The Rarest Dog Breeds in America, Compared

Side by side

Figures are from AKC breed profiles. Norwegian Lundehund: 12 to 15 inches, 12 to 18 pounds, 12 to 15 years. Sloughi: 24 to 29 inches, 40 to 65 pounds, 10 to 15 years. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen: 15.5 to 18 inches, 40 to 45 pounds, 13 to 15 years. Harrier: 19 to 21 inches, 45 to 60 pounds, 12 to 15 years. Chinook: 22 to 26 inches, 50 to 90 pounds, 12 to 15 years.

Cesky Terrier: 10 to 13 inches, 14 to 24 pounds, 12 to 15 years. Belgian Laekenois: 22 to 26 inches, 55 to 65 pounds, 10 to 12 years. Azawakh: 23.5 to 29 inches, 33 to 55 pounds, 12 to 15 years. Finnish Spitz: 15.5 to 20 inches, 20 to 33 pounds, 13 to 15 years. Canaan Dog: 19 to 24 inches, 35 to 55 pounds, 12 to 15 years. Best for: owners willing to wait, travel to a breeder and learn a breed few vets or trainers have met.

How the AKC decides which breeds are rarest

The AKC ranks breeds by how many dogs are registered each year. In 2025 it counted 202 breeds, and the rarest list is simply the bottom of that ranking: the Norwegian Lundehund was No. 202, up from No. 3 rarest in 2024, when the English Foxhound held the spot. The AKC notes that with so few registrations, even one fewer dog can move a breed several places.

Three newly recognized breeds, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka and Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, join the 2026 count. The AKC is careful to say that popularity reflects registrations, not which breed is smartest, best-looking or best as a pet. Some breeds are rare in America but common elsewhere.

The three rarest

The Norwegian Lundehund comes from the island of Vaeroy and was the only breed created to hunt puffins, the AKC says. It has six toes on each foot, an extra joint in the neck that lets it bend its head backward, and shoulders flexible enough to stretch its forelegs to the side. Its numbers fell when farmers switched to nets and puffins became protected; today it is a friendly, athletic companion.

The Sloughi, nicknamed the Arabian Greyhound, is a lean North African coursing hound that the AKC describes as regally aloof with strangers and gentle with loved ones. It is rare even in its homeland after hunting bans and disease, did not reach the US until 1973 and was only recognized by the AKC in 2016. The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is a French scenthound, busy and tireless but never high-strung.

Hounds and sighthounds

The Harrier is a swift, prey-driven pack hound first bred in medieval England to chase hare, outgoing and friendly, larger than a Beagle but smaller than an English Foxhound. The Azawakh is a tall, elegant West African sighthound from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, with a short, fine coat in many colors. The Finnish Spitz, flame-colored and foxy-faced, is a fearless small hunting dog nicknamed the Barking Bird Dog for the way it signals game.

These breeds share hunting instincts that shape daily life. Sighthounds like the Sloughi and Azawakh need fenced space to run and should never be off leash in the open, and pack hounds like the Harrier need company and plenty of exercise. Ask breeders how their dogs live with cats and small pets before committing.

Working and terrier breeds

The Chinook, the pride of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, is a rugged working dog and devoted family pet known for intelligence, patience and eagerness to please, according to the AKC, and was once close to extinction. The Belgian Laekenois is one of four native Belgian shepherd breeds, similar in body and temperament to the Malinois but with a rough, distinctive coat.

The Canaan Dog, Israel's national dog and one of the AKC's oldest breeds, is a quick, medium-sized pasture dog that is docile with family, aloof with strangers and a vocal guardian. The Cesky Terrier, national dog of the Czech Republic, is a clever, adventurous playmate for kids that the AKC describes as more laid-back and tractable than the usual terrier.

What owning a rare breed involves

Expect to wait months or longer for a puppy and to travel to meet a breeder, since some of these breeds have only a handful of breeders in the country. Contact the national breed club first: it can point you to responsible breeders, explain the breed's quirks and tell you which health tests matter. Be wary of anyone with puppies always available.

Tell your vet about the breed early, especially for unusual dogs such as the Lundehund, whose anatomy and breed-specific health concerns many clinics rarely see. Ask the breed club which conditions to screen for and share that with your vet, and plan for training classes, since few trainers will have worked with your breed before.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.

Rare breeds come in unusual shapes, so measure before you buy and check the size chart on any dog harness rather than going by breed name.