These Are The Rarest Dog Breeds
If you happen to be a dog person, you probably know about many, many dog breeds. Not to mention, the traits each breed has – some dogs tend to have more energy than others. Some are great with kids. Some are more silly. However, you might not know about some of these rare, less-known breeds. Have you ever heard of the Xoloitzcuintli, the Borzoi, or the adorable Gerberian Shepsky?
Xoloitzcuintli
Also known as the Mexican Hairless Dog, the Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo for short, is as the name indicates, a hairless dog. Don’t let that deter you, though, because these dogs are great companions and watchdogs. The breed has been around for more than 3,000 years, going back to ancient Aztec times. Back then, they were believed to be the canines of the gods. What’s more, this breed is completely natural, not a mix.
Xoloitzcuintli
Chinese Crested
While this pup might look somewhat strange with its hairless, spotted little body and shaggy fur, the Chinese Crested is impossible to mistake for any other dog breed. This breed has two varieties; the regular Chinese Crested, and the lightly furred “powderpuff” cousin. Both of them have the same adorable and affectionate demeanor. They’re easy to care for as well due to their small size and since they don’t shed.
Chinese Crested
Komondor
You’ll never forget the first time you’ll come across one of these huge, powerful, dogs. This breed grows to be over 100 pounds and stands nearly 30 inches high. Not to mention, it’s surprisingly agile. Their white dreadlocked fur serves them well in the cold weather that they’re normally bred in. They’re known for both blending in with sheep and chasing off wolves. Today, they make great family pets – just be aware of their large size! Fun fact: multiple Komondor dogs are called Komondorok.
Komondor
Borzoi
The sleek and elegant dog known as the Borzoi used to be known as the Russian Wolfhound. Once upon a time, this breed was famous for being the prized pets of Russia’s Romanov family who would hunt wolves. After the revolution, enough of these dogs were killed that the breed was almost erased. However, enough American and English dog breeders imported them to keep their legacy going. This breed is known to be calm, proud, and haughty with a demeanor that is similar to cats.
Borzoi
New Guinea Singing Dog
Closely related to the Australian Dingo, the New Guinea Singing Dog isn’t unusual for its appearance. Rather, it’s unusual for its voice. This dog’s vocalizations sound almost like a yodel, with variations in tones. What’s more, other dogs join in at different pitches, resulting in something called ‘chorus howling’. Amazingly, there are still some of these dogs living in New Guinea. However, domesticated Singing Dogs are known for being one of the rarest dog breeds in the world.
New Guinea Singing Dog
Alaskan Klee Kai
Have you ever seen a dog that looks like a mini Siberian Husky? Then you’ve probably seen an Alaskan Klee Kai. It’s a newer dog breed whose name roughly translates to “small dog”. While they definitely look like mini Huskies, they have slightly different temperaments and attributes. They’re much more domesticated than Huskies but have the same high energy levels as them, so be sure they get enough exercise!
Alaskan Klee Kai
Carolina Dog
An ancient and rare breed, the Carolina Dog is believed to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America with early humans. They spent many years getting domesticated by Native Americans, even before the European colonists came around. Some of these dogs can be found in the wild today, near the border of South Carolina and Georgia. However, even domesticated Carolina Dogs can have a somewhat wild demeanor, tending to be reserved and cautious around new people. One they do know a person, they’re highly affectionate.
Carolina Dog
Brussels Griffon
Who wouldn’t fall in love with that adorable face? You’ll definitely recognize a Brussels Griffon when you see one. However, that won’t be often, seeing how the breed is very rare. All the same, one fluffy dog became famous for being in the Jack Nicholson/Helen Hunt As Good As It Gets. Even though this breed has been around in Europe in centuries, they almost died out in World War I and II. They were brought back by adoring fans. If you’re an owner, congrats! Just know that these dogs are very social and get lonely easily.
Brussels Griffon
Bull Terrier
When you tell a little kid to draw a dog, a lot of the time, their picture will look something like the Bull Terrier. Once you see one of these dogs, you’ll recognize them thanks to their egg-headed, tiny-eyed, big muscled bodies. Don’t write them off for their funny appearance however, this breed is loyal, energetic, loving, and have a mischievous personality the whole family will love.
Bull Terrier
Gerberian Shepsky
Have you ever wondered what would happen when you cross the Siberian Husky with a German Shepherd? Seeing as both breeds are intelligent and independent, you can imagine what happens. This new breed is named the Gerberian Shepksy. They’re considered to be a “designer dog” who usually looks like a Husky with Shepherd’s color patterns. These dogs are playful mischievous, and loving family dogs who need plenty of exercise.
Gerberian Shepsky
Azawakh
The North African hound, sometimes called Arabian Greyhounds, were bred thousands of years ago to hunt small game. You can tell they’re fast thanks to their long and muscular legs. Today, the Azawakh is considered to be the rarest dog in the United States. The breed has a shy and calm mannerism and tends to be aloof with strangers. However, once they’re used to people, they’re sweet and loving with family.
Azawakh
Dalmadoodle
Also known as the Dalmapoo, the Dalmadoodle is another designer dog hybrid that is a mix of a Poodle and a Dalmatian. This breed is a loyal guard dog who’s inclined to bark at strangers, is intelligent, loving, and affectionate with family members. As a result, experienced training is recommended with this dog. While it’s rare to come across a Dalmapoo, they’re becoming more popular over time and have been recognized by the Dog Registry of America, Inc.
Dalmadoodle
Bedlington Terrier
Calmer than the standard terrier and with that unmistakable mohawk of curly fur down their forehead, Bedlington Terriers are beautiful and rare dogs who have a distinctive charm. While some people say they look like llamas, others say they look like sheep. All the same, they’re adored by everyone. Ironically enough, despite the fact that they are typically cuddly family dogs nowadays, they used to be used as hunters, fighters, or rat killers.
Bedlington Terrier
Bergamasco Sheepdog
If you’ve been lucky enough to meet a Bergamasco Sheepdog, you won’t forget it. The bulky, dreadlocked shepherd dogs have an ancient history that dates back to the Phenicians. After almost getting wiped out in WWII, they’ve made a bit of a comeback. Their matted fur coat is definitely their most distinctive trait; it contains three very different textures interwoven together. The layers of warmth helped them while they were in their homeland in the Italian Alps.
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Bracco Italiano
The Bracco Italiano has a history that dates all the way back to the 4th century, B.C. It’s usually considered to be the world’s first pointer dog. This breed was very popular in the Middle Ages, but they almost died out in the 1800s. It wasn’t until 2007 when an American club was formed for them. They’re known for making great hunting dogs, thanks to their calm demeanor and attitude. Not to mention their tough and hardy nature.
Bracco Italiano
Catahoula Leopard Dog
A Catahoula Leopard dog is always easy to recognize, even though their fur patters and eye color vary quite a bit. This dog is also named the Catahoula Hot Dog, is native to the North American continent and dates back to the 1500s at least. They’re described by an early Spanish explorer as looking like dogs but barking like wolves. While today’s breed has changed and evolved a bit, they’re known to be great herding dogs who also make intelligent family pets.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Puli
You probably won’t see a Puli too often seeing as they’re pretty rare. However, once you’ve pet one of them, you won’t forget it. The fur coat of a Puli – the plural is Pulik – needs plenty of care. This breed is a very loving one, with surprising agility. As you’d expect, their coat is heavy. They were originally bred for survival and herding sheep in the Hungarian plains.
Puli
Neapolitan Mastiff
So many folds! The Neapolitan Mastiff is a droopy dog that’s known to look like it bought a skin that’s five times too big for its body. Even their mouths are massively droopy. Also called a Mastino, these gentle giants have roots that go back as far as Ancient Rome. Just like other Mastiff breeds, their bold appearance hides a gentle, childlike personality. This breed is a snuggle champion!
Neapolitan Mastiff
Catalburun
One of the rarest dogs on earth, the Catalburun is also one of the most unusual-looking dogs. A distinct type of Turkish Pointer, their name roughly translates to “fork nose” from Turkish. This is quite an accurate description of their nose if you ask us. They used to be used for hunting, but today less so. This breed is celebrated in its native country, Turkey, but isn’t so known in the rest of the world.
Catalburun
Chinook
The Chinook is essentially the canine version of a workhorse. They were bred in America to be haulers. They have the strength of freighting dogs and the speed of sledding dogs. Just looking at them gives that away. Their bodies are large and muscular. Adult males can grow to 26 inches tall and weigh up to 90 pounds. This breed is known for being devoted, patient, and smart. They especially love kids and are eager to please.
Chinook
Czechoslovakian Vlcak
The Czechoslovakian Vlcak, also known as the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, came into the scene in 1955 when the CSSR crossed a German Shepherd and a Carpathian Wolf. Once the experiment came to an end a decade later, they planned on continuing to breed the new dogs, which had the most favorable and usable qualities of both breeds. In 1982, this breed was officially recognized as a national breed. This wolfdog is known for its lively, fearless and courageous personality.
Czechoslovakian Vlcak
English Foxhound
This breed dates back to the 1700s and is the typical affectionate, gentle, and sociable hound. The English Foxhound is very athletic and active, requiring plenty of space to run around, preferably with other dogs. It responds well to training and has plenty to say, so don’t expect it to stay quiet for too long. The English Foxhound is a little bit stouter than its American counterpart. In addition, it sheds seasonally, so have a brush ready.
English Foxhound
Finnish Spitz
While it has a petite appearance, the Finnish Spitz has a big personality. It’s lively and athletic, usually enjoying romping around and is known for being faithful and courageous. It’s the national dog of Finland and has been around for thousands of years. Their appearance resembles that of a fox, with their reddish-gold fur. This breed is another vocal one, whether it’s barking to let you know about an intruder, or just because it wants a walk.
Finnish Spitz
Hovawart
Hovawarts are native to Germany and are an ancient dog breed. This explains its large build; it can grow up to 28 inches tall and weigh more than 100 pounds. Since the Hovawart is highly intelligent and has a strong personality, it might make it less ideal for first-time dog owners. On the other hand, however, this breed is faithful, fun-loving, and extremely alert. While they make great family dogs, it takes a lot of training to get there.
Hovawart
Kai Ken
Natural hunters, Japanese Kai Ken dogs were first used for tracking deer and wild boar. They’re also known as tiger dogs. The Kai Ken is a very intelligent dog who’s a quick learner and is eager to please. It’s easy to see why they’re so highly regarded by the Japanese people. In fact, they consider the breed a national treasure. This breed has a medium body size and is usually a brindle color. When they’re not being guardians or hunters, they love swimming and even climbing trees.
Kai Ken
Lancashire Heeler
You’ve probably guessed from the name, but the Lancashire Heeler will go for your ankles if you aren’t careful. They’re native to England and the Kennel Club UK considers them a vulnerable breed. Even though their origin is somewhat of a mystery, it’s thought that the breed is a mix of the Welsh Corgi and the Manchester Terrier. It’s not surprising that these small dogs were originally used to herd cattle. Normally black and tan in color, Lancashire Heelers are alert, friendly, and playful. Most importantly, they need plenty of exercise.
Lancashire Heeler
Mudi
A Hungarian herding breed, the Mudi is related to the Puli and Pumi breeds. It’s mostly used for sport, companionship, and show nowadays. The breed was discovered in 1936, but it was called a driver dog back then. Unfortunately, after being discovered, it almost went extinct since a lot of them were killed in World War II. These days, owners need to make sure that they give these loud, curly dogs a lot of exercise.
Mudi
Norwegian Lundehund
This strange-looking, agile, and ancient breed has a small and muscular body that was once used to catch puffins on the island of Vaeroy by crawling into small holes and bringing the birds out. Nowadays, the Norweigan Lundehund makes a great pet. However, aside from being one of the ten rarest dog breeds in the world, they’re unusual in their own right. Aside from ears that fold shut, incredibly flexible shoulders and six toes on each foot, they can snap their head back to their spine. This made it easy for them to get into those small crevices. As for demeanor, the Lunderhunds are known to be very sensitive, so they’re typically recommended for experienced owners.
Norwegian Lundehund
Peruvian Inca Orchid
It’s easy to recognize a Peruvian Inca Orchid when you see one. Considering that they’re mostly hairless, they have a cute little mohawk on their foreheads. The rare breed is originally from Peru and comes in three sizes – toy, small, and medium. They date back to 750 AD. In fact, some pottery pieces even show them in human sweaters, so it looks like even ancient humans wanted to help keep these pups warm.
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Slovak Cuvac
Known as the Slovensky Cuvac, this dog was bred to be a livestock guard dog. It goes back as far as the 17th century but was in danger of extinction for a while thanks to careless breeding. Nowadays, the breed is known for being loyal, watchful, and alert. The large, shaggy dogs were bred to be white so they could be differentiated from the other animals walking around at night.
Slovak Cuvac
Stabyhoun
The Stabyhoun is originally from the Netherlands. The black and white-patterned dogs have a name that translates to “stand by me”. They’re independent and curious. While gentle and loving with humans, they’re known to be the dog that would successfully hunt all the squirrels in your yard, kill them, and bring them inside. Now, there are only 6,000 Stabyhounds left, making them one of the rarest breeds.
Stabyhoun
Tibetan Mastiff
If you’d see a massive Tibetan Mastiff running at you from far away, getting ready to jump you and lick you… You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a lion or something. This breed grows to be 150 pounds but is a gentle giant. The breed is ancient, dating back to the Roman Empire, if not earlier. Recently, it has become known for being the most expensive dog on the planet. Unfortunately, the boom in Tibetan Mastiff adoptions in the 2010s led to a terrible bust. Thousands of these beautiful dogs were abandoned in Tibet and still live on the streets.
Tibetan Mastiff
Swedish Vallhund
As you could guess from the name, the Swedish Vallhund is native to Sweden. However, don’t let it’s small size fool you; the Vallhund is a tough dog. It’s been used for herding cows for 1,000 years and even fought off extinction in the 1940s. Nowadays, the dog is used in dog agility trials, obedience, rally obedience, flyball, tracking, hiking, and herding events.
Swedish Vallhund
Otterhound
You might have thought that the Otterhound got its name thanks to its cute, vaguely otter-like appearance, but you’d be mistaken. These dogs were once bred to hunt otters and were quite good at it. They almost drove England’s river otters extinct. Nowadays, they’ve become one of the rarest dog breeds in the world, and are adored for their warm personalities. Other than their shaggy fur, their most distinctive feature would be their webbed feet that make them great swimmers.
Otterhound
Lagotto Romagnolo
Native to the Romagna sub-region of Italy, the Lagotto Romagnolo is known for being a “gun dog” which means a hunting dog. The breeds more interesting skill, however, is its usage in truffle hunting. It’s thought of as a good family dog thanks to its loyal and loving personality. There is some debate about whether the breed’s fluffy coat needs to be brushed regularly or not.
Lagotto Romagnolo
Fila Brasileiro
The Fila Brasileiro is a Brazilian breed that is famous for its excellent tracking skills as well as its tendency to leave the prey alive for the hunters. Unfortunately, the breed is also known for an aggressive temper, making it a good guard dog, but it also gives it a dangerous reputation. Especially in its native country. The breed’s aggressiveness has been used by outside forces all throughout history, whether it’s for cattle and jaguar hunting, or even chasing down runaway slaves.
Fila Brasileiro
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is rather strange-looking but still cute. They can be distinguished for their puffy foreheads. This breed has been around since the 1700s when they’ve been pampered by kings and embraced by writers. Aside from their odd appearance, their personality is just what you’d expect; they make great watchdogs and will yap at anyone who parks in the driveway. They have a good amount of energy and love playing with kids. However, not a lot of people own them today and seeing as they’re one of the rarest dog breeds, there is fear that they might go extinct.
Dandie Dinmont Terrier