Rare dog breeds have been officially recognized by the American Kennel Club for some time. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that a new category was added: “Designer Dogs,” or mixes of two purebreds that produce a third, distinct breed.
The result is a booming new market for puppies with high price tags and adorable names like Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, or Puggle.
Breeders are rushing to meet the new demand for these “unique” dogs, but critics worry that consumers might not be able to properly care for their specific needs.
Currently, rare dog breeds are becoming more and more popular among dog lovers who are willing to pay the price for these breeds.
A result is an increasing number of new market opportunities for breeders who are trying to meet the high demands. Critics fear, however, that the consumers might not be able to properly care for these dogs’ specific needs.
In this article, we will discuss some of the rare dog breeds and their unique appearance.
How Many Dog Breeds are There?
The AKC currently has 190 dog breeds on its list in the United States. The FCI recognizes 360 distinct breeds across the world. These don’t include unofficial breeds that have yet to achieve recognition. Neither do official lists contain mixed-breed dogs, even “designer” crossbreeds like the Goldendoodle or puggle.
Even though these new pups are very adorable, they’re mixed breed dogs with no pre-existing requirements for health, thus they are ineligible for purebred certification. Puppies must pass a variety of health tests and be free of genetic diseases before being offered for sale. With any highly renowned breed, potential parents should ensure that the puppy is healthy before acquiring a dog. And any breed that winds up at your local animal shelter may become your lifetime buddy.
The number of dog breeds is ever-increasing, with eight more breed hopefuls presently listed in the AKC’s miscellaneous category and enterprising dog breeders continuing to experiment with developing new sorts. Whether your pooch is a purebred or a mix of a dozen distinct mutts, he’ll love you unconditionally and make an excellent companion.
Dogs That Stay Small
Many rare dog breeds are smaller than usual in the breed. They are called “runts.” People usually prefer small-sized dogs as they look cute and fashionable. They spend a lot of money on pet supplies and even clothing. Thus, many breeders are producing smaller and smaller varieties of the most popular breeds. They describe it as “dwarfing down.”
Although most of these tiny versions of the breed are healthy, attempting to make it smaller and smaller does come with certain dangers.
One of the cute small dogs is Mi-Ki
The Mi-Ki is a rare, plush toy breed dog that has been selectively bred for the quiet company and an amusing disposition. The breed was brought to the United States in the late 1980s. The history behind the Mi-Kis is unclear, however, DNA analysis has revealed that they have a lot in common with other Asian breeds.
The Mi-Kis are purebred dogs. They are not a mix or a designer breed. Since the late 1980s, Mi-Kis have been bred to each other. Mars Veterinary Laboratories confirmed the Mi-Ki’s distinctive genetic markers in 2009.
They usually weigh between 3 and 10 pounds. The average adult weight of these small fluffy dogs ranges from 4 to 8 pounds.
The Mi-Kis are a wonderful breed for therapy and service dogs. They’re intelligent, pleasant, and laid-back.
Other rare dog breeds that stay small are Japanese Chin, Italian Greyhound, Chinese Crested dog, etc.
Gigantic Dogs
Nothing beats snuggling with your dog, and it’s even more adorable when they’re a big breed—there’s so much more to enjoy!
The definition of a “giant breed” is debatable, but we do know that the following breeds are some of the world’s biggest.
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Leonberger
- Irish Wolfhound
- Saint Bernard
- English Mastiff
- Kangal Dog
- Scottish Deerhound
However, one of the rare dog breeds that are also huge is called Great Dane.
These dogs have been known as “The Apollo of all Dogs.”
In fact, the biggest dog that ever lived was a Great Dane. His name was Gibson, and he stood 44 inches tall from paw to shoulder! He weighed 343 pounds when fully grown. Great Danes are often called gentle giants because they’re very calm and loving, even with kids.
Great Danes are known for being quiet, loving, calm dogs. They do well with children and are good family pets. They have a life expectancy of 7-10 years on average. However, their size causes them to be classified as brachycephalic dogs with breathing difficulties.
White Dog Breeds
White dogs are pretty much popular across the world. And it is not without reason. Usually, white dogs seem cuter and their appearance is more remarkable.
Some of these canines are tiny companion dogs, while others are big, powerful mastiffs.
The Samoyed, Great Pyrenees, and Japanese spitz are examples of dogs with snowy white coats that match their Arctic or mountain habitats.
The majority of the other breeds are flashy lapdogs that were used by kings and barons as companions.
Unfortunately, because of a hereditary pigmentation gene present in white dogs, they are at a higher risk of being born deaf. They are also more likely to suffer from skin problems and sunburn.
One of the rare dog breeds is American Eskimo.
The American Eskimo is a white dog breed with coal-black eyes and nose, like a snowman. The breed features a fluffy white coat and an awake expression, regardless of the size. It was once famous as a circus dog in the early 1900s because of its high intellect.
The Eskie is an American dog breed that was created in the Midwest in the latter part of the nineteenth century. It was formerly known as the German Spitz, but later was selectively bred to be snow white, and served as a farm dog for German pioneers. The breed’s name was changed to American Eskimo after World War I.
Teacup Dog Breeds
Teacup dogs are incredibly popular pets since teacups look like puppies for the rest of their life. It’s no surprise that they may sell thousands of dollars each. In general, teacups are smaller than their breed standard and as mentioned earlier aren’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Teacups aren’t miniaturized teacups; their normal-sized counterparts are full-grown adults that haven’t hit puberty or fully developed due to malnutrition, which is why they remain tiny throughout their lives. These dogs may also be at risk for bone and organ problems because of their small sizes.
One of the unique dog breeds is known to be a teacup husky. However, the truth is that they are not real. There are some miniature huskies, still, they are larger than any other mini breed
Wrapping Up
Dogs are the most popular household pets in America, and there’s a reason for their popularity. They provide companionship, unconditional love, and they protect our homes against intruders. But not all dog breeds are created equal! From tiny to gigantic, some dogs have traits that make them more desirable than others. We hope that you found our article about rare dog breeds informative. Leave us a comment if you have any questions.
