Top 10 Dog Breeds You've Never Heard Of

Named after Catahoula Parish in Louisiana, the Catahoula Leopard Dog was originally used for hunting. Thanks to their strong sense of smell, Catahoulas have also been used in search and rescue missions. These pups definitely take the term “work hard, play hard” to heart, as they are known for being affectionate love bugs at home. They’re also excellent swimmers, so if you have a pool, a Catahoula might decide to take a dip in it. Since they are the only breed to have originated in Louisiana, it’s fitting that they’re the state’s national dog.

A relatively new breed, the Mudi is originally from Hungary. They first appeared around 1936, and sadly, almost became extinct during World War II. Today, the Mudi is a cute little fluff ball who loves exercise. Since they were originally bred to be herding dogs, the Mudi is happiest when they get to play, frolic, run, and give their human friends lots of love. Even though Mudik have grown in population, they are still relatively rare. The majority can be found in Hungary and Finland. They are so darn adorable that we’re tempted to move to Hungary just to get one.

One of the few breeds that has a ridge on their back growing in the opposite direction, the Thai Ridgeback is a natural athlete. Known for their high energy, Thai Ridgebacks were initially bred as hunters and guard dogs. They still maintain these characteristics, which is why they aren’t the most ideal breed for first-time dog owners. Thai Ridgebacks need to be slowly socialized and challenged due to their high intelligence. Once they become accustomed to their families, Thai Ridgebacks bring new meaning to the phrase “man’s best friend” because they are fiercely loyal and caring pups.

These pups don’t actually sing, but that doesn’t mean they don’t try! With ties to the Australian dingo, the New Guinea singing dog lives in the New Guinea highlands. Rather than bark, the New Guinea singing dog makes a distinct howl that sounds like they’re trying to carry a tune. On occasion, these pups howl together, which is known as “chorus howling.” Today, many of the locals in New Guinea have adopted these puppers, and quite a few have been crossbred, which is why they are such a rare breed. There are hardly any left living in the wild.

With origins dating all the way back to ancient West Africa, the Azawakh was used as a guard dog and to hunt gazelles. They can run up to 65km or over 40 miles per hour, so it’s not much of a surprise that they are ideal pets for runners. While still considered to be relatively rare in North America and Europe, the Azawakh is beginning to make its way around the world. If they are well trained, the Azawakh love showering their families with lots of love. They can even get along with what most dogs fear the most: cats.

An extremely rare breed, the otterhound is endangered with roughly 600 left in the world. Just as their name suggests, they were originally bred to hunt otters. When otters started to disappear in England and once otter hunting became illegal, they were not bred as much. Otterhounds are known for their shaggy coats, webbed feet, and love of swimming, which is no surprise since they were expected to hunt otters! While these pups do like exercise, they can also be cuddly couch potatoes who want nothing more than to snuggle up with their human pals.

Considered a national treasure in the Netherlands, the Stabyhoun was first introduced to the rest of the world in the 2000s. These black and white cutie pies were first bred to hunt foxes and became quite adept at catching moles. Today, Stabyhouns make great family dogs due to their gentle and calm nature. They are particularly good with kiddos, and like most children, enjoy a lot of physical exercise. Since they first lived near the coast, they are excellent swimmers and enjoy dog paddling whenever they can. Thankfully for those of us who don’t live in the Netherlands, they are starting to appear in many countries.

Also known as the Arabian Greyhound, the Sloughi is an ancient breed with roots in North Africa. They go back so many centuries that drawings of them have been found in tombs in Egypt. Today, many Sloughi are still used for hunting. If you are looking for a companion who won’t want to leave your side, then a Sloughi may be for you. They are very attentive to their family members, although they are a bit shy around new faces. Sloughis have been described as graceful and elegant, so if you do get one, be sure that you can match their poise.

The official state dog of New Hampshire, the Chinook were first bred to be sled pups. The Chinook is a cross breed between a Mastiff and a Greenland husky. Their name comes from the first dog that was used to produce them, who was named Chinook, which in Inuit translates into “warm winter winds.” Chinooks are eager to please and respond well to lots of attention and care from their families. They are little scholars who love learning new things. If you have another pup, a Chinook will most likely try to make friends with them because they get along well with other doggies.

Just as their name suggests, the Norwegian Lundehund hails from Norway. Their name is literally “puffin hound,” as “lunde” means puffin and “hund” means “hound.” They were first designed to hunt puffins and their eggs, which are often found on difficult to reach cliffs. If a Norwegian Lundehund ever decided to take up ballet, they would probably do well due to their flexibility and six toes. While Norwegian Lundehunds look very cuddly, they aren’t. These pups are not ideal for families, but instead are great for someone with a very active lifestyle as they love exercising. That’s just another reason why they would make great ballerinas.