For better or worse, there are some dog breeds that are staples of American neighborhoods. Every other dog-lover owns a labrador or a golden retriever. Poodles of all sizes and fluffy yorkies and shih-tzus rule the city streets. But when was the last time you saw an Australian kelpie? How about an Ibizan hound?
Some breeds are simply more elusive than others, but that doesn’t make them bad dogs! So I believe it’s time to give some of these rare-yet-adorable pups the recognition they deserve. Though you may never encounter some of these breeds, you can still fawn over their unique appearances and even more unique backstories.
- The Borzoi
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I’ve chosen to start with the aristocratic borzoi because I think that, though rare, this breed may be the most recognizable on this list. The thing is, you’re more likely to recognize the borzoi from old paintings of nobility and ceremonial hunts than from real life. This elegant dog comes from the sighthound family, meaning it’s related to the far more common greyhound. The family resemblance is quite clear: if a greyhound had longer fur and endless good hair days, it would be the spitting image of the borzoi.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the borzoi is its origins. It was bred by the Russian aristocracy to participate in huge wolf hunts pre-Russian Revolution, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). They were once called Russian wolfhounds because of this. However, their connection to the Russian aristocracy almost became their downfall during the Russian Revolution, when many were killed for being symbolic of the overthrown Russian rulers, according to hillspet.com.
- The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
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At a glance, you may think you’ve seen the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever dozens of times before — after all, it follows the typical retriever template of folded ears, fluffy fur, and a cheerful smile. However, this isn’t your typical retriever, and it’s actually quite hard to find in America.
The Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever originates from the Little River district of Yarmouth County in Nova Scotia, where it was bred to act as a “decoy dog” for duck hunters, according to the AKC. This meant it was trained to mimic the appearance and mannerisms of foxes, whose color and movements lure ducks toward them. In doing this, these retrievers would lure ducks within shooting range of their human partners.
This unique hunting style isn’t the only thing that sets the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever apart; it’s also the smallest retriever recognized by the AKC, standing at just about a foot and a half at the shoulder. According to dogtime.com, they’re also unique among retrievers for having a bit of a stubborn streak.
- The Australian Kelpie
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Now we begin to arrive at the more obscure breeds. The Australian kelpie is a smart and perky herding dog who, as its name suggests, hails from Australia. Though the breed’s exact origins are unknown, the AKC says that it’s likely descended from Scottish collies that were brought to Australia to help manage farmers’ massive flocks of sheep. They may have also been interbred with dingoes, according to dogtime.com.
Perhaps the most fascinating part of this breed is its versatility. Its intelligence makes it very trainable, and it can become talented in a variety of areas. These include “search and rescue, detection work, therapy work, guide dog duties, agility and dog sports, and more,” according to dogtime.com. These dogs can even learn to surf, according to the AKC, which states that an Australian kelpie won the World Dog Surfing Championship in Pacifica, California, two years in a row in 2016 and 2017.
- The Ibizan Hound
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The Ibizan hound may be rare in modernity, but it has ancient ties. Its ancestors are traceable to around 3400 BC, according to the AKC, which describes the breed as “lithe and leggy visitors from the dawn of civilization.” These dogs, which are affectionately (and amusingly) referred to as “beezers,” were bred on the Spanish island of Ibiza to hunt rabbits and other small animals, and their strong prey drive survives today.
The most intriguing fun fact I learned while researching beezers is that they have incredible jumping abilities. They’re able to reach heights of 5–6 ft. from a standing position, according to the AKC. Dogtime.com elaborated on this particular talent, saying it makes the dogs “notorious as counter surfers,” and that their owners should “never trust them alone with food, no matter how out of the way [they] think it is. Outdoors, protect them with a secure fence that’s at least six feet high.”
- The Kai Ken
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I’ve saved the rarest for last. The kai ken is the final dog on this list because it is also one of the hardest breeds to find, even in its home country of Japan. This medium-sized Japanese dog is not nearly as common as other Japanese dogs, such as the shiba inu. Thesprucepets.com suggests this could be because it’s too large to be kept in homes and apartments in cities like Tokyo. However, it’s not as high-maintenance as it seems. Though it sheds, it’s a clean dog that requires little grooming, and its exercise and stimulation needs can be easily met through a combination of walks and inside games.
One interesting fact about kai kens is that they always have brindle coats. Though puppies are often born with solid black fur, they gain brindling as they age, and the exact pattern of their brindle stripes may change over the first five years of their lives, according to the AKC. This trait is the reason the breed is also called “tiger dogs,” or “tora dogs” (tora meaning tiger in Japanese).
Though the above-listed dog breeds are hard to find and harder to own, it can still be fun to admire them in all their unusual glory. There are so many dogs in the world, each with its own story, and each adorable in its own way!
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