Four breeds to make Westminster debut

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NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Swedish vallhunds are among four breeds making their debut this year at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York.

The two-day show begins Monday with the debut of the Tibetan mastiffs in the working group, the Plott in the hound group and the Beauceron and the Swedish vallhund in the herding group, The New York Times reported Saturday.

All four breeds have been officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, a requisite for Westminster competition. The debut marks the most breeds to be admitted at once since 1991.

Kerstin J. T. Ottmar, who has three generations of Swedish vallhund, calls the AKC recognition a "lifetime goal and an achievement." Ottmar's mother, Marilyn Thell, was the first to breed the Swedish vallhund in the United States in 1985. The Ottmar's kennel plans to show three vallhunds at this year's Westminster.