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Get To Know The Three New Breeds At This Year's Westminster Dog Show

This year's Westminster Dog Show will feature three exciting new breeds: The Rat Terrier, the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, and the Chinook. Here's why you should be excited about the new kids on the block, brought to you by Purina® Pro Plan®, the dog food of choice for 8 of the last 8 Westminster Best In Show Champions.

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by PurinaProPlan

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1. Introducing the perky Rat Terrier.

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The Rat Terrier is an intelligent, active little dog that is cherished both for pest control and as a family pet.

2. This was last year.

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Rat Terriers were on the outside of the Westminster Dog Show looking in. The breed was originally a mix of small hunting terriers, and it's only over the last 100 years that owners have sought to classify them as a separate breed.

3. And this is today!

Brendan Mcdermid / Reuters

The Rat Terriers are finally ready to take the stage with the other top breeds.

4. Here's what these little guys are good at:

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Their name comes from the dog's rat-catching skills that were valued by their 19th-century British and American owners.

5. And Rat Terriers are inquisitive and smart.

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They're also great around the house and tend to be calmer than other types of Terriers.

6. Chinooks are a rare breed of working dog bred in New England.

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They are an exclusively American dog breed, first bred by polar explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden during the early 1900s from a mix of Mastiff, Husky, and German Shepherd bloodlines.

7. This is what they look like at their day job.

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The Chinook is remarkable for its strength in relation to its lightweight body.

8. Their name means "warm winter winds" in Inuit.

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In 2009, the Chinook was named the official dog of the state of New Hampshire.

9. Chinooks make excellent pets.

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They are a lovable family dog and known for being great with children.

10. The bright lights of New York City might be an adjustment for these working dogs.

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It's a far cry from the woods of New England, but they'll be ready.

11. Oh, hey! Welcome to Westminster, Portuguese Podengo Pequeno.

Eduardo Munoz / Reuters

This small, lively breed is ready to go.

12. Like the Rat Terrier, these guys love to hunt and dig.

Cyril Wermers / CC BY / Via youtube.com

The dog was bred in Spain and Portugal to hunt rabbits, a serious threat to crops in that region. It was later valued as a house dog skilled at catching mice and other vermin.

13. They sport two coat types, smooth and wire-hair.

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The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (pronounced pe-KEN-ooo) stands 8 to 12 inches tall and weighs 9 to 13 pounds.

14. And they're incredibly cuddly.

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As you can see with this batch of puppies.

15. The Portuguese Podengo Pequenos and their fans are licking their chops for their grand premier at this year's show.

Cyril Wermers / CC BY / Via youtube.com

Relive the story of last year's champion, Banana Joe, presented by Purina® Pro Plan® – the nutrition of choice for 93 of the top 100 AKC all breed champions.

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Get to know last year's winner, Banana Joe!