3 New Breeds Welcomed at 2017 Westminster Dog Show

The annual dog show begins Feb. 11.

ByABC News
January 31, 2017, 2:22 PM

— -- Three new dog breeds — the sloughi, the American hairless terrier and the pumi — are eligible to compete at the annual Westminster Dog Show this year.

The breeds were recently recognized by the American Kennel Club, the governing body of U.S. dog shows, said Brandi Hunter, the vice president of public relations and communications for the AKC.

PHOTO: The new Westminster Kennel Club dog show eligible breed the American Hairless Terrier.
The "friendly and lovable" American hairless terrier is one of the breeds now eligible for the Westminster Dog Show.

"These breeds are beautiful, unique and have met the requirements to be fully recognized by the AKC," she told ABC News.

These breeds were recognized by the AKC in 2016, making them eligible to compete in this year's Westminster Dog Show and all other AKC sanctioned events, Hunter said.

According to the AKC's website, the sloughi is a "reserved" and "graceful" breed that originated in North Africa and was used to hunt game; the American hairless terrier is "energetic, alert, curious and intelligent"; and the pumi is a Hungarian breed, adept at keeping livestock under control.

PHOTO: The new Westminster Kennel Club dog show eligible breed the Sloughi.
The American Kennel Club describes the newly-eligible Sloughi as "robust, but elegant and racy."

The 2017 Westminster Dog Show begins Saturday, Feb. 11.

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