The 10 Rarest Dog Breeds in the World

Bergamasco Shepherd

The Bergamasco Shepherd's tasks are guarding and watching over sheep. Its thick, shaggy coat is ideal for standing guard on cold nights and keeping an eye on the livestock. Since the end of the Second World War, there has been little demand for the breed. The Bergamasco is medium-sized, loyal, brave, and alert. It also barely sheds, which should make it particularly attractive for allergy sufferers. It is intelligent, robust, resilient, and well-balanced. It loves and seeks human companionship and makes the perfect family dog. It's a shame that in 2019 there was only a single litter of Bergamascos, showing just how endangered this breed is.

Old German Herding Dog

The Old German Herding Dog is also known as the "Westerwälder Kuhhund" (Westerwald Cattle Dog). It is robust, reddish to brown, with tightly curled hair and tipped or pricked ears. A tough little fellow who doesn't flinch even from bulls or mother cows. It confidently nips at their heels to round up even large cattle. No other native breed handles livestock of this size as well. Unfortunately, it is hardly needed anymore and is therefore on the list of endangered dog breeds.

German Pinscher

The German Pinscher is medium-sized, black and reddish-brown, short-haired, and easy to groom. It is an agile animal, intelligent, and has a high life expectancy as it is not particularly prone to illness. It was formerly used as a stable dog or farm dog to watch over the estate. It's not a yapper, but it will bark when it senses a threat. It also loves to chase mice and rats. Nowadays, it's more of a family dog kept at home. The German Pinscher needs consistency and affection, making it unsuitable for every household and therefore less common today.

Austrian Pinscher

While we're on the subject of Pinschers, the Austrian Pinscher shouldn't be forgotten. It is also medium-sized, but otherwise looks quite different from its German relative. It has longer fur and a completely different build. It is also medium-sized, but stocky. Its temperament is alert, playful, and affectionate. Its hunting instinct is only weakly developed, which makes it an excellent family dog. It barks at strangers, watching over its family and property. The breed is relatively new compared to the others listed, but still rare.

Medium Spitz (Mittelspitz)

The Medium Spitz is a medium-sized ball of fluff that comes in black, white, brown, orange, grey-clouded, or multi-coloured varieties. It has countless colour variations. As varied as its colours, so is the Mittelspitz's personality. It is lively, vocal, patient with children, and weather-sensitive. In the past, it was often found on farms because it could immediately detect and announce dangers. Today, it prefers to romp around in the garden with the children. The Spitz is arguably the oldest German dog breed. Yet it is now threatened with extinction.

Giant Spitz (Grossspitz)

The Giant Spitz differs from the Medium Spitz primarily in size, of course. The height at the withers differs by 12 centimetres. It is also not quite as colour-diverse. It comes in black and white. The white Giant Spitz was found in fine society in northern Germany, while the black variety was kept in vineyards in southern Germany. The number of Spitz dogs is so low that crossbreeding between different varieties is being considered to somehow ensure their survival.

Standard Schnauzer (Mittelschnauzer)

Few dogs are as unmistakable as the Standard Schnauzer. This medium-sized, rough-coated, robust Schnauzer carries its trademark right on its face. Originally, this high-maintenance dog was intended for farm and stable work in southern Germany, but is no longer needed as much. It is more widespread abroad than in its home country. The Standard Schnauzer is an all-rounder. It can do family life, but also sports, hiking, stable work, farm guarding, riding companionship, and rescue work. None of its original qualities have been lost, which makes it extremely valuable.

Germanic Bear Dog

The Germanic Bear Dog is a cuddly giant. It is large, fluffy, and was created by crossing the Saint Bernard with a herding dog. Which herding dog that was is no longer known today. It certainly has the character traits of a typical herding dog and the calmness of a Saint Bernard, making it ideal for families with a yard. It is loyal, alert, and despite its size, it can become lively and playful when given enough love and attention. A loving and special breed. However, it is not recognised by the FCI (the international canine organisation) as its lineage is unclear.

Bouvier des Ardennes

The Bouvier des Ardennes is resilient, medium-sized, and powerful. This scruffy, beige-coloured, pointed-eared, wire-haired dog needs to be all of that, as it tends and protects sheep herds in the Ardennes year-round. The Ardennes Bouvier is essentially a local breed and rarely ventures beyond its home region. It is primarily a working dog — guarding livestock, house, and property, and used for wild boar hunting. It is agile, brave, and not the easiest to handle, which means it absolutely needs an experienced owner.

Otterhound

The Otterhound can be traced back to the 11th century. The breed is large, with long, curly fur and a black-and-light-brown pattern. The coat is dense, waterproof, and protects the Otterhound from the cold water it was bred for. Originally, it was used for otter hunting. Although it may look clumsy and awkward at first glance, the breed is actually agile and swift. It is strong-willed and a true hunting dog through and through. Its character is strong and well-defined, requiring consistent leadership. Even after good training, it remains very independent and likes to do things its own way. There are an estimated 350 of these dogs left, as otter hunting has been banned. As you can see, there are quite a few breeds that are very old — or even quite new — and already threatened with extinction. Most rare and even endangered dog breeds are the working types. And since humans increasingly live in cities rather than on farms, rarely go hunting, or keep livestock, the breeds specifically bred for these tasks are dying out. All their other outstanding qualities that make them perfect family dogs unfortunately can't quite compete. Much needs to be done to preserve them...