If you were asked to name all of the dog breeds that you can think of, most people would have the same answers. There are around 493 dog breeds in the world and chances are that you may only be able to name maybe 10% of them. Below we look at five weird dog breeds that you may never have heard of.
1. Xoloitzcuintli: Pronounced Sho-lo-eets-quint-lee, this dog is more commonly known as the Mexican hairless dog. As the name suggests, this dog is completely hairless. Other defining features of this dog include a long neck, bat-like ears, and almond shaped eyes. While this breed has a long history in Mexico, they were also considered sacred by the Aztecs. It was believed that these dogs helped to guide the souls of their masters to the underworld.
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- 1. Xoloitzcuintli: Pronounced Sho-lo-eets-quint-lee, this dog is more commonly known as the Mexican hairless dog. As the name suggests, this dog is completely hairless. Other defining features of this dog include a long neck, bat-like ears, and almond shaped eyes. While this breed has a long history in Mexico, they were also considered sacred by the Aztecs. It was believed that these dogs helped to guide the souls of their masters to the underworld.
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- 2. Cambodian Razorback dog: The defining feature of this dog is the razor shape down its back. These dogs are commonly found in Cambodia. They have a long coat, which is unusual for a dog that lives in a tropical climate. However, they don’t overheat. This dog can be very territorial but can also be friendly and loving.
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- 3. Chinese Crested: If you’ve seen this dog before, you’ve probably heard of it being called the ugliest dog ever. This breed is hairless except for the top of the head, paws, and tail. The Chinese Crested is a very high maintenance dog. It requires sunscreen if going outdoors for a long period of time. They also need to be bathed and moisturized often to prevent dry skin and infections.
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- 4. Norwegian Lundehund: This dog is definitely one of a kind. This breed has six toes on each foot and is extremely flexible. The Norwegian Lundehund can bend his head backwards so that the top of the head can touch his back, and he can extend his front legs out to either side. This dog was originally bred for hunting puffins on Norway’s Lofoten islands.
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- 5. Brussels Griffon: This dog is named after the city Brussels in Belgium. They were bred to help eliminate rodents from stables. After the Second World War, there were almost no native Brussels Griffons left in Belgium. Dedicated breeders helped to ensure that the breed wouldn’t die out.
