12 Rarest Dog Breeds — our top picks
Dingo
Australian wild dog, not truly domesticated. Primitive canid with strong survival instincts.
New Guinea Singing Dog
Primitive breed from New Guinea known for unique vocalizations. Wild-type dog with dingo characteristics.
Cesky Terrier
Czech terrier with silky coat and calm temperament. Less aggressive than most terriers, excellent family pet.
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Irish terrier with gentle temperament. Longer and lower than most terriers, calm and patient.
Kai Ken
Japanese tiger dog with brindle coat. Primitive hunting breed with strong prey drive and loyalty.
Kemmer Stock Mountain Cur
Specialized line of Mountain Cur bred for hunting and treeing. Athletic and determined with strong hunting drive.
Lowchen
Lion Dog with distinctive lion clip and cheerful personality. One of the rarest toy breeds in the world.
Mi-Ki
American toy breed with calm, friendly temperament. Hypoallergenic companion developed for optimal family pet characteristics.
Mudi
Rare Hungarian herding dog with versatile abilities. Intelligent and energetic all-purpose farm dog.
Pachón Navarro
Ancient Spanish pointer with unique split nose. Hardy, versatile hunting dog with strong tracking abilities.
Prague Ratter
Worlds smallest breed by height, Czech toy dog with excellent ratting ability. Ancient breed with noble history.
Sealyham Terrier
Small Welsh terrier with distinctive white coat. Calm, charming, and less aggressive than most terriers.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 343 breeds is scored on the traits that matter most for this lifestyle — energy, size, temperament, grooming and trainability — using our vet-reviewed breed database. Read more about our methodology, or take the free quiz for a ranking personalised to you.
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Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- What is the rarest dog breed?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Dingo ranks as the top choice for people drawn to unusual and hard-to-find breeds, followed by the New Guinea Singing Dog and Cesky Terrier.
- How was this list of dogs for people drawn to unusual and hard-to-find breeds chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for people drawn to unusual and hard-to-find breeds — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.