11 WEIRDEST Dog Breeds: Oddest In The World
Everyone feels that their dog is the most beautiful of all breeds. Dog lovers from all around the globe have varying opinions on dog beauty.
Also, as breeds were bred for specific purposes, like guarding and hunting, looks were the last criterion on the requirement list.
And although all dogs are lovely in their own way, this article lists 11 weirdest dog breeds that you are sure to look at twice.
1. Azawakh
The slender dog is not very common outside its homeland, West Africa, and may come as a bit of a surprise for some people. The animal is beautiful in its own way; however, long slender legs, a slightly long neck, and a face that seems proportionately smaller give the dog a weird look.
Named after a valley in the Sahara Desert, the animal does justice to its physique and is a swift hunter. This may, however, become a matter of concern if the dog is not trained properly, as it would chase any moving object, including small animals and children.
The animal is loving, loyal, and affectionate but needs a firm hand during training. They are aloof to strangers and do not like new people touching them. Also, as the dog is native to the desert, it does not fare well in colder climates, so make sure you cover it in wool before heading out.
2. Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier is known for its sheep-like appearance. The dog has a weird physical appearance, with a strangely arched and elongated back and rounded, pear-shaped head.
And with an unusual curly coat similar to that of a Poodle, the dog can be mistaken for a sheep. However, these tight curls are hypoallergenic, so the dog is a great option for people with allergies.
The dog is named so as it originated in Bedlington, England. The dog’s sheep-like looks are deceptive, as the animal was a hunter’s sidekick and vermin killer. And although they may be a part of show rings today, they still have the qualities of a hunting dog.
The breed is affectionate, loyal, and loves to grab the attention of its owners. However, once outdoors, the animal is intuitive, inquisitive, and aggressive toward small animals. One of the weirdest dog breeds in the looks’ arena, these dogs love playtime and have moderate exercise needs.
As far as you meet their exercise requirements, they make fantastic apartment pets.
However, Bedlingtons are known for their stubborn streak. Although they are moderately easy to train, positive reinforcement methods are a must.
3. Bergamasco Shepherd
The breed has long dreadlocks that may give the impression that the dog is in need of grooming. However, the dog has three coats instead of the usual two, which form a thick coat of dreadlocks that is very prone to matting.
The excess hair covering the dog’s eyes does give the animal a weird look; however, it helped it fight the extreme temperature conditions in the alpine where the animal was bred as a guarding and herding dog.
And despite what it looks like, the cost is fairly low maintenance. It is also hypoallergenic and a great choice for people with allergies. The animal loves to bond with humans and gather a lot of friends.
So, they will make each family member feel loved and cherished.
The animal needs tons of exercise; it is great with other pets, and amazing with children. However, it does not accept strangers easily, and you must socialize them at an early age.
4. Brussels Griffon
Nicknamed the bearded dog, the Brussels Griffon has large eyes to go with its beard that adds a rather comical look. Reminding people of Ewoks from the Star Wars movies, the animal has a monkey-like face with almost human expressions.
The animal is rather small but refuses to accept its size and challenges any moving creature coming its way. Brussels Griffon were street dogs that were bred to hunt and kill rats so that the stables would be rat-free.
They are excellent watchdogs, scaring away any possible threat, but your next-door neighbor may not like their verbal warnings.
The breed is native to Belgium, and the dogs are lovely, loyal, intelligent, and more but may demand their owner’s undivided attention. They are suitable for bachelors and families who treat their dogs like babies because they require a lot of love and attention.
5. Bull Terrier
The breed’s weird egg-shaped head, pointy ears that stand straight, and triangular eyes give it an unusual appearance. Another feature that adds weirdness to the breed is the body-head ratio. The animal has a beefy body atop which rests a small head.
However, these same distinct features make it one of the most recognizable weird dog breeds.
The animal was bred as fighting dogs and was used in sports like dog-fighting and bull-fighting. However, the animal is a lover through and through. They are known for their loving and affectionate personalities, especially towards children.
However, they get overly attached and do not do well when left alone.
They are high on energy and make excellent playmates. The animal needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. However, the dog also has a stubborn streak, which makes training them quite a task.
A Bull Terrier needs consistent and firm training to develop a positive temperament.
6. Catalburun
The weird nose sets the dog apart from all the other breeds. Meaning “fork nose” in Turkish, the animal has a split nose with one of the best smell senses. The dog was bred for hunting and as a pointer dog.
The bizarre breed is not only weird looking but also very rare. It is estimated that only around 200 of these dogs are present in the world today.
The fierce-looking animals are truly fierce with strangers. It is a stealth hunter that sneaks up on its prey. However, it is loving, and affectionate towards its family.
Also, when socialized well, the animal adapts well to other animals as well.
Their great sense of smell makes them amazing police dogs, narcotic detectors, and search and rescue dogs. The dog is high on energy and needs physical as well as mental stimulation to keep it happy and prevent it from developing negative characteristics.
7. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is weirdly beautiful, and contrary to what the name suggests, the breed is not native to China. Bred in Africa, the breed comes in two varieties—the hairless and the powderpuff.
The hairless variety has hairless skin except for soft flowing hair on the feet, tail, and head. The powderpuff variety has human-like hair all over the body. It is recessive, and both the hairless and powder puff varieties may be found in the same litter.
The dog is beautiful, with slender and fine bones, giving it an elegant experience. But more than its look, the animal is known for its loving nature toward its family. However, the same characteristic also makes them very needy.
They will follow their owner from room to room and do not do well in their absence. The dog tends to develop separation anxiety when left for long periods.
However, they do not extend the same friendliness to strangers and may even bite strangers if you do not train and socialize them well. Also, the hairless Chinese Crested does shed some hair despite the name, which can be a problem for some people with allergies.
They are great with children, but considering their small size, you must supervise the interaction between the dog and small children.
8. Komondor
The large dog is easily recognizable thanks to its long “dreadlocks.” Nicknamed the “mop dog”, their fur is very similar to sheep’s wool. However, it has a matted, dreadlock-like appearance and the fur reaches the ground.
The hair hangs down the dog’s eye, making one wonder if the dog can see at all.
The pure breed is native to Hungary and was used to guard flocks. The protective nature is still present in the breed, as they protect their loved ones and property with their life. It is a large dog and can reach a height of 30 inches at maturity.
Being a large dog with high intelligence and an independent nature, the Komondor needs a confident leader to raise it. However, this makes training it a breeze as well as a task.
These dogs will easily learn commands but will only follow the ones it wants to. Also, they are wary of strangers, don’t make friends easily, and can attack people they consider a threat.
They are also not accepting of other dogs and can be aggressive toward them. They are, however, friendly with livestock and cats. The dog may not need daily brushing, but you must ensure the coat does not get matted, or it will become a home for parasites.
9. Puli
Another dog donning the dreadlock look, the Puli is one of the most unusual breeds coming from Hungary. The medium-sized dog appears much larger, thanks to its long corded coat. The mop-on-four-legs is not just a show dog and was originally bred as a herding dog.
The breed is intelligent, affectionate, and confident, ready to be the center of attention in any home. Puli’s are highly energetic, so they need lots of playtime and vigorous exercise. They are also easy to train but need a firm hand while training.
They are lovely animals that do great with children and other family pets, often acting as their guardians and babysitters. They also have a very sensitive nature, which makes them perfect therapy dogs.
The coat needs maintenance and a lot of grooming, so many parents even choose to trim off their coats.
Overall, the Puli’s exercise requirement, grooming needs, and stubborn streak make it unsuitable for novice parents.
10. Russian Borzoi
The Russian Borzoi has a large body and an unusually small and slender head. At first glance, you may mistake it for a Greyhound, but all that fur soon points to it being another breed. The unique coat is sleek at the top and gets curlier and thicker as it reaches the legs and belly.
Russian Borzois were bred in Russia to hunt rabbits, wolves, and foxes. However, they were later bred as companion dogs for royalty across Europe.
The breed is laid-back and can adjust to apartment living. But it does not do well when left alone, and it is not for people who have to leave their homes often and for long periods.
Russian Borzois are heavy shedders and have high grooming needs. Also, their huge size makes them unsuitable for families with small children, as they may accidentally or playfully knock them over.
Two other drawbacks of the breed are that they are fussy eaters and very difficult to train. They are very stubborn and independent, which makes training them very difficult, even for professional trainers.
11. Xoloitzcuintli
One of North America’s oldest dog breeds, the breed is also known as Xolo or the Mexican Hairless.
The Aztec people once believed the dog to have healing powers. These four-legged “doctors” gave off heat from their bodies that comforted patients with arthritis and other ailments. And although the myth no longer remains, they are still great for cuddling and an excellent replacement for hot water bottles.
The dog has a weirdly attentive look with squinty eyes, wrinkled brows, and satellite-dish ears. It can hardly be termed beautiful with its hairless body, rat-like tail, and a mohawk bisecting the top of the head. However, it is still beautiful to its owners.
These dogs come in various sizes—large, medium, and small. They are not hypoallergenic but have a lower chance of causing allergies. The Xolo makes a great watchdog.
Conclusion
Almost everyone is aware of the standard dog breeds. However, not many know about the weirdest dog breeds around the globe. While the subject of their beauty is still debatable, you will definitely find these 11 breeds weird.
