From ancient royal dogs to wolfhounds, here are 11 of the rarest breeds in the world
11. English Foxhound
The English Foxhound is an ancient breed that was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1909. In 1995, only 35 Foxhounds were registered with AKC. Raised as hounds, they are used to hunt foxes. Known for being loyal and gentle, the English Foxhound is now considered a good companion for an active family. Today, foxhounds retire at the age of 7 and are often adopted. Another interesting fact about these dogs is that their fur, wiped off with a damp cloth, can reduce the likelihood of shedding.
10. Harrier Hound
AKC first recognized harriers in 1885, an ancient hunting breed from England that were raised to hunt rabbits and hares, hence the name Harrier. The harrier hound looks so similar to a hound that some people mistake it for one of the hound breeds. Harriers are outgoing and friendly dogs that prefer an active lifestyle, and it sounds strange that they require a lot of training and exercise due to their independence and ability to reproduce, such an interesting breed would be considered rare, however, when the UK banned hunting rabbits to chase hares, the demand for hares dropped, and some enthusiasts believe that this breed will become extinct within 10 to 15 years.
9. Puffer dogs
The breed comes from the remote Lofoten Islands off the coast of Norway, they were bred as hounds that hunt puffins on steep vertical cliffs with six toes and slender back pads on each foot, and like many hunting breeds, they were smart, energetic dogs, a good hunting dog could catch 30 puffins a night, puffins nested in caves, these dogs developed the flexibility to enter burrows and catch them, and by the 20th century, fishing nets were used to catch puffins, and the demand for dogs declined. As with harriers, when demand decreases, the variety also decreases,
8. American Foxhound
The American Foxhound is thinner than its English cousin, it is bred in the United States for fox hunting and other prey, and like its British counterpart, they are bred in flocks to hunt and can run for hours while chasing, this breed was crossed by French and English hounds in the 17th and 18th centuries, in fact, as the number of foxes in a group decreased, this breed also decreased, although all their excellent characteristics were good, but they were rare
7. Otter dogs
Originally from England, it has a stout physique that allows it to jog long distances, it has a rough outer layer and an oily inner layer to protect it from thorns and cold water, this strong sport hound is used to hunt otters, and the tower even has webbed [pǔ] feet. The otter dog's sense of smell allows it to track otters in running water and on various terrains, but it has an amiable temperament and is a good family pet, but its independent thinking and ability to hunt alone make it a rather stubborn dog, which has traditionally not been kept as a pet
6. Swedish Deer Hound
Also known as the Viking, the Swedish Deer Hound dates back more than a thousand years to the Vikings, the largest deer hound may have been used to hunt bears, but as the demand for bear hunting declined, they were later used to hunt bobcats, wolves, moose, and also had a strong hunting ability in these aspects. They can traverse the snow and trap their prey for the arrival of hunters. This brave, stout, bulky breed is as versatile as other Norwegian deer hounds, and is commonly used as sheepdogs, watch dogs, sled dogs, and Swedish military dogs. Loved in Sweden, Swedes use them as watchdogs and companion dogs, this kind of dog is also increasing in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, North America, in the near future, this kind of dog may be loved by people all over the world.
5. Bellington Terrier
The Bellington Terrier is mistaken for a lamb, the Bellington Terrier is known for its curly and light wool, this breed is lively despite its fluffy appearance, as they are bred for racing and catching pests, this breed comes from the north of England, which is home to many dog breeds, the first dog known as the Bellington Terrier was born in 1825, in Victorian dog portraits, the Berrington Terrier appears in many works of art, in 1877, the United Kingdom founded the National Berrington Dog Club, 1886, The American Kennel Club recognizes the Bellington Terrier
4. Spitz, Finland
The Berrington may look like a lamb, but this breed resembles a fox, and the agile and intelligent Spitz has straight ears, thick fur and a thick tail, and their fur color ranges from light honey to dark russet, the Spitz type dog has been around for thousands of years, and their development depends on their living environment, the need of the locals Spitz dogs to hunt hunting bird hunting squirrels, and even large animals such as elk and bears
3. Broom dogs
It is a Hungarian Shepherd with a long fur and a broom dog whose fur is also thick and curly, in fact, the sheepdog is mainly replaced by farming, although the broom dog is rare, its popularity is low, the broom dog has a strong herding instinct, they like to be outdoors and open spaces, their origins are not well known, because they were a breed discovered in the 1930s, this breed is a survivor of World War II
2. Ashawar dogs
Ashawa dogs originated in the Sahara Desert, mainly the wandering Tuareg people use them to hunt gazelles and other local animals, they are also good watch dogs and precious companions, few people know their ancestors, their agility comes from their slender physique, which allows them to move quickly and change direction suddenly, they are visual animals, which means they hunt with their eyes, they like to chase, but they are shy about humans, they don't know where to go outside the Sahara Desert, They can't tolerate cold weather, and the breed first came to the American Kennel Club in the 1980s
1. Thai Ridgeback
It originated in Thailand, ridgeback dogs were originally bred in Thailand as guard dogs and hunters, they are cherished for their loyalty, their name comes from the back of Thailand, they are one of only three breeds with this characteristic, they are not popular outside of Thailand, probably because of their fierce protective and territorial nature, they do not get along well with other dogs, the dog used to be used for hunting, following vehicles or as a guard dog, because of the early isolation from the outside world, coupled with the rare opportunity to cross with other dog breeds, As a result, the Thai Ridgeback has retained many of its original natural instincts, with the first record of the Thai Ridgeback appearing in Thailand more than 350 years ago, but enthusiasts believe its breed is much older
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