State Dogs

Several states have designated official state dogs. (Your tax dollars at work !) Let’s take a look at the various breeds.Maryland was the first state to name an official dog, back in 1964. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a smart, obedient dog suitable for an active, outdoor loving family, but be aware before you get one: they really like to plunge into water!

When you think of Alaska’s Iditarod, you probably think of the Malamut, the official dog of Alaska. One of the oldest breeds on the continent, the Mahlamut tribe of Innuits developed them, not for racing, but for pulling heavy loads across long distances.
Another sleddog, the Chinook is New Hampshire’s state dog. Owned by the lead dog trainer for Admiral Byrd’s 1929 Antarctic Expedition, the first "Chinook" was instrumental in moving supplies for the groundbreaking journey. Chinook also was in the first dog team to ever reach the top of Mt. Washington.
Massachusetts’ state dog is, of course, the Boston Terrier. Originally bred as a fighting dog, the breed is now known as "the American Gentleman" for its gentle disposition and the markings on its coat, which often resemble formal wear.

Moving down the Eastern Seaboard to Virginia’s hunt country, the state dog is the American Foxhound. Descended from English foxhounds, the breed has traditionally been fed a special diet, called "dog bread", designed to offer greater stamina in the field. "Dog bread" is a type of cornbread.
The official dog of Wisconsin is also a field dog, the American Water Spaniel. Not well known outside the US, the breed is an excellent family dog, but also can be counted on to retrieve not just the feathered and furry game, but fish too!
A member of the Coonhound family, North Carolina’s state dog is the Plott Hound. The Plott family brought the breed over from Germany to track wild boar. Keeping the dogs in the family, they controlled its breeding for the next 150 years.

Bred to hunt wild turkey (the bird, not the whiskey) in the swamps of the Southeastern United States, the state dog of South Carolina, the Boykin Spaniel works well in the heat. They are a smaller breed of spaniel, able to fit in early settlers canoes. They are known as "the dog that doesn’t rock the boat".
Lousiana’s official dog, the Catahoula Leopard Hound is thought to be one of the oldest breeds in North America, aside from a few dogs bred by Native Americans. Possibly introduced into this country by Hernando de Soto, Catahoulas have also been owned by such famous figures as Jim Bowie and Teddy Roosevelt.
Possibly the newest state dog, named in 2005, the Blue Lacy is also the only breed native to Texas. Not just a hunting dog, but one with herding instincts also, the hound was brought to Texas by the Lacy brothers to help control the family’s free range hogs.

The official dog of Pennsylvania is also the official dog of Dogcheapsleeps.com; the Great Dane. Known as the Gentle Giant, Great Danes tend to grow very large, very fast, but continue to put on weight well after the first year. They are very gentle and affectionate, but also sometimes needy. While pound for pound, they eat less than smaller breeds, they have been known to steal loaves of bread, pounds of butter and even packs of cigarettes from the counters here at Dogcheapsleeps.com.

All breeds of dogs have their merits and also their special needs. If you plan to adopt a dog, please research that breed’s characteristics before bringing one home. Please also remember the many Humane Societies and Rescue organizations that specialize, not just in particular breeds, but in animals that need forever homes.