The 10 Rarest Dog Breeds You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

If you think the King Shepherd looks familiar, you’re right! This beautiful breed is a hybrid of the German Shepherd (who sits at #5 on the most popular list) and the shiloh shepherd. Its size sets it apart: The average male King Shepherd weighs between 90 and 150 pounds, compared to 65-90 pounds for a German Shepherd.

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The black-and-tan English Toy Terrier weighs in at just 4-12 pounds and is a close relative to the Manchester Toy Terrier. The tiny dogs were originally bred to track down rats and other vermin.

Related: Small Dogs that Stay Tiny Forever

Canaan Dog has several coat colors recognized by the AKC: Black, Cream, Golden, Liver, Red, Tan, and White. Rare in the U.S., it is the national dog of Israel. The breed is thought to date back thousands of years.

Some think the Black Russian Terrier resembles the trending Bernedoodle. The large breed (up to 130 pounds) has ties to the Russian army. It has a curly double coat that requires some grooming.

Rover notes this dog breed as “extremely rare” and even on the risk of extinction. With origins in Sakhalin Island, Russia, it is the smallest of the husky breeds.

Related: Cuddly Dog Breeds that Look Like Bears

The German Longhaired Pointer is a similar breed to the Setter and German Shorthaired Pointer. Like those breeds, it’s a skilled hunter.

Related: Which Dog Breeds Are the Smartest?

The beautiful Saluki dates back to ancient Egypt but is not popular among U.S. dog owners. Much like the greyhound, which it resembles, the Saluki is tall, slim, and fast.

If you think the German Spitz resembles a Pomeranian, you’re right! The two breeds are closely related. Unlike the playful Pom, the German Spitz is bred in three sizes: Toy, Medium, and Large, ranging in weight from 10 to 50 pounds.

At first glance, a Patterdale Terrier looks a bit like a Lab, but they’re considerably smaller and have a rough or wiry coat in Chocolate, Black, Tan, or a combination of those colors. The dog is more popular in the U.K, but rare in the U.S.

The distinctive Portuguese Podengo is known to be intelligent and independent and are keen hunters. They’re bred in two sizes (medium and large) and have either a wiry or smooth coat.