This page includes breeds that are either extremely rare in absolute population numbers or dog breeds that may be relatively common in a certain region of the world, but still considered rare in the rest of the world.
Experimental dog breeds, as well as new or re-created dog breeds may be rare as well, but have been grouped on a separate page: New dog breeds>>
Note that rare dog breeds are not necessarily unusual. 'Rare' only refers to their geographical distribution and/or formal recognition. Instead, unusual dog breeds are characterized by some untypical, distinctive feature or extraordinary origin.
The Uncommon Dog Breeds (Hardcover)
by Kathryn Braund
The book was written in 1975, so understandably not all dog breeds that were considered rare at that time still are so today, but nevertheless this is a great reference book on the topic. Includes the following breeds: Akita, American Treeing Coonhounds, Anatolian Shepherd dog, Australian Cattle dog, Australian Kelpie, Australian Shepherd, Bearded Colie, Bichon Frise, Border Collie, Canaan dog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Finnish Spitz, Greater Swiss Mountain dog, Hairless breeds, Ibizan hound, Miniature Bull Terrier, Pharaoh Hound, Portugeses Water dog, Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier More information
