10. Catalburun

The Catalburun dog breed or also known as the Turkish Pointer, can be readily identified by its “split nose.” Decades ago, Catalburuns with split noses were highly sought after for their better hunting capabilities, so this characteristic was bred into the dog. It was likely because of inbreeding that gave the dog its split nose in the first place. Catalburuns are a highly prized hunting breed in Turkey but not found anywhere else on the planet.

9. Thai Ridgeback

Thai Ridgebacks come from Thailand where the locals there use them as a cattle guardians and protection dogs. They have a raised ridge of fur that goes down their backs, much like a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog. The reason for this is the fur in the ridge grows opposite than the rest of it’s fur. There are only three dog breeds in the world that have this characteristic. Thai Ridgebacks were virtually never seen outside of Thailand until 1994 when they were introduced to the US. There’s still not many in Western countries. They are a strong willed and powerful breed. They are very independent and good at escaping so they need experience dog owners.

8. Norwegian Lundhund

This spitz breed was developed in Norway and used by the Vikings to hunt Puffins and their eggs. They are very unique in which they have double dewclaws on all four feet, making them have six toes instead of four like other dogs. They have extremely flexible joints which gives them an incredible range of motion. Unfortunately, they have a genetic problem in which their bodies cannot absorb a lot of nutrients from food, giving them relatively short lifespans.

7. Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a rare Italian dog breed from the south-east sub-region of Romagna. Their name means “water dog.” They were bred as duck retrievers and also truffle hunters as well. Nowadays, they are more used to track down truffles with their keen sense of smell. Lagotto Romagnolos were only introduced outside of Italy in 1996. They make really good companions for the family and are easy to train and care for.

6. Azawakh

The Azawakh is a rare West African sight hound dog breed. They originate from the countries of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. Like other sight hound breeds the are tall and very slender. They were breed for hunting gazelle and hares at speeds up to 40mph. Due to lack of game they became cattle guardians. The nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara use Azawakh for traveling with their livestock. They are also bred and kept by the ethnic groups such as the Peulh, Bella and Hausa. The Azawakh breed is incredibly resilient, they run at the top speed in degrees of 100 degrees Fahrenheit quite regularly. If a Greyhound tried that they would die.

5. Mudi

The Mudi is a sheep herding dog from Hungary. They were recognized as a dog breed in 1936 but almost went extinct during World War II when most of them were killed. Nowadays they still herd sheep in Hungary, sometimes up to 500 a herd but they are also bred as show dogs because of their rarity.

4. Stabyhoun

The Stabyhoun is a very old breed from the Netherlands. They are used as guard dogs on farms and to exterminate the rodents. They were also used as a pointing and retrieving hunting dog. They are able to water retrieve because they’re use to the freezing cold Dutch waters. They are an all around great dog but are rarely found outside of their homeland. There they are called Stabij which translates to “stand by me.” The dog is considered a Dutch national treasure. Today there are only a few thousand Stabyhouns in the world.

3. Fila Brasileiro

The Fila Brasileiro or commonly known as the Brazilian Mastiff is a large breed working dog developed in Brasil. Their origins come from the Iberian Union period in which Spain and Portugal formed an alliance between 1580 and 1640. They most likely came from the breeding of the Spanish Mastiff with the Portugal Mastiff, cattle dogs and a scent hound breed. They are extremely good trackers that trap their prey not attack it. This is because when slavery was legal in Brasil, the plantation owners used these dogs to track down runaway slaves. The Fila Brasileiro are also used to hunt large game like Jaguars. However, their main job is cattle guardians. They are very protective, wary of strangers and can get very aggressive since they were bred to be. In the United Kingdom, Malta, Fiji and Norway it is illegal to own a Brazilian Mastiff unless you have a special license from the court. They are a restricted breed in Australia with a ban on any new imports of the breed. In New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago they are classified as a dangerous breed, meaning they cannot be imported and all males must be neutered.

2. New Guinea Singing Dog

The New Guinea Singing Dog or the New Guinea Highland Dog is a rare dog native to the New Guinea Highlands on the island of New Guinea. They are closely related to the wild dog called the Dingo. In fact, there are New Guinea Singing Dogs that live in the wild still. They are very unique in the way they vocalize. They don’t bark like other dogs they have a shrieking melodious howling noise. They were domesticated by the tribes of the highlands for hunting and companionship. They are excellent climbers as well. Outside of New Guinea they are mostly bred as a show dog in the rare breed shows.

1. Chinook

The Chinook dog breed is the rarest in the world. They are a type of sled dog bred by Arthur Treadwell Walden in New Hampshire in the early 1900’s. The whole breed of only 800 dogs comes from one male ancestor named “Chinook,” who was Walden’s lead sled dog. He was a husky crossed with a mastiff. They were recognized as an official breed in 1991 and it is estimated only 100 pups are born annually now. The Chinook is New Hampshire’s official state dog.

Featured