10 all-American dog and cat breeds
With the 4th of July just around the corner, we’re giving a shout-out to some of the dog and cat breeds that are from the good old USA.
Check out these 10 dog and cat breeds that are more American than apple pie.
- Boston terrier. Originating in the 1800s from—you guessed it—Boston, these terriers are dubbed as the “American gentlemen” thanks to their debonair looks and charming personalities.
- Maine coon. When Maine residents recognized the winning combination of easygoing temperament, excellent mousing skills and exceptional size their local cats had, they began breeding these gentle giants as working cats, giving rise to the Maine coon breed we know and love today.
- Alaskan malamute. Named after the Mahlemut Inuit tribe, these powerful dogs played an important role as freighting dogs in Alaska, pulling sleds for miles to deliver goods across the state.
- American shorthair. Not to be confused with the domestic shorthair cat, American shorthair cats first crossed the ocean with their settler owners and proved themselves such good rat catchers that they soon became the quintessential American working cat.
- American Staffordshire terrier. Also known as pit bulls, these all-American dogs were first bred by farmers and homesteaders for general farm help, like hunting, guarding and companionship.
- Ragdoll. These California natives were bred from free-roaming cats chosen specifically for their sweet temperament, giving them a sunny disposition that matches their state of origin.
- Chesapeake Bay retriever. Whether or not this breed’s origin story of two puppies being rescued from a shipwreck off the coast of Maryland is true, these dogs are nevertheless excellent water dogs, happy to swim in the frigid waters of the Chesapeake in search of waterfowl any day.
- Selkirk rex. When an unusual curly-coated housecat was noticed in a Montana shelter, she was rescued and became the founder of this prized, naturally curly breed.
- American foxhound. Hunting dogs were such a passion in colonial America that even George Washington had a hand in developing this breed, importing hounds from England and France to help create this all-American hound variety.
- American bobtail. Breeders working together throughout the United States sought out feral cats with a naturally bobbed tail to give rise to this bobcat look-alike breed.
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