When it comes to domesticated animals perhaps no pet is more synonymous with human beings than the dog.

In fact, it is believed that the first dog to be domesticated by humans was over 15,000 years ago, and today, many people can’t imagine their lives without them.

While some people are more than happy to open their homes and their hearts to any pup in need of a friend, discriminating enthusiasts and breeders the world over are committed to finding the most expensive and iconic breeds possible.

Today we’re going to be looking at 10 of the rarest dog breeds in the world. With all that said and done let’s begin.

10. The kooikerhondje

I’m pretty sure I mispronounced this name but I’m sure it’s a cute puppy anyway.

These small spaniel-type dogs, known as quick your Kooikerhondje, attract plenty of attention with their flashy orange and white coloring and probably interesting names.

This dog was originally bred to aid in duck hunting, in addition to that, these dogs were expected to spend the offseason catching vermin around the farm.

This multitude of uses means the kooikerhondje’s short stature is perfect for both luring ducks as well as chasing smaller prey who may be able to fit into space that larger dogs could not.

Today, there are a finite number of these dogs in the world, and breeders have to take extraordinary precautions to prevent the array of genetic disorders that plague them. 

9. The Norwegian Lundehund

The Norwegian Lundehund is pretty much unique from the ground up, and that’s because they have six little toes on each paw rather than the usual four toes that most canines have.

This odd adaptation may just have something to do with their rather troubled history.

The Norwegian Lundehund was originally bred with the distinct purpose of hunting puffin birds along the Norwegian coast. 

However, as time went on, new methods of hunting came along, and soon, this specialized breed was in very short demand.

By 1900, the breed existed only in an isolated village named Mostad, and by 1963, only six remained in the world.

But now we have about 1400 of them around the world. All thanks to the carefully monitored breeding efforts that made it possible for the population to recover.

8. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

As a relatively new breed, the Czechoslovakian wolfdog was engineered as an attack dog for use by the Czechoslovak special forces for military special operations carried out by commandos.

The breed was created by crossing German shepherd dogs and Carpathian wolves.

The result of this cross was a dog that was tame enough to train but who had superior navigational skills, endurance, night vision, hearing, and sense of smell.

After many years of military and rescue service, the Czechoslovakian wolfdog was officially recognized as a breed by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1989.

7. Thai Ridgeback

Until recently, our number seven entry, the Thai ridgeback, was almost entirely unknown outside of its native Thailand.

And this actually happened because it is a pariah dog.

A pariah dog is a breed of dog that is half wild and free-ranging but lives close to human settlements.

This means that they are extremely independent and adapt hunters

Like other members of the ridgeback family, the Thai ridgeback is distinguishable by a ridge of fur on its back that grows in the opposite direction as the remainder of its coat.

Other distinctive features of this breed include triangular ears, a wedge-shaped head, and a short, soft, smooth coat.

As for the build, the Thai ridgeback sports an agile, muscular, and streamlined body.

6. Azawakh

The Azawakh is among the most distinguished-looking breeds on today’s list.

Not only does the Azawakh have a striking presence, but as soon as it moves, you may very well start to suspect that it’s not your ordinary dog.

This unique canine moves in a notably more fiendline manner than its peers and this may be attributed to the Azawakh origins.

This sleek hunting dog was used to take down gazelle who can reach speeds of 97 kilometers per hour.

The gazelle, however, can maintain the speed only for a short time. However, the Azawakh can maintain its speed of nearly 70 kilometers an hour for a far longer time.

Possibly its closest competition is the greyhound but an Azawakh can maintain its top speed in grueling environments that would prove disastrous to a greyhound.

As far as a peck goes, these speedy creatures are not just for anyone, and they require experienced owners.

In addition, they can also be quite fierce, and for this reason, they are definitely not a beginner’s friendly dog.

However, if they fall into the right hands they can happily live beside other animals and even children.

5. Lagotto Romagnolo

The lagotto romagnolo is a rare breed that originates from the Romania subregion of Italy.

In English, the name literally means water dog, and this should come as no surprise, considering the original function of this breed was an aquatic retriever.

In this role, the lagotto Romagnolo would run into lakes and ponds to retrieve downed waterfowl for hunters.

However, that’s not the only thing that this breed boasts. They also have an exquisite sense of smell, and over the years, they have been trained to hunt for truffles.

In modern times this is their primary use as work dogs even though the breed is generally known to be an energetic sporting dog.

They can also make a docile and loving family pet bonding particularly well with children.

4. The Mudi

In 1936 Dr. Desno Fans of Hungary described this never-before-recognized breed of dog.

What we now call the mudi was initially bred by the driver’s dog.

Unfortunately,  many of the mudi would not survive World War II as they were still native to just a small portion of Hungary.

By 1966, interest in the mudi had grown, and it was officially recognized as a breed by the Federation of Clinic Internationale.

This recognition mendes resurgence for the breed, and in 2006, it was recognized by the United Kennel Club.

While they are still not as common as some other breeds, the number of the mudi in the world has grown and they thrive as working dogs in some areas where they hunt.

Exterminate rodents and act as capable herding dogs and flock guardians.

In addition to watching over flocks, this rare breed is also a very loyal protector of your home and family.

3. Stabyhoun

Coming in at number three on today’s list is the Stabyhoun.

This uniquely named dog is among the rarest in the world and ranges from a specific portion of the freezing forest area, a region in the southeast and east of Friesland in the Netherlands.

There are currently only a few thousand of these dogs in the world.

In the early 1800s when these dogs were far more common, they were used for bird hunting.

In earlier days, it was used for hunting smaller rabbits, foxes, and birds. It has also been used for catching moles as well as being a catch dog.

This breed is known for being friendly, sensitive, intelligent, peaceful, patient, and willing to please.

This combination of traits means that it’s relatively easy to train and capable of functioning as a solid all-purpose dog for poor farmers who could never afford to own separate dogs for protection.

In modern times, the Stabyhoun has experienced a surge in popularity, and with such diminished numbers, this makes them highly sought after.

And those fortunate enough to own one typically show them in a range of events, including agility, triathlon, obedience, hunting endurance, and frisbee.

Now it’s time for today’s best pick. Our top pick for today might just be one of the more unique dogs on today’s list as well as in the world.

2. The German Tiger Mastiff

The massive dog in this rare picture is known, of course, as the German tiger mastiff.

The German tiger massive is the result of a selective breeding program undertaken in 1936.

At the time it was hoped that they would successfully create a catch dog breed expressly for hunting wild boar.

At the time, particularly, a large wild boar was present in the forest surrounding Berlin, and many people feared casualties as they entered the city limits.

In an effort to cull their numbers, hunters with catch dogs took to the forest in hopes of landing a large bore.

Unfortunately, many found that the catch dog of time simply wasn’t large enough and was often challenged by the much larger bores. 

German tiger mastiffs, however, were fast and big, more than capable of catching a wild boar. 

Once the tiger massive caught its prey it would hold it in place until its handler arrived.

At this point, the board was typically dispatched, and the dog was rewarded.

Unfortunately, he proved to be an uncommonly aggressive dog, particularly towards humans.

And it seemed that one way or another in this dog’s days were numbered.

This abundance of aggression meant that very few were successfully bred before the dawn of World War II.

With the start of the war came the development of new arms, including the Gower 43, and soon, it became easier for hunters to capture the bores without catching dogs. 

While the German government couldn’t account for dogs, they were moved abroad. 

They declared the breed extinct by 1946.

However, in recent years, reports have seen the massive tiger appearing on the uninhabited island of Malam, where researchers snapped this picture below. 

Unfortunately, this photo is one of a kind, and researchers have yet to catch a specimen of this ultra-rare canine.

1. New Guinea Singing Dog

Also known as the new guinea highland dog.

This breed is native to the New Guinea highlands on the island of New Guinea and is actually closely related to the Australian dingo.

While the new guinea highland dog is a wild breed, it is best known through its domesticated members, and in fact, it’s believed that there are only two pictures of these lovely dogs in the wild.

In New Guinea, where these dogs are native many locals keep them either for home security or hunting purposes.

But of course, this isn’t where they get their unique name.

The new guinea singing dog does something that no other breed can.

While wolves and coyotes both have distinctive howls, the new guinea singing dog produces a sound more akin to a scream.

A single one of these vocalizations can last as long as five seconds and starts at a particular frequency that then rises and stabilizes for the rest of the cry.

However, even after stabilization, the frequency may modulate every 300 to 500 milliseconds.

Additionally, the sound typically contains five to eight overtones that add to the depth of the sound.

The sound is so intricate that it has been compared to the sounds made by humpback whales.

While it’s pretty impressive to hear just one of these dogs, not all new guinea highland dogs are solo artists.

In fact, a phenomenon called chorus howling involves a group of dogs forming a sort of harmony.

In chorus howling, the first dog begins, and shortly afterward, the others join in.

Typically, these courses are very well synchronized, and they end almost simultaneously.

The new guinea highland dog has one more trick up its sleeve though. It can also produce a bird-like trill during high arousal.

For a long time, it was believed that they were the only canine to produce the sound; however, recently, officials of the Moscow Zoo reported a dog making a similar sound.

Which of the rare dogs on today’s list was your favorite.

Which one would you want to own? Let us know in the comment section below.