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20 Least Popular Dog Breeds in America
Dogs are man’s best friend. They serve as the ultimate companion, always happy to see you after a long day and offer endless amounts of unconditional love. While some Fido friends like Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds are among the most popular dogs every year, others like the pharaoh hound continue to remain obscure.
An estimated 70 million to 80 million dogs in the United States are someone’s precious pet. That means approximately 37 to 47 percent of all households count a dog as a member of the family, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Having a dog can improve your health, as they’ve been known to boost the moods of their owners and lower stress levels. Owning a dog can also make you more active, as you’ll need to walk your four-legged friend multiple times per day.
Created a list of the 20 least popular dogs based on American Kennel Club's 2019 popularity ranking (which keeps tabs on 190 different breeds).
- 1. English Foxhound
- 2. Harrier
- 3. Norwegian Lundehund
- 4. American Foxhound
- 5. Otterhound
- 6. Cesky Terrier
- 7. Finnish Spitz
- 8. Chinook
- 9. Pyrenean Shepherd
- 10. Skye Terrier
- 11. Bergamasco
- 12. Sussex Spaniel
- 13. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- 14. Pharaoh Hound
- 15. Canaan Dog
- 16. Finnish Lapphund
- 17. Glen of Imaal Terrier
- 18. Spanish Water Dog
- 19. American English Coonhound
- 20. Norwegian Buhund
20 Norwegian Buhund
Why it Might Not be Popular: Barking and not ideal for apartment living
The Norwegian buhund is a non-hypoallergenic breed known for its frequent barking. These active dogs require daily exercise to remain happy and healthy.
19 American English Coonhound
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The American English coonhound, recognized by the AKC in 2011, needs daily exercise and is best suited for active owners with a large yard or acreage.
18 Spanish Water Dog
Why it Might Not be Popular: Recent recognition by AKC and grooming needs
The Spanish water dog is one of the newest additions to the AKC's recognized dog list, added in 2015. This breed requires regular maintenance, and professional groomers should be sought after for assistance.
17 Glen of Imaal Terrier
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The Glen of Imaal terrier is another dog that has a hard time handling the heat. The breed doesn’t make for a good watchdog and requires regular exercise if living in an apartment.
16 Finnish Lapphund
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The Finnish Lapphund is a herding dog that requires frequent grooming and isn’t suited for apartment living.
15 Canaan Dog
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The Canaan dog is difficult to train and has an aggressive temperament. This active breed is not ideal for apartment living.
14 Pharaoh Hound
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The Pharaoh hound is an active breed that requires daily exercise. These dogs cannot tolerate cold climates and are happiest in a home with a yard or acreage.
13 Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Why it Might Not be Popular: Health concerns
The Dandie Dinmont terrier is difficult to train. The breed is linked to multiple health concerns, including intervertebral disc disease.
12 Sussex Spaniel
Why it Might Not be Popular: Heavy shedding and grooming needs
The Sussex spaniel requires regular grooming. This breed sheds regularly, and will need daily exercise to maintain its fitness.
11 Bergamasco
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living and recent AKC recognition
Formally recognized by the AKC in 2015, the Bergamasco is a large purebred not suitable for apartment living. This breed cannot handle high temperatures and is difficult to train.
10 Skye Terrier
Why it Might Not be Popular: Heavy grooming needs
The Skye terrier may not be the best option for families with kids. It requires regular grooming and is typically difficult to train.
9 Pyrenean Shepherd
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The Pyrenean shepherd sheds regularly and must be groomed often. This breed is energetic and very active, requiring daily exercise.
8 Chinook
Why it Might Not be Popular: Heavy grooming needs
The Chinook breed experiences seasonal shedding and requires regular grooming. This large purebred is not an ideal fit for apartment living.
7 Finnish Spitz
Why it Might Not be Popular: Heavy grooming needs
The Finnish spitz sheds on a seasonal basis. It requires regular grooming and will need regular exercise for apartment living.
6 Cesky Terrier
Why it Might Not be Popular: High maintenance with heavy grooming need
The Cesky terrier is a high maintenance breed that requires frequent grooming. The dog is difficult to train and may be too much for a first-time dog owner to handle.
5 Otterhound
Why it Might Not be Popular: Heavy shedding and not ideal for apartment living
The Otterhound demonstrates low adaptability and is not suited for apartment living. This hunting breed requires regular grooming and sheds often.
4 American Foxhound
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The American foxhound sheds regularly, requiring owners to vacuum frequently. Anyone living in an apartment will need to make sure this active dog gets a satisfactory amount of exercise daily.
3 Norwegian Lundehund
Why it Might Not be Popular: Non-hypoallergenic
The Norwegian Lundehund is an active dog that requires daily exercise to keep it healthy. It isn’t hypoallergenic, so anyone with allergies might not fare well with this dog in the house.
2 Harrier
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The Harrier sheds regularly and is an active breed that requires daily exercise. It isn’t suited for apartment living, so owners need a large yard or acreage.
1 English Foxhound
Why it Might Not be Popular: Not ideal for apartment living
The English foxhound has a low level of adaptability and isn’t suited for apartment living. The dog is active, so owners must commit to ensuring it gets daily exercise.
The Bottom Line
We've also noted the reasons why these dogs aren't as popular with the general public, based on certain living situations and lifestyles. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, it’s important to conduct research to select the breed that best suits you.
References
- [1] ^ American Kennel Club: Most & Least Popular Dog Breeds Over the Years
- [2] ^ YouTube: These Are 10 Most Unknown Dog Breeds
