Under unusual dog breeds we have classified these breeds which show a singularity, i.e. either a physical peculiarity or a typical behavioral trait, not usually seen in other dog breeds. We have also included some dog breeds with an intriguing or unusual history and as well as rare dog breeds. However, not all dog breeds listed here are necessarily rare. Actually, some of these canine breeds can be quite common in their home country (to the point that they have been chosen as the national dog of a state or country).

Basenji
The Basenji descends from dogs that came from Zaire in the 1930s.
The peculiarity of this dog is the singular yodel it produces (a bit like a Swiss Alpine yodeler). Like the wolf, the Basenji has only one breeding cycle a year.

Chinese crested: a hairless dog with a typical crest (tuft of hair) on the head and tufts of hair on the feet and tail called respectively 'socks' and 'plume'. More about the Chinese crested dog and other hairless dogs.

Chinook
A typical spitz temperament in the body of a shepherd dog. An American breeder named Arthur Walden crossed Eskimo dogs with St. Bernards and Belgian shepherds to obtain a breed with immense pulling power. The breed was named after Walden's favorite dog. See: sled dogs.

Chow Chow:
One of the most unusual dog breeds for its patchwork appearance: the mane of a lion, the black tongue of a bear and the fur coat of a dowager. It was once bred for its flesh and fur. More about the Chow Chow and other Chinese dog breeds.

Fila Brasileiro
One of the few breeds that includes temperament tests in the breed standard and the only dog breed that has been purposely developed over centuries to deeply dislike the humans they were not raised with. Filas also have a very typical camel gait. More about the Fila

New Guinea Singing Dog
Like many primitive (pariah) dogs the New Guinea Singing Dog produces a singular howling sound. See: primitive dogs.

Newfoundland: A breed with webbed feet used to assist emergency services in sea rescue. A drawback in this breed are overzealous Newfoundlands who tend to 'rescue' anyone in the water regardless of their need to be rescued.

Norwegian Lundehund peculiarities of this breed would be considered a fault in other dog breeds, but were purposely bred for in Lundehund's native Norway. The Norwegian Lundehunds have six toes on each foot that allow them to climb on vertical cliffs and their neck joints enable them to bend their head backward over their shoulders so that their forehead touches its back.

The Norwegian Lundehund can also close their ear canals at will (to protect them against dirt and moisture) and are able to bend their head 180 degrees backwards over their shoulders. Their fore-shoulder joints are extremely flexible and empower both front legs to be stretched straight out to both sides, for greater ease in swimming and maneuvering in the narrow crevices in Norwegian sea-side cliffs where their avian prey lives. For this and other Norwegian and Scandinavian dog breeds, see Nordic dog breeds

Puli:
A herding breed native to Hungary.
Pulik (the Hungarian plural form) have a characteristic corded coat. As it takes many years for a dog to acquire these typical long cords, many Pulik are at their best in dog shows at an age when most other dog breeds are retiring from competition.

Shar Pei:
With its blue tongue and loose wrinkled skin the Shar pei resembles no other dog. The abrasive, loose skin is a reminiscence of the Shar pei's dog fighting ancestry. Read more about the Shar pei.

Telomian Dog: A characteristic of the breed is the use of their paws for opening doors, holding toys and chewbones, much like a human infant

Thai Ridgeback:
With its cat-like agility and unusual morphology half-way between a spitz-type dog and a primitive hound, the Thai Ridgeback undoubtedly deserves its place in this list. This ridge-backed breed was used as a guard dog and hunting companion in his home country where it is known as Mah Thai.

Catahoula Leopard Dog:
A dog with a sixth sense, (often) with intruiging bleu eyes and a strange coat, and capable of climbing trees. The breed name comes from its unique leopard-spot pattern overlaid on a background of almost any color or marking.  Read more about the Catahoula leopard dog.

Dog Breeds Home > Unusual dog breeds

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