The American Kennel Club is the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs, and uses these statistics to rank the most popular breeds — and the rarest breeds. The numbers are in: these are the rarest dog breeds according to AKC registration statistics.
In 2025, 202 total breeds were counted in the registration statistics. In 2026, 205 breeds will be counted. This will include the breeds that received full AKC recognition on January 1, 2026: the Basset Fauve de Bretagne, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, and the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier.
A New Breed in the No.1 Spot
The rarest dog breed in the United States is the Norwegian Lundehund. They were recognized by the AKC in 2011.
The Lundehund was ranked as the No. 3 rarest breed in 2024, moving to the No. 1 spot this year. The Sloughi remains a consistent top 10 contender, with a No. 2 spot in 2025 and a No. 4 spot in 2024. The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen took third in 2025, ranking third in 2024 as well.
Since new breeds are often added to the mix of AKC-registered breeds, the rankings shift year over year. In 2024, 201 dog breeds were recognized, and the English Foxhound took the No. 1 spot as the rarest breed in the United States. In 2025, 202 breeds were counted, and the top spot shifted to the Norwegian Lundehund.
The 10 Rarest Dog Breeds of 2025
Though some breeds surge in popularity over the years, some breeds climb the rankings as the rarest breeds. There is no less pride in these breeds than, say, the No. 1 breed in the U.S., the French Bulldog. Though the rare breeds may be smaller in numbers, they are mighty in passion and breed preservation. Their owners revel in owning rare breeds. Here are the top 10 rarest breeds in the United States:
Norwegian Lundehund
Sloughi
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
Harrier
Chinook
Cesky Terrier
Belgian Laekenois
Azawakh
Finnish Spitz
Canaan Dog
Big Shifts of Note in 2025
With the additions of new breeds recognized nearly every year, it’s hard to gauge whether breeds are becoming rarer or if other breeds are just becoming more popular. In some cases, there are certainly surges in popularity, but for other breeds, the registration numbers are so low that even one fewer dog registered makes a difference.
Getting Rarer
The Greyhound saw a significant change from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, the Greyhound ranked No. 51 most rare, whereas in 2024, they ranked No. 83. Along with the Greyhound’s 32-ranking change, a few other breeds got rarer year over year. The Briard and the Black Russian Terrier moved 27 places, now at No. No. 49 respectively.
Within the top 10, the Harriers, Chinooks, and Cesky Terriers became rarer from 2024 to 2025. Harriers went from No. 18 to No. 4, Chinooks went from No. 19 to No. 5, and Cesky Terriers went from No. 14 to No. 6.
The Kerry Blue Terrier, Spanish Water Dog, and American Staffordshire Terrier all moved over 15 spots in the rankings, becoming more rare. The Kerry Blue went from No. 66 to No. 48, the Spanish Water Spaniel from No. 54 to No. 36, and the AmStaff from No. 124 to No. 106.
Getting More Popular
As some breeds become increasingly rare, others rose in popularity. The Wirehaired Vizla moved 29 spots in the rankings to No. 73 in 2025. The Bergamasco Sheepdog and American Hairless Terrier moved to No. 20 and No. 95, respectively. The English Foxhound, which was the rarest breed in 2024, is now the No. 16 most rare breed, a significant jump in one year.
AKC Registration Statistics
The American Kennel Club has recognized 205 breeds since it was first founded in 1884, with additional breeds working their way towards recognition through the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) and the Miscellaneous Class. 202 breeds were included in the 2025 rarest dog breeds rankings, and the three breeds that were AKC-recognized in 2026 will be included in the 2026 rankings.
If you’re looking for a puppy of your own, AKC Marketplace can connect you with a responsible breeder.
Knowing your dog will be counted as part of the compilation of the annual breed popularity list is only a small benefit of dog registration. The AKC is the only purebred dog registry in the United States that maintains systematic inspections and investigations. The AKC conducts thousands of inspections each year to ensure compliance with standards that support the welfare, safety, and health of dogs across the nation.
Rarest Dog Breeds of 2025 Full List
Rank
Breed
1
Norwegian Lundehund
2
Sloughi
3
Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen
4
Harrier
5
Chinook
6
Cesky Terrier
7
Belgian Laekenois
8
Azawakh
9
Finnish Spitz
10
Canaan Dog
11
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
12
Pyrenean Shepherd
13
Lancashire Heeler
14
Otterhound
15
American Foxhound
16
English Foxhound
17
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
18
Komondor
19
Cirnecho dell’Etna
20
Bergamasco Sheepdog
21
American English Coonhound
22
Skye Terrier
23
Pharaoh Hound
24
Kuvasz
25
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
26
Puli
27
American Water Spaniel
28
Sussex Spaniel
29
Ibizan Hound
30
Norwegian Buhund
31
Briard
32
Plott Hound
33
Danish-Swedish Farmdog
34
Irish Water Spaniel
35
Curly-Coated Retreiver
36
Spanish Water Dog
37
Berger Picard
38
Glen of Imaal Terrier
39
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
40
Sealyham Terrier
41
Irish Red and White Setter
42
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
43
Pumi
44
Lowchen
45
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
46
Lakeland Terrier
47
Scottish Deerhound
48
Kerry Blue Terrier
49
Black Russian Terrier
50
Affenpinscher
51
Swedish Vallhund
52
Greyhound
53
Australian Terrier
54
Irish Terrier
55
Field Spaniel
56
Bedlington Terrier
57
Redbone Coonhound
58
Russian Toy
59
Smooth Fox Terrier
60
Treeing Walker Coonhound
61
Tibetan Mastiff
62
Welsh Springer Spaniel
63
Bearded Collie
64
German Pinscher
65
Icelandic Sheepdog
66
Black and Tan Coonhound
67
Braccho Italiano
68
Saluki
69
English Toy Spaniel
70
Clumber Spaniel
71
Bluetick Coonhound
72
Manchester Terrier
73
Wirehaired Vizsla
74
Barbet
75
Norwegian Elkhound
76
Finnish Lapphunds
77
Norfolk Terrier
78
Mudi
79
American Eskimo Dog
80
Xoloitzcuintli
81
Tibetan Spaniel
82
Parson Russell Terrier
83
Belgian Sheepdog
84
Neopolitan Mastiff
85
Tibetan Terrier
86
Afghan Hound
87
Silky Terrier
88
Belgian Tervuren
89
Welsh Terrier
90
Spinone Italiano
91
Boerboel
92
Pointer
93
Schipperke
94
Norwich Terrier
95
American Hairless Terrier
96
Wire Fox Terrier
97
Toy Fox Terrier
98
Miniature Bull Terrier
99
Gordon Setter
100
Japanese Chin
101
Beauceron
102
Dogo Argentino
103
Bouvier des Flandres
104
Borzoi
105
Flat-Coated Retriever
106
American Staffordshire Terrier
107
Leonberger
108
Dogue de Bordeaux
109
Chow Chow
110
Standard Schnauzer
111
Basenji
112
Border Terrier
113
Pekingese
114
English Setter
115
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
116
Old English Sheepdog
117
Bull Terrier
118
Keeshond
119
Rat Terrier
120
Lhasa Apso
121
Brussels Griffon
122
Alaskan Malamute
123
Chinese Shar-Pei
124
Coton de Tulear
125
Bullmastiff
126
Lagotto Romagnolo
127
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
128
Irish Woldhound
129
Biewer Terrier
130
Irish Setter
131
Chinese Crested
132
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
133
Airdale Terrier
134
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
135
Cairn Terrier
136
Miniature Pinscher
137
Great Pyrenees
138
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
139
Boykin Spaniel
140
Saint Bernard
141
Akita
142
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
143
Russell Terrier
144
Bloodhound
145
German Wirehaired Pointer
146
Scottish Terrier
147
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
148
Samoyed
149
Weimaraner
150
Italian Greyhound
151
Giant Schnauzer
152
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
153
Dalmatian
154
Bichon Frise
155
Whippet
156
Australian Cattle Dog
157
Newfoundland
158
West Highland White Terrier
159
Shiba Inu
160
Portuguese Water Dog
161
Papillon
162
Rhodesian Ridgeback
163
Mastiff
164
Collie
165
Pug
166
Maltese
167
Vizsla
168
English Cocker Spaniel
169
Basset Hound
170
Cocker Spaniel
171
Belgian Malinois
172
Brittany
173
Siberian Husky
174
Shetland Sheepdog
175
Miniature American Shepherd
176
English Springer Spaniel
177
Border Collie
178
Havanese
179
Chihuahua
180
Boston Terriers
181
Great Dane
182
Shih Tzu
183
Bernese Mountain Dog
184
Pomeranian
185
Boxer
186
Miniature Schnauzer
187
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
188
Doberman Pinscher
189
Australian Shepherd
190
Yorkshire Terrier
191
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
192
Cane Corso
193
Bulldog
194
German Shorthaired Pointer
195
Rottweiler
196
Beagle
197
Poodle
198
Dachshund
199
German Shepherd Dog
200
Golden Retriever
201
Labrador Retriever
202
French Bulldog
