5 rare dog breeds you can play with this weekend

Wag the dog. Or just shake a paw.

On Saturday, New Yorkers can get up close and personal with hundreds of pups ahead of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which takes place Monday and Tuesday. The American Kennel Club is hosting its annual Meet the Breeds where visitors can learn about — and play with — 135 different types of canines, from exotic new breeds like the moplike Spanish water dog (a distant cousin of the Portuguese variety made famous by first puppies Bo and Sunny Obama) to old faves like the Great Dane.

“It’s a great way to educate the public about these breeds they may have never heard about before,” says Gina DiNardo, vice president of the American Kennel Club. “And also so visitors can see what kind of dog best suits them.”
Here are five new, rare or just awesome breeds that you won’t want to miss.

$32, kids under 12, $10. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Piers 92 and 94, 55th Street and the West Side Highway; akc.org

Bergamasco

This sweet, goofy-looking sheepdog may have ancient roots, but it’s debuting at the dog show. Hailing from the Italian Alps, the stocky, long-haired breed is distinguished by its matted, dreadlocked coat, which is deceptively silky smooth. “Believe me, you’re not going to see this dog on the city streets,” says DiNardo.

Pharaoh hound

This regal-looking hound is one of the oldest domesticated dogs in recorded history. Tales passed down say its visage decorates the temples and tombs from Ancient Egypt. In addition to its ears that stick up, it has a humanlike characteristic: “It’s one of the few breeds that blush when it gets embarrassed,” says DiNardo. “Its nose and ears will turn red.”

American Eskimo dog

With its fluffy, snow-white coat, the American Eskimo dog looks a bit like a miniature version of the ever-popular Samoyed. The Nordic breed is not only perky, energetic and friendly, but it’s also quite talented — many performed circus tricks throughout the 19th century.

Berger Picard

Another dog making its Westminster debut, this farmdog first achieved fame with a starring role in the 2005 film “Because of Winn-Dixie.” “Back then the dog was so unfamiliar that the public thought it was a mixed breed,” says DiNardo. Used by French soldiers, this good-natured pooch almost became extinct due to fighting in Northern France in WWI and WWII, so it is rare.

English mastiff

Think you know this dog? Think again! One of the largest breeds in the world, the English mastiff is also one of the most storied, making an appearance in Julius Caesar’s account of invading Britain in 55 B.C. It was once the unofficial dog of the English monarchy.