On 6 July, the Bracco Italiano joined the world’s most extensive registry of purebred dog breeds - the American Kennel Club (AKC) - receiving full recognition and becoming their 200th registered dog breed.
An official statement released by the club’s Executive Secretary, Gina DiNardo, read “We at the AKC are thrilled to welcome our 200th breed to the registry”.
“The Bracco Italiano is a strong, active, and sturdy breed of dog that would make a great companion for active families”, she continued.
The reason for Gina’s recommendations, as she explained in the statement, is that the Bracco Italiano “loves people and would be best suited for a family that can give it the love and attention it needs. We always encourage people to do their research to find the right breed for their lifestyle”.
Now that this beautiful breed has joined the AKC, it means that it can now be considered as a competitor at the club’s famous events, of which there are more than 22,000 of them every single year.
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Placed in the Sporting Group, the AKC defines this category as being “naturally active and alert, Sporting dogs make likeable, well-rounded companions… known for their superior instincts in water and woods, many of these breeds enjoy hunting and other field activities.”
The Bracco Italiano will be amongst breeds such as the American Water Spaniel, the Curly-Coated Retriever, and the English Setter.
This categorization is a result of the Bracco Italiano’s history, which dates back to at least the fifth century, in which they were developed to meet a hunter’s needs. The breed itself is one of two native gundogs that stem from Italy (hence the name!).
The AKC did clarify however that “a breed that is newly recognized does not mean that the breed is newly created. Many breeds that gain full AKC recognition have existed for decades, and some are ancient.”
Within the AKC’s statement, it explained that "to become an AKC-recognized breed, there must be an active following and interest in the breed by owners in the U.S. and an established breed club of responsible owners and breeders. There also must be a sufficient population of dogs in the United States geographically distributed throughout the country".
