Six dogs will make history this year as the newest breeds eligible to compete at Westminster. If they have visions of winning, though, history is against them.

The names of some of these rookie breeds competing in this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Feb. 13-14 at Madison Square Garden are a mouthful: the Entlebucher mountain dog, the Norwegian Lundehund, the American English coonhound, the Finnish Lapphund, the Cesky terrier and the Xoloitzcuintli, previously known as the Mexican Hairless.

The six new breeds bring to 185 the number that will compete this year for the best of show grand prize in the annual contest, the oldest sporting event in the United States next to the Kentucky Derby, said David Frei, the club’s director of communications and the USA Network show host.

In 1990, there were 142 eligible breeds.

There is no limit on the number of new breeds that can be admitted each year, but there are strict criteria. For the last 12 years, no more than six rookies have been approved in any year, Frei said.

Before the American Kennel Club will approve a new breed there have to be a significant number of the dogs in the United States and there has to be a breed club to oversee enthusiasts and geographic diversity.

Frei said the rookie that rose to the top and became best in show fastest was the Bichon Frise. That breed made its debut in 1974 and was named best of show in 2001, a 27-year gap.

The AKC provided these thumbnail sketches of this year’s rookie breeds:

— The American English coonhound is a descendent of the English foxhound and evolved from Virginia hounds. Originally used to hunt fox by day and raccoon by night, they were once called the English fox and coonhound.

The breed is pleasant, alert, confident and sociable with both humans and dogs. The modern version of the dog is a speedy, durable and wide-ranging hunter.

— The Entlebucher mountain dog is a native of Switzerland and the smallest of the four AKC Swiss breeds. Prized for its work ethic and ease of training, this dog can easily switch from high-spirited playmate to serious, self-assured dog with a commanding presence. This is not a good dog for the casual owner because it needs so much socialization and will remain active and energetic all its life.

— The Finnish Lapphund is a reindeer herding dog from the northern parts of Scandinavia. It is thought that this breed existed for hundreds, if not thousands of years as a helper dog to native tribes. Today they are popular as family pets in their native Finland. Devoted to their family, they are friendly with all people, highly intelligent and eager to learn. They are strong but very agile.

— The Norwegian Lundehund is also called the puffin dog. It spent centuries on the rocky cliffs and high fields of arctic Norway hunting and retrieving puffin birds, which was an important meat and feather crop to local farmers.

This dog has at least six toes on each foot so it can handle the almost vertical areas where puffins nest. It also has a flexible skeletal structure that enables it to squirm out of tight spots or go spread eagle to prevent slips and falls.

Today’s version of the dog is an alert, cheerful and somewhat mischievous companion.

— The Xoloitzcuintli is the national dog of Mexico and was previously known as the Mexican Hairless. It comes in three sizes and there is a coated version seen only in the United States and Canada. These dogs are descendants of the hairless dogs prized by the Aztecs and revered as guardians of the dead.

Living in the Mexican jungles, they were shaped by their environment. Their intelligence, trainability and natural cleanliness have turned them into unique and valued pets.

— The Cesky terrier is a well-muscled, short legged hunting terrier that can be worked in packs. With natural drop ears and a natural tail, it is longer than it is tall and has a long, soft, silky coat that can be any shade of gray from charcoal to platinum.

Lean and graceful, the dogs are reserved toward strangers but loyal to their owners and always keen and alert during a hunt.

Description: The Xolo comes in three sizes, Toy, Miniature, Standard, and two varieties: The coated and the hairless. The Hairless being the more sought after and popular variety. It is very hairless with or with out a short tuffed of hair on the head and tail. The hairless Xolo should never be hairy, or possess long hair, wire hair or wavy hair. It’s skin should be soft and smooth, yet hardy to the elements. The Xolo comes in a variety of colors, from black to slate, gray, bronze, brindle, red, fawn, solid or spotted. The coated variety should have a full coat of hair, short, sleek, clean, like that of a Doberman, and with regular brushing shed very little. The coated Xolo should also not possess long hair, wire, or wavy hair. It has a loyal following to those who love the breed but prefer a coat of hair on their dog. In an average litter of five. Four will be hairless and one will be coated. This is a very robust and hardy breed, with a broad skull and black or skin colored nose. Almond shaped eyes are dark or in keeping with the color of the dog. It’s most noticeable character is it’s large upright bat like ears, it is very keen and can hear and alert you to danger or stranger. Xolo do change colors as they mature.

Grooming: The coated and the hairless variety of Xolo are very easy to groom and care for. For the Hairless: Most skin problems arise from poor breeding, neglect, or over bathing and over lotioning, stripping natural protection’s and clogging pores. A well bred hairless Xolo will have very fine soft skin, yet hardy. Bathe and lotion once or twice a month, or only as needed. Sunscreen as needed as you would yourself in very sunny weather. We do not recommend a ton of products to keep the skin nice, as you might read on the internet today. Products need not be expensive. An owner claims she buys her Xolos bath and lotion products at the dollar store with great success. Top breeders recommend hypo allergenic gentle human products, a nice bath, exfoliating cream, lotion and sun screen. Keep it simple. Favorite products are: Johnson’s baby bath and lotion. favorite is the bedtime bath and lotion with chamomile and lavender. Very calming and soothing to skin and smells great. For the winter dry ear tips and feet,: Bag balm or udder butter. For the occasional acne or pimples especially in teenage Xolos, and to keep skin soft and remove dead skin build up: St. Ives exfoliating scrub or similar product. Exfoliate with a buff puff and bath a needed, then lotion with a nice hypo allergenic light product. There are some nice lotions with sun screen in them. Or a favorite is bull frog for baby’s. People who show or if you are planning an outing and want your Xolo to look his best. Almond oil is nice, also palmers spray on oil is great for shiny skin and smells nice too! Always bath after a day out at a show or park to remove unwanted germs and or dirt and oil build up. In between baths at home a warm water rinse is best, wash dirty face and feet with warm water and wash cloth. For the coated: Bathe the coated dog as you would any coated breed, brush daily or at least weekly to keep shedding at bay. For both varieties: Clip toe nails and brush teeth weekly. Although the dark solid colors do not burn, it is wise to sunscreen any hairless breed as we would ourselves in hot weather. The spotted and white marks can and do sun burn if not protected. The hairless variety is ideal for allergy sufferers, because there is no hair to shed. The coated variety, with regular brushing sheds very little.

Life Expectancy: The Xolo is a very long lived healthy breed. About 15 and up to 20 years is very common.

The obesity epidemic in humans can probably be linked to our affinity for fast food and lack of exercise, which may stem from stress. That’s not news to most of us. But it is hard to justify reports from veterinarians in a Pfizer animal health study that found 47 percent or over 61 million of the approximately 130 million pets in this country are overweight or obese.

Most pet parents do not realize their beloved dog or cat is eating more than they need. The Pfizer study found only 17 percent of people thought their pet had a weight issue. Although we are to blame for their obesity problem, it is difficult to notice your pet gaining weight when you see them everyday. In contrast to their human counterparts, their jeans don’t start to get a little snug. But the rule is simple: If you can’t feel ribs easily, or see a waist, then the animal needs to lose weight.

Several problems with pets can be prevented by keeping them at a healthy weight. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and cancer can all be linked to carrying extra pounds. Even if your pet is already heavy, losing the slightest amount of weight will help to prevent or alleviate these problems.

Reward your pet with affection and not food. But if you do feel the need to give treats, carrots and green beans are a great low calorie snack.

Consult with your veterinarian for weight loss advice to get your pup in tip top shape!

The canine trainer famously known as The Dog Whisperer is launching a new magazine called Cesar’s Way. This is in addition to his book, products and TV show about helping dogs with behavior issues.

The Wall Street Journal reports: Cesar’s Way, which hits newsstands next week, is filled with slick photos of celebrities such as Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton and Jennifer Aniston with pets in tow. Articles include “Can Your Dog Fix Your Marriage? Just Ask Jada Pinkett Smith” and “7-Day Doggie Detox.” IMG says it plans to publish two issues this year and six in 2010.

The singer, whose 5-year-old Maltipoo was snatched by a coyote this week, is beginning to accept that Daisy won’t be found alive, according to TMZ.com

Besides plastering her Calabasas, Calif., neighborhood with posters and appealing to the public through Twitter updates, Simpson enlisted a dog-finding service that power-dialed neighbors for help in finding the adorable pooch which was grabbed right in front of Simpson at her home.

Simpson is just the latest celebrity to lose a beloved dog in such a horrible fashion.

According to People.com, Halle Berry and Ozzy Osbourne are among the famous folk who have had pets taken by coyotes from their gardens or yards, a not uncommon occurrence in California.

One celeb who sympathized with Simpson’s plight is Martha Stewart, whose chow puppy was killed in a freak explosion at a kennel early this year.

Stewart actually met Daisy a few years ago, when she and Simpson filmed a commercial together.

“It’s pretty sad,” Stewart told Usmagazine.com. “She should have watched it more closely, though. She should have been more careful.”

The domestic diva also advised Simpson to move on and get another dog to help deal with her grief.

“I think it’s very important to get another dog, someone else to love,” said Stewart. “You just have to find the dog that’s the right match for you.”

And while some dogs may live the high life, serving as surrogate children to their humans, their circumstances can change depending on their owner’s life course and experiences.

“I found it interesting that there are different ways to relate to and think about animals and that people are able to switch and latch onto a different way of thinking about and treating animals when other things happen in their lives, like having children,” said Blouin, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Blouin conducted 28 in-depth interviews with dog guardians from a Midwestern county. Dog “parenthood” attitudes fell into three categories: Humanist, where dogs were highly valued and considered close companions, like pseudo people; protectionists might be vegetarians and they greatly valued animals in general, not just as pets; dominionists saw animals as separate and less important than people, often using the dogs for hunting and pest control and requiring them to live outdoors.

Blouin said the distinct orientations toward animals were informed by multiple, competing cultural logics as well as personal experiences, demographic characteristics and family structure. People in rural areas were more likely to leave their pets outside, for example. Empty-nesters seemed to be the most attached to their pets.

“People don’t make this stuff up themselves,” Blouin said. “They learn how animals should be treated. There are different ideas out there and these ideas exist in little packages, which are promoted by different groups, like the Humane Society or kennel clubs.”

So what can you do to help when there’s a storm brewing with loud thunder crashing and Bruno, your beloved Great Dane, is shivering and quaking like a little Chihuahua meeting the big, bad wolf?   Well, step one is for you to understand as much as you can about the cause of fear in our canine friends.

According to experts, dogs have two types of fear, instinctual and learned. Instinctual fear is core for every canine and can range from fear of loud noises such as gun shots, and explosions, or even the noise of the blender as you prepare your morning smoothie. It can also include a natural fear of predatory animals such as coyotes, wolves and bears.

Learned fear comes about from a trauma-based experience. Canine behavior experts believe dogs imprint trauma into memory at an early age, between 2 and 4 months, and these memories can affect the dog’s behavior into adulthood. For example, if a dog is struck by a bicycle or attacked by a larger dog early in life, the dog may be fearful of bicycles or large dogs in adulthood.

To help your dog overcome his fear, desensitization is key. For instance, if you’re afraid of heights, you might try to overcome that fear by gradually experiencing new heights, say by stepping up a ladder and reaching a higher rung every other day until you can climb all the way up to change that light bulb. Repeating the behavior without negative consequences is essential to mastering the fear for your dog as well.

According to John Sievila, owner of Arizona K-9 Partnership, a dog training company, the key to helping dogs overcome their fears is for their person to be the Alpha (leader) by example which means not showing any fear and not trying to comfort them.

“It is human nature for us to try to console our canines when they are fearful, but doing so will have an adverse effect. Remember that dogs don’t comprehend language the way you and I do. When they become fearful and if we use a high voice to console them it sounds like whining and can be construed that we are fearful, too. The thing to remember is to be confident and ignore the perceived danger and when the dog does the same praise them in a strong, confident way. You will be amazed at the results.”

So back to Bruno. There he is, a wretched 165-pound bundle of nerves. Resist the impulse to try to soothe him with baby talk, or pet and reassure him. Instead get his leash, hook him up and calmly review your basic obedience steps for 15 minutes. Speak to him with confidence and exude your leadership personality. He will see you are not scared but in control. He will relax in time if you are consistent.

If your dog is afraid of storms, help desensitize them by purchasing an audio tape or video tape of thunderstorms and play it repeatedly. If your dog fears blenders, turn on the blender while feeding your dog and he will get accustomed to it and even begin to associate it with mealtime.

Use your creativity to figure out more ways to desensitize dogs to things they have imprinted as scary. It works!

Avg Size of Female: Height: 8-11 Weight: 18-24

History

The Dandie Dinmont terrier stands out as a most unusual terrier in appearance, yet its roots are as quintessentially terrier as any. It first appeared as a distinct type of terrier in the 18th century around the border country of Scotland and England. Here they were owned by farmers and gypsies and valued for drawing and killing otters, badgers and foxes. At one time, they were known as Catcleugh, Hindlee or pepper and mustard terriers. The most well-known of these dogs were owned by James Davidson, who named almost all his dogs either Pepper or Mustard along with some identifying adjective. Davidson and his dogs are believed by some to have been the models for Sir Walter Scott’s characters of Dandie Dinmont and his dogs in Guy Mannering, published in 1814. The dogs became known as Dandie Dinmont’s terriers. A letter written by James Davidson proclaimed that all Dandies descended from two of his dogs named Tarr and Pepper. At one time the breed was included in the general family of Scotch terriers, which encompassed several short-legged terriers now recognized as distinct breeds. The Dandie was recognized separately from this group in 1873. The Dandie Dinmont has never been extremely popular, and remains one of the lesser-known terriers. An old Scottish saying says, “A Dandie looks at you as though he’s forgotten more than you will ever know.”

Temperament

The Dandie Dinmont is no “dandified” dog; it is rough-and-tumble and ready for the hunt. Yet it functions well as a dignified house pet, affectionate but not doting. It is a loyal companion suitable for people of all ages, but it does need daily exercise to keep it from becoming frustrated. It is intelligent and very independent. It tends to be reserved with strangers and aggressive toward strange dogs. Some dig.

Upkeep

The Dandie enjoys the chance to hunt around and explore in a safe area and needs a moderate walk to stay in condition. It does best as an indoor/outdoor dog, and should sleep inside. Its coat needs combing twice weekly, plus regular scissoring and shaping. Shaping for show dogs is done on an almost continual (but light) basis; that for pets can be done by stripping or clipping about four times a year.

Health

• Major concerns: intervertebral disc disease

• Minor concerns: shoulder and elbow luxation

• Occasionally seen: patellar luxation, otitis externa

• Suggested tests: (elbow)

• Life span: 11-13 years

Form and Function

Unlike the prototypical terrier, the Dandie is made up of a series of curves, topped off with a long, scimitar-shaped tail. It is almost twice as long as tall, constructed to go to ground after tough quarry. Its hind legs are definitely longer than its front legs. Its gait is free and easy. It has a distinctive coat made up of about two-thirds hardish (not wiry) hair and one-third soft hair, about 2 inches in length. The head is covered with soft, silky hair, lending to the appearance of a large head. The topknot also enhances the expression, which is determined, dignified, soft and wise

Avg Size of Female: Height: 9-10 Weight: 4-7

Other Name: bichon Maltiase

History

The Maltese is the most ancient of the European toy breeds, and among the oldest of all breeds. The island of Malta was an early trading port, visited by Phoenician sailors by 1500 B.C. Maltese dogs are specifically mentioned in writings as early as 300 B.C. Greek art includes dogs of Maltese type from the fifth century on; there is evidence that tombs were even erected to favor Maltese. Although the dogs were often exported and subsequently widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia, the core population on Malta remained relatively isolated from other dogs, resulting in this distinctive dog that bred true for centuries. Though the Maltese’s hallmark is its long, silky, dazzling white hair, early Maltese came in colors other than white. By the early 14th century, Maltese had been brought to England, where they became the darlings of upper-class ladies. Writers of the succeeding centuries continually commented upon their diminutive size. Still, these little dogs were never commonplace, and an 1830 painting entitled The Lion Dog From Malta — Last of His Race suggests that the breed may have been in danger of extinction. Soon after, two Maltese were brought to England from Manila. Although originally intended as a gift for Queen Victoria, they passed into other hands, and their offspring became the first Maltese exhibited in England. At this time, they were called Maltese terriers, despite the lack of terrier ancestry or characteristics. In America, the first Maltese were shown as “Maltese lion dogs” around 1877. The name lion dog probably arose from the habit of dog fanciers, particularly those in Asia, of clipping the dogs to look like lions. The AKC recognized the breed as the Maltese in 1888. The Maltese slowly increased in popularity and now ranks as one of the more popular toys.

Temperament

Long a favorite lap dog, the gentle Maltese fills this role admirably. It also has a wild side and loves to run and play. Despite its innocent look, it is bold and feisty and may challenge larger dogs. It is reserved with strangers. Some bark a lot.

Upkeep

The exercise requirements of the Maltese are easily met with indoor games, a romp in the yard or a short walk on leash. Despite its coat, the Maltese is not an outdoor dog. The coat needs combing every one or two days; show coats may be “wrapped” for protection. The white coat may be difficult to keep clean in some areas. Pets may be clipped for easier care, but then an essential trait of the breed is lost.

Health

• Major concerns: none

• Minor concerns: patellar luxation, open fontanel, hypoglycemia, hydrocephalus, distichiasis, entropion

• Occasionally seen: deafness, white shaker-dog syndrome

• Suggested tests: knee, (eye)

• Life span: 12 – 14 years

Form and Function

Even though the breed is known for its coat, its body structure, facial expression and overall carriage are essential components of the type. The Maltese is a diminutive dog with a compact, square body, covered all over with long, flat, silky, white hair hanging almost to the ground. The expression is gentle yet alert. It is a vigorous dog, with a jaunty, smooth, flowing gait. The well-built Maltese seems to float over the ground when trotting.

Gidget the Chihuahua, whose Taco Bell commercials made her a star, has died. She was 15.

The owner of Studio Animal Services in Castaic says Gidget suffered a massive stroke late Tuesday at her trainer’s home in Santa Clarita and had to be euthanized.

Gidget was the sassy mascot in Taco Bell commercials from 1997 to 2000. While other dogs had bit parts, it was her bug-eyed, big-eared face that was seen pronouncing “Yo quiero Taco Bell,” Spanish for “I want Taco Bell,” in a male voice dubbed by Argentine actor Carlos Alazraqui. A few years later, Alazraqui landed the role for which he is best known: Deputy James Garcia on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911!”

Gidget also had a role in the movie “Legally Blonde 2,” but others associated with the ad campaign weren’t so lucky. Earlier this year, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the creators of the Chihuahua character hadn’t been properly compensated for their work, and Taco Bell was ordered to pay $42 million.

Gidget’s trainer, Sue Chipperton, in an interview earlier this year with the People Pets website, described the diminutive dog as a consummate professional on the set. But, she said, Gidget had been the victim of typecasting, which limited her career choices (or, rather, Chipperton’s choices on her behalf).

– Lindsay Barnett