10 Dog Breeds You've Probably Never Heard Of

People have been selectively breeding dogs for thousands of years. Our faithful companions have helped us with everything from hunting and herding to protection and therapy. Over time certain breeds have become more popular than others, but we've combined a list of breeds that you've probably never heard of. Some of them are new breeds and others just aren't very common in the US. How many of these have you heard of?

1. Kromfohrlander (krome-for-lahn-dair)

• Height: 15-18 inches
  
• Weight: 20-35lbs
  
• These medium-sized dogs are known for their being funny, agile and intelligent
  
• They come in two coat types: wirehaired and smooth haired
  
• These dogs were bred to be companions and don't have the same hunting instinct that their terrier heritage might suggest they would.
  
• Can be picky with their food
  

Image Source: Photo courtesy of Fernando Julião, an official foreign affairs agent of the Portuguese ACRA (Associação de Criadores do Rafeiro do Alentjo) via dogbreedinfo.com

2. Alentejo Mastiff (aka Rafeiro do Alentejo)

• Height: 25-29 inches
  
• Weight: 77-132lbs
  
• Known as confident, calm and powerful, these dogs make excellent livestock guardians and watch dogs
  
• Can have a short or medium-length coat and comes in a variety of colors (black, wolf grey, fawn, brindle; always with white markings)
  
• Believed to have descended from the molosser dogs from the Middle East
  

Image Source: Wietske the black and white Stabyhoun, photo courtesy of Marilene Luxton-Jones via dogbreedinfo.com

3. Stabyhoun (stah-bay-hoon)

• Height: 19-21 inches
• Weight: 40-60lbs
• These loving companions are known for their intelligence, gentleness and obedience
• Originally from the Netherlands, these dogs have been used as a retriever and pointer
• Also called "Friese Stabij" or Frisian Pointer
• There name translates from Dutch as "Stand-by-me-dog"

4. English Shepherd

• Height: 18-24 inches
• Weight: 35-65lbs
• These working dogs are renowned for their intelligence, alertness and responsiveness no matter the task
• Bred by farmers that prioritized function over flash, these versatile dogs were used for everything from herding to hunting and protection
• They are happiest when they have a job and excel in many areas including herding, agility and obedience

Image Source: Shikoku dog picture via dogbreedlist.com

5. Shikoku

• Height: 7-21 inches
• Weight: 35-50lbs
• Other names include, Kochi-ken, Mikawa Inu and Japanese Wolfdog
• Originally from Japan, these dogs are kin to the Shiba Inu and Akita Inu
• These dogs are very loyal to their owners and love affection, however they are cautious dogs, with a high prey-drive do best with experienced owners
• These rugged dogs were originally used to hunt deer and wild boars

Image Source: Spanish_hound_0002 via royalcanin.in

6. Spanish Hound

• ​Height: 19-22 inches
• Weight: 50-65lbs
• AKA Sabueso Espanol, Greath Spanish Hound, and Spanish Lebrero Hound
• These hounds have been used since the Middle Ages to hunt everything from fox to wild boar
• The Spanish Hound needs lots of room to run. These dogs have been bred to work and without an appropriate amount of exercise they can become destructive
• This independent breed is rarely kept simply as a companion, and will require lots of training and patience if they aren't given a job

Image Source: Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography via vetstreet.com

7. Cirneco dell'Etna (cheer-NAY-ko)

• ​Height: 16.5-19.5 inches
• Weight: 18-27lbs
• They are a rare breed and mostly found in Italy
• These sighthounds have a high-prey drive and would do best in a home without small animals and require a secure yard
• These adventurous dogs are known for their silent hunting technique that allows them to sneak up on birds and rabbits

Image Source: Jagdterrier Picture via dogbreedslist.info

8. Jagdterrier

• Height: 13-16 inches
• Weight: 20-22lbs
• Described as alert, athletic and active, the Jagdterrier is primarily used as a hunting and sporting dog
• These fearless hunting dogs have been used to hunt a large variety of game ranging from squirrels and badgers to wild boar and mountain lions
• The Jagdterrier is a relatively new breed and was established after World War I to create a breed to be solely used for hunting

Image Source: Nick Ridley, Animal Photography via vetstreet.com

9. Bracco Italiano

• Height: 21.5-26.5 inches
• Weight: 55-88lbs
• One of Italy's two native hunting dogs, these people-loving, gentle dogs are used for tracking, pointing and retrieving birds and game from on land and in water
• This breed has a noble appearance and excels in sports such as agility, nose work and tracking
• These dogs love to hunt, but are also happy to curl up beside their family at the end of the day

Image Source: Lancashire Heeler Picture via dogbreedslist.info

10. Lancashire Heeler

• Height: 10-12 inches
• Weight: 6-13lbs
• These friendly little dogs are known for their alertness and cleverness
• The Lancashire's personality can range from lazy to playful and energetic
• They are a relatively new breed from Great Britain and descend from the Welsh Corgi and a small black and tan terrier type dog
• This confident breed is best suited for a confident, experienced owner