According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (the FCI), there were a whopping 339 breeds of dogs out there as of a report done in 2013, but today we’ll be looking at just some of the rarest dog breeds.
When thinking of our four-legged friends, the usual dog breeds come to mind, and some of the most popular being your German Shepherds, your Huskies, your Chihuahuas, even your Schnauzers and even your Terriers.
Of course I’ve overlooked quite a few, as the American Kennel Club lists quite a few of dog breeds recognized by the organization, as does the aforementioned FCI, but today we’ll be looking at only some of the rare breeds you may have overlooked when thinking about adoption.
Let’s take a look at some of the rarest dog breeds known to man…
The Azawakh
This adorable long-legged pup looks a lot like Santa’s Little Helper on The Simpsons, but he’s quite different and hails from West Africa, according to Wikipedia.
They are indeed similar to their Greyhound counterpart and are also affective in terms of racing and/or performance based activities.
They can be trained to live in harmony with humans, but often take the profession of guard dog and they can indeed be quite fierce if necessary.
The Peruvian Hairless Dog
As its name suggests, this breed makes its home in Peru. The distinct characteristic that separates this dog from others is the fact that it is indeed hairless.
According to Wikipedia, this makes the dog a breed that is particularly easy to clean and is thus less likely to contract fleas. Some do have fur on their faces only, which makes them very distinctive.
The Bedlington Terrier
This breed hails from North East England. To look at this adorable pup, you’d think you stumbled onto some British countryside and have run into a little lamb. Their resemblance to the adorable farm animal is pretty uncanny.
They do have extraordinary speed and have a large buildup of endurance, but they are equally as cuddly, apparently. The AKC states that the dog is gentle and mild-tempered.
The Bergamasco Shepherd
Yes, a sheep dog and an adorable one at that. He hails from the Italian Alps and no, that’s not a dirty mop hanging from its head and body; that’s its fur, which is a distinct character trait this breed has.
The New Guinea singing dog
Related to the Dingo, this breed, who hails from New Guinea, apparently doesn’t bark, but rather yodels, as Wikipedia states, and it is thus known as the “barkless breed.”
They, like their Dingo counterpart, are wild dogs, but also like the Dingo, some have been trained for life with humans but it is difficult, as they are officially still a wild animal and their behavior may not be suitable for the average dog owner.
The Stabyhoun
This breed from Friesland, Netherlands, is considered to be the rarest breed around, according to Wikipedia. Known as a hunter specifically, or rather a “gun dog,” as the aforementioned source puts it, the dogs have a distinct bushy tail and curly or rather wavy hair on the body, but yet the hair on the head is like that of a Golden Retriever only predominantly black or white as photo documentation shows.
The Shiba Inu
Although still rare and expensive, this breed has risen in popularity over the years. The face of Dogecoin, this breed also was the face of Twitter just recently when Twitter owner Elon Musk changed the logo from the signature tweeting bird to this dog’s likeness. He changed it back soon after.
This pup hails from Japan and is considered to be a hunting dog but is a domestic breed. Many in North America (and the world), have adopted this breed over the years since rising in popularity. I’m sure you’ve seen one at your local dog park, dear readers. I know I have, and they’re really sweet.
Any rare dog breeds you’d like to let us know about, dear readers?