[Derk de Tweede]

Is there any truth to the tale of Hitler and the Dog of Flanders? Did the Nazi party, and/or Hitler himself, personally try to exterminate any other breed of domesticated animal?
The story goes that Adolf Hitler had heard the stories of the heroic Bouvier Des Flandre and was considering elevating the breed to be the official guard dog of the Third Reich. However when he met one of the dogs in person, it promptly bit his hand. An angry Hitler had that dog shot and ordered that Nazi troops kill Bouviers on sight and strive to exterminate the breed.

I'm wondering if there is any truth to the tale, and if they had a hand in causing the extinction or near extinction of another breed of domestic animal.