New York -- The Working Dog State

Working Terriers

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation naming the "working dog" New York's state canine. The inspiration for the bill is Bari, the Golden-doodle of Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-Staten Island), who is trained as a therapy dog.

Eleven other states have designated official state dogs, but they're all specific breeds.

Maryland's is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Pennsylvania's is the Great Dane, and Virginia's is the American Foxhound. The official state dog in Massachusetts is — of course — the Boston Terrier.

New York says breed does not matter; the work does.

Is there a more American value than that?