Thursday, February 28, 2013

Official Dogs of the United States

Earlier this week, I did a post about calico cats and discovered that they were actually the official state cat of Maryland. I also learned that there are a lot of other state animals including horses, bears, and even whales. Today, I bring you the official dogs of the United States! Some states have named certain breeds as the official state dog. Only 11 states to be exact.

Alaska 


This one is kind of a no-brainer. Alaska's state dog is the beautiful Alaskan Malamute! Alaska named this breed as the official state dog fairly recently in 2010. Blog friends Misaki and Rumpy Dog are both Alaskan Malamutes! 

Photo via Jazzi*Bee

Louisiana


In Louisiana, the Catahoula Leopard dog rules the land. This dog is thought to be the first breed developed in North America. The Catahoula was named as Louisiana's official state dog all the way back in 1979! 

Photo via iraxmas

Maryland 


So back to Maryland we venture. The calico cat shares its state with the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Maryland also got off to an early start naming official state animals it seems. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was declared the state dog in 1964. If you want to know more about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Kirby's mom, Leah, recently wrote all about the breed in her "Ancient Dogs" series which you can read here

Photo via a.fave

Massachusetts 


Can you guess what the official state dog of Massachusetts is? Why, it's the Boston Terrier of course. This happy and friendly breed was announced the official state dog of Massachusetts in 1979. 


New Hampshire


In 2009, the Chinook was named the official state dog of New Hampshire. I'll admit that I had never heard of a Chinook until very recently. The breed was featured on an episode of Animal Planet's "Too Cute" that my daughter was watching and I had to look them up. 

Photo via CuteKittenHorselover

North Carolina


The Plott Hound was chosen to represent the state of North Carolina as the official state dog in 1989. The Plott Hound isn't a very well-known breed even though it is a state dog. It's a scent hound that was bred to hunt boar. 

Photo via hoyasmeg

Pennsylvania


In Pennsylvania, the massive Great Dane is the state dog. This large breed was named the state dog of Pennsylvania back in 1965. It's one of the world's tallest breed of dogs. 

Photo via carl & tracy gossett

South Carolina


The Boykin Spaniel is the state dog of South Carolina ever since 1985. I've never really heard of a Boykin Spaniel before. They originated from South Carolina and were bred to hunt fowl. 

Photo via Sarah and Jason

Texas


Alright y'all, the Texas state dog is the Blue Lacy. I've met a couple of Blue Lacies since I live in Texas and all and think that they are really beautiful dogs. I live their silver-gray, smooth coat. The Blue Lacy became the official state dog of Texas in 2005. 

Photo by TrueBlueLacys

Virgina


The American Foxhound is the official state dog of Virginia. American Foxhounds are distant relatives to English and French Foxhounds. Virginia named the American Foxhound the official state dog in 1966. An American Foxhound was named Best of the Hound Group this year at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, 2013. 

Source

Wisconsin


Wisconsin's official state dog is the American Water Spaniel and was named so in 1985. The American Water Spaniel is a rare breed that originated in none other than the state of Wisconsin. 
Photo via Noma's American Water Spaniels

So was your state included? If not, what breed of dog would you propose as the official state dog for where you live? Feline fans - come back on Meowtastic Monday to see the list of official state cats!

PS - Speaking of RumpyDog the Alaskan Malamute, please go and vote for him in the World Spay Day 2013 Pet Pageant! 

GNKSR9PV5MQS

57 comments:

  1. Wonder if we have the same thing over the pond apart from the British Bulldog? Interesting! Have a terrific Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  2. I guess the official dog of Wales would be the Welsh Corgi!

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  3. Love this post! Hmmm... Missouri... maybe one of the coonhounds? Would definitely go along with the state animal, the mule.

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  4. I've never heard of a Blue Lacie before, interesting!

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  5. We've never heard of several of these. In our house, we're big fans of "mixed" breed dogs. :-)

    Susan and Wrigs

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    1. I'm not familiar with most of them. Mixed breed dogs do rock! :)

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  6. Cool post! here in Canada, only wildlife makes it to Official animals of...!! BOL! I don't think that rotties like me would be chosen for official doggie anywhere, except maybe Germany... sad...

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    1. Well I think rotties are pretty popular. Seems like a lot of breeds I've never heard of before make it to official state dogs though.

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  7. I haven't heard of some of those dogs either :) Austins wrong in his comment, it would be me..The Welsh Border Collie..not the Corgi..BOL xx00xx

    Mollie and Alfie

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  8. I doubt any state has a Sheltie, they bark too much. Have you done Ohio yet?

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    1. Ohio doesn't have one. These are the only states that have official dogs so far. Isn't it kind of surprising that there are only 11? I'd love to see a Sheltie on the list but I'm not sure if that would happen.

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  9. That's very interesting! Thank you for sharing!
    What a great idea to name kitties and doggies as state animals =^.^=
    Purrs

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  10. Interesting. Count me among those who've never heard of a Blue Lacy. I am so ashamed. ;)

    My great-grandfather raised Boston Terriers so we have always been rather partial to them. But I didn't even know they were our state's "official" dog. To be honest, I didn't know states had official dogs. Thanks for the education.

    PS - I want to move to VA just so I can have the Foxhound as my official state dog. <3 them.

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    1. I hadn't heard of a Blue Lacy either until just a few years ago.

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  11. Yup, out state is SC and there are lots of Boykin Spaniels around. That is interesting. Who knew there were state dogs??? Kind of fun.

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  12. Wow, super cool. Every state should have an official dog.

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  13. They are all good looking ones and I didn't know we had a SC dog!

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  14. Cool! I didn't even know states had an official dog!

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  15. For some reason Florida doesn't have a state dog :( But we do have an official state land mammal, the almost extinct Florida panther; and two official marine mammals: the manatee (also almost extinct...what does that say about us?) and the dolphin (salt water mammal); and then there's the official domestic mammal, the Florida Cracker horse...It's definitely time for a state dog!

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    1. Yea I noticed lots of state mammals... even some states had whales. I agree that Florida needs a state dog with all those other things.

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  16. So neat to learn. I had no idea!

    Oink oink,
    Katie and Coccolino the mini pig

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  17. This is awesome info! I am clueless if my state has one but if they did, I'm sure it's not a bully breed. :)Thanks for sharing!

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  18. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and we have our own provincial dog as well. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, of course. :-)

    Great list! I have been told my dog looks like both a Catahoula or a Blue Lacy. It's a long way to travel but anything is possible, right?

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    1. I think Shiva does look kind of like a Catahoula too.

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  19. I didn't know any of this,cool post Ann

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  20. I didn't know any of that either! Here in Illinois the Cardinal is our official bird...does that count?

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    1. Hehe - there are lots of state animals and I noticed a lot of state horses. I think the Cardinal is a fine state animal - I love them!

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  21. Great post Ann! I didn't know all this!!! Beautiful pics. I love the American Foxhound I have been working with a client that has one, which is really rare breed to find in Italy.

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    1. I can imagine that those wouldn't be very common in Italy. It's always fun to see a new type of dog.

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  22. we trooly dinna noe states had ther own puppz !!!!saweet...thanx for de post :) we wood like ta nominate bulldog for trout towne !!

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  23. Darn it! No state dog for NJ! I need to write to the governor. I'll suggest the JackRussel Mix Rescue Turned Therapy Dog. Yay!

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

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    1. Hmmm - that description sounds a little familiar to me!

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  24. Interesting! I didn't know NC had a state dog.

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  25. It's funny that you say the calico's are the cat of maryland becauseyou know last week when I wrote about the Chesapeakse's they were the official dog for Maryland

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    1. I know - I just wrote about calico cats on Monday and learned they were the state cat of Maryland. Then I decided to write about state dogs and found out the Chesapeake Bay Retriever represented Maryland. I remembered your post abou them and appreciate you letting me share it!

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  26. I recently learned about this too, I'd never known there were state dogs! New York doesn't have a state dog...how about the YORKshire terrier?

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  27. Replies
    1. Yep - cats are for Meowtastic Monday! There are way less state cats though :/

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  28. Hmmm, I live in Florida like Gizmo and I think we definitely need a State Dog. However, being (almost all) Cairn Terrier, I personally think my breed should be the State Dog of Kansas...since Dorothy lived in Kansas with Toto!

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  29. I like this post! We have 9 kinds of Dutch breeds, one of them is the Drentsche Patrijshond, it's a hounddog coming from the Province of Drenthe and the Dutch Schapendoes (sheepdog) is very famous... at least here in the Netherlands ;)

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    1. I have actually seen a Drentsche before and will admit I had never heard of it before!

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  30. That is so cool! We sure wish Connecticut had an official dog! :)

    How about cats? Are there any official state cats?

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    1. There are a couple of state cats, but not many. Come back on Monday to see the list of cats. :)

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  31. It looks like the Border Collie was designated as Oregon's state dog in 2011. That's great, since I'm part Border Collie!!

    http://www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measures/scr1.dir/scr0003.intro.html

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  32. THIS IS SUPER INTERESTING. LOTS OF THESE DOGS WE HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE. WE LIKE YOUR STATE DOG…THE BLUE LACY. WE ASKED OUR DAD IF HE KNEW OUR STATE, VA, HAD A STATE DOG. HE SAID, "HE DIDN'T DOUBT IT." WE ASKED HIM TO GUESS THE BREED, AND HE DID ON THE 1ST TRY. HE SAID FOX HUNTING IS VERY POPULAR IN VA. WHO KNEW? Purrs and hugs from the kitties at www.thecatonmyhead.com, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette

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  33. A lot of states have state cats also. NJ's dog must be the American Mutt. MOL!

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  34. Wow I feel smarter!! You learn something new every day!!

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  35. How did I miss this post!?! I did not know this. I think it is cool.

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  36. We don't even have a state dog?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I think Princess Gracie should be the state dog! I'm going to call my congressman!

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  37. My fur-brother Truffle is a Plott hound, though to the best of my knowledge he's never been to North Carolina.

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