, so I have to revert to plan B: I'm claiming the Saint Louis Dachshund for Missouri.
 
Arising seemingly naturally from native gray wolves interbreeding with working dogs in the Colorado mountains and foothills, the modern Rocky Mountain Dog hails primarily from the work of Jedidiah Bartlet, an agronomist and professor of biology of the University of Colorado, who gathered specimens from all over the state (with special attention to the Rockies), and sought to curtail additional wolf admixture (which he considered dangerous and unpredictable) while keeping the breed's intelligence, work ethic, and resistance to cold and altitude.

The end result draws primarily from herding lines, tending to resemble a shaggy wolf, though Bartlet was less concerned with appearance, and so while gray with white shading dominates, many dogs have tawny marks, "patchwork" coats with tawny spots on white, black coats with white markings, or any of a variety of patterns. Strong, erect ears are, however, considered to be a requirement of the breed. Though the Mountain Dog saw limited use as a cart dog in mining, its graceful build and independent nature made it largely unsuitable for the work. The "Rocky", as they are affectionately known, instead found itself performing extensive work herding sheep and cattle along the foothills of the Front Range, and as a guard and companion dog everywhere in the state. Despite repeated attempts, a weak retrieving instinct and a tendency to be gun-shy has tended to make the Rocky fairly ineffective as a hunting dog.

Easily trainable and very hardy in cold and altitude, the modern day sees the Rocky often employed by mountaineers and rescue agencies, though the Colorado Rocky Mountain Dog Breeders' Association estimates that the vast majority are kept companion animals.

As with most purebred dogs, Rockies tend to suffer from hip dysplasia. They are also prone to cataracts and pneumonia, and overheat easily in hot or humid climates.

A few Rockies, showing an array of typical appearances
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Number Eleven: Appomattox Water Dog

One of the progenitors of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a male dog that was possibly of the Newfoundland breed by the name of "Sailor", made his way around the Chesapeake Bay area around the year of 1807. Supposedly, he was used for breeding purposes and, by chance, one of the pups ended up in the hands of Peter (Pedro) Francisco, a Portuguese born veteran of the Revolutionary War also known as the "Virginia Hercules." Despite Francisco not having a very good memory of his childhood in the Azores, he did remember his family having what is believed to be a Portuguese Water Dog and eventually ended up acquiring one from a local fisherman at City Point, Virginia. Eventually, the pup and the previously acquired Portuguese Water Dog would be used for breeding. The result would be the beginning of the breed. The breed would be used by local fisherman but gained more exposure to the rest of the world during the Union occupation of the area near City Point in 1864-1865.

The Appomattox Water Dog have either a brown, black, or black and white double coat. They are also hypoallergenic and, surprising enough, have webbed toes which makes it easier for them to swim. Males are approximately 60-75 lbs., 23-26 inches in height while the females are approximately 50-65 lbs., 20-23 inches in height. As previously stated they are excellent swimmers and are an ideal choice for a companion in water fowl hunting. The breed is known to be playful, obedient, and, on occasion, stubborn.

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Illinois: The Chicago Terrier

Throughout the Midwest, with the rise of the Industrial Age, came the need for a dog capable of keeping up with the rising pest control problems of the region's booming cities. Luckily, the Chicago Terrier would rise to the occasion. The go-to ratting dog for cities from Milwaukee to Detroit, it would be Chicago that this dog would eventually capture the hearts of, and eventually come to bare its name upon recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1910.

Equal parts tenacious and mischievous, and well known for their high energy and loyalty to their owners, the Chicago Terrier has come to be as much of a symbol of the Windy City as deep dish pizza or Wrigley Field. countless Chi-town residents have been famous proponents of the breed, from gangster Al Capone to President Obama, as well as serving as the mascot for the Chicago-based hot dog chain Nathan's.

A longtime favorite of Midwestern city-dwellers due to its versatility and temperament, as well as their compact size, the Chicago Terrier has recently seen as surge in popularity nationally due the popularity of a series of Disney Pixar films centered on a food-loving Chicago Terrier named Bug.

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Number Eleven: Appomattox Water Dog

One of the progenitors of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a male dog that was possibly of the Newfoundland breed by the name of "Sailor", made his way around the Chesapeake Bay area around the year of 1807. Supposedly, he was used for breeding purposes and, by chance, one of the pups ended up in the hands of Peter (Pedro) Francisco, a Portuguese born veteran of the Revolutionary War also known as the "Virginia Hercules." Despite Francisco not having a very good memory of his childhood in the Azores, he did remember his family having what is believed to be a Portuguese Water Dog and eventually ended up acquiring one from a local fisherman at City Point, Virginia. Eventually, the pup and the previously acquired Portuguese Water Dog would be used for breeding. The result would be the beginning of the breed. The breed would be used by local fisherman but gained more exposure to the rest of the world during the Union occupation of the area near City Point in 1864-1865.

The Appomattox Water Dog have either a brown, black, or black and white double coat. They are also hypoallergenic and, surprising enough, have webbed toes which makes it easier for them to swim. Males are approximately 60-75 lbs., 23-26 inches in height while the females are approximately 50-65 lbs., 20-23 inches in height. As previously stated they are excellent swimmers and are an ideal choice for a companion in water fowl hunting. The breed is known to be playful, obedient, and, on occasion, stubborn.

Great Minds think alike :D

Maryland: The Chesapeake Bay Water Dog

Depending on who you ask, the ancestors of the Chesapeake Bay Water Dog were either Portugese Water Dogs brought to Maryland by Catholics in the colonial days, or an offshoot of the Appomattox Waterdog. No matter the origins,

Iconic for their rich, reddish fur, loyalty to their owners, and the grace and energy they bring to any task charged to them, much like Maryland itself, the Chesapeake Bay Water Dog has a divisive history.

In Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Water Dog enjoys a friendly rivalry with the state's other famed Dog Breed, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever - and not just over the rights for the nickname "Cheasies" either. The Cheasapeake Bay breeds both enjoy common ancestors and origins as hunting dogs, but there the two diverge. The retriever remains a straightforward hunting dog, while the Water Dog has evolved into a guard/family dog, similar to the French Poodle. There's geography as well - the Retriever was the dog of choice in Maryland's Delmarva peninsula, while the Water Dog was the go to choice in the Western half of the state and Baltimore.

The Chessies were also one of the breeds at the center of the AKC's tail-docking controversy, with many breeders of the Chesapeake Bay Water Dog openly refusing to dock the Chessies tails over the last few years. Ten years ago, this nearly got the Breed delisted by the AKC, but every dog has its day. The breeders had their day when Jackie-be-Good, a 2-year old Chessie, won the Westminster Dog Show last year, trotting around the arena, head held high, and his undocked tail happily wagging every step of the way.

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Number 14: Portsmouth Terrier

History about the origins of this breed is limited but it is commonly believed that when settlers from Southern Netherlands (modern day Belgium and Luxembourg) came to the New World in the 17th century, specifically the area near Manhattan and Connecticut, they brought dogs that would help get rid of mice on ships. The Smousje, a common ancestor of the Brussels Griffon (Griffon bruxellois), Belgian Griffon (Griffon belge), and the Petit Brabançon, was the breed that was brought over to what is now modern day Connecticut not only to help with the rodent problems on the ships but at the farms as well. The Smousje would be commonly seen on farms in New York and Connecticut even after the English acquired New Netherlands from the Dutch in 1664. The English, having issues with rodents themselves on their ships and farms, brought over what is believed to be the Norwich terrier to take care of their problems.

It was by chance that a derivative of the Smousje (possibly an early version of the Brussels Griffon) and the Norwich terrier came into contact in the state of Rhode Island during the time of John Collins, the third governor of the state (1786-1790). The identity of the person who originally had the idea to breed the Smousje and the Norwich terrier is unknown but the location where this new breed began to appear was in the town of Portsmouth. By 1861, the Portsmouth terrier would be a common sight not only on local ships/boats, but as a companion animal or a hunter of rodents and other small vermin in the area.

The Portsmouth terrier is approximately 12-15 lbs and 9.5-11 in. in height. They have a double coat, which is supposedly hypoallergenic, and is more commonly seen in a tan color. Other colors that can be seen are different shades of brown or black and tan, both reminiscent of the Brussels Griffon in its ancestry. This terrier is intelligent, affectionate, protective of their owners (despite their small size), and weary of strangers. The Portsmouth terrier does not bark much but when they do you can be sure that something is not right. Outside of hunting squirrels, rodents and other small vermin, they need daily exercise as they are energetic. (OOC: Just an FYI, this is my dog and the place that I adopted him from stated that he is a Norwich terrier/Brussels Griffon mix. Awkward dog but he fits in just fine.)

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