5 Rare Dog Breeds You May Not Know!

There are so many breeds of dog, each unique and wonderful in their own ways. We have spent thousands of years selectively breeding dogs to look and behave in certain ways, resulting in some truly amazing breeds.

Many dog breeds are growing in popularity and the most popular dog breeds remain at the top year after year for many reasons - but what about the less common breeds?

These breeds are very rare, and their numbers may shock you! Here are 5 breeds of dog that are so rare you may never have heard of them and the statistics on their numbers in the UK.

For context, there were around 30,000 Labradors registered with the Royal Kennel Club last year, here are the figures for the breeds in this video…

1. Otterhound - there were 38 puppies registered last year.

These hounds were bred to retrieve (you guessed it!) otters. This means they have thick coats and webbed feet to assist their swimming.

2. Norwegian Lundehund - usually less than 5 registered each year, mostly imported into the UK rather than bred here.

These dogs are worth researching! They were bred to hunt puffins so they have many amazing adaptations to enable them to scale puffin territory easily, such as extra toes.

3. Lancashire Heeler - around 100 registered per year

Bred to herd cattle, a relative of the Welsh Corgi. What these dogs lack in size, they more than make up for in personality.

4.Smooth Collie - there were 56 puppies registered last year

A separate breed from the more common Border Collie, these dogs are bred to herd livestock and have a great personality.

5.Irish Water Spaniel - there were 50 puppies registered last year which is the lowest number for 50 years!

Bred to retrieve through water, an ancestor of the now extinct English Water Spaniel. These dogs have a unique look and great temperaments but their numbers are still dropping.

So, will you choose a more rare or vulnerable breed for your next canine companion?

Take a look at this video to find out more, including pictures of these fantastic breeds.

Thank you to all of the dogs and owners who allowed me to use their pictures to show off these breeds!