16 Unusual and Weird Looking Dogs Breeds (With Pictures)

People love dogs, and we get it. They are affectionate and loyal companions who would follow you around. But there is so much more to them; they are sharp, fascinating, can even learn many tricks and competitive skills. It is natural to develop a curiosity for the canines. You must have explored a thousand things about dogs and suddenly found yourself thinking about that one unusual breed you saw in the park or online. Are there any more of these? Like are there a few types of weird dogs that I do not know of?

We understand the urge to look for the unique is natural, and it can be especially strong for the species you adore the most. Well, we are here to satiate your curiosity and bring you some of the unique breeds found around the world.

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is a fireball of energy known for its superb herding abilities. Trusted by seasoned farmers for its alert surveillance, endurance, and perseverance, “Stumpy” is also loved for its unique, naturally stumped tail that grows only about four inches long. Lovingly called the Heeler, it is one athletic dog, reserving the whole of its affection for the owner.

Bedlington Terrier

Is it a lamb or a dog? The fluffy Bedlington Terrier is one of the types of terriers, a versatile, cheery little dog, often described as a dog in lamb’s clothing owing to its curly coat, lithe body, tasseled ears, and fur on its head (referred to as top knot). The sprightly terrier, despite the size, is an excellent chaser, a great swimmer, and capable of wearing multiple hats at a time.

Bergamasco Sheepdog

Recognized for the unusual massive tufts of hair covering its entire body, Bergamasco used to be a sought-after herding dog in the alpines. It is an intelligent, loving, and eager to please dog who may have a sliver of independence in its nature. Protective and vigilant, these medium-sized, low-maintenance dogs are excellent for those suffering from allergies (except wool and lanoline allergy).

Brussels Griffon

Brussels Griffon is a tiny and loving dog breed noted for the thick whiskers covering its muzzle. A small dog with a big heart, it is a sensitive breed with a regal appearance and a strong sense of self-importance. Given that a Griffon can bring lots of comic relief, in the absence of a sense of its size and its pride, it often ends up challenging much bigger animals.

Bull Terrier

Next on our list of weird dogs, we have the Bull Terrier, the dog with a distinctive egg-shaped head and peculiar triangular eyes. With an unfortunate origin in fighting pits, the dog can be stubborn. Therefore, Bull Terriers need firm yet loving training. Even though not suitable for new owners, the spirited, agile and loyal dog is an ideal companion for experienced dog owners.

Cambodian Razorback

Sharing ancestry with the more popular Thai Ridgeback, these dogs have a long coat, pronounced ridgeback rising two inches above their back, and a bushy tail. A ridgeback is a formation resulting from hair growth in the opposite direction. A native of Cambodia, this breed is not known much in the outside world and remains unrecognized. Considered a pariah, the Razorback is a primitive dog domesticated as a guard and farm dog by farmers.

Chinese Crested

Chinese Crested is a toy dog breed with fascinating tufts of hair on its head, socks, and tail. A Chinese merchant dog in older times, the Chinese Crested is a fun and lively dog breed with an elegant structure, graceful movement, and devotion to its humans. The breed comes in hairless and coated varieties where the former has soft, human-like skin and the latter wrapped in a long, silky coat.

Chow Chow

The dignified Chow Chow is a grand muscular dog with a distinctive ruff that makes its head appear like a lion. Besides that, other unusual aspects include a purple or blue-black tongue and a curled bushy tail. Dignified and loyal, the Chows display indifference to strangers. People interested in these dogs should start with puppies since they refuse to obey the ones they do not respect.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The hardy, little Scottish Dandie Dinmont Terrier dog has an atypical long body, short legs, a silky topknot over its head, and long hanging ears. Initially developed for exterminating otters and badgers from the farms, the tiny pup is an intelligent and courageous guard & companion dog. The friendly little dog is the most compliant of terriers, though it does display a certain degree of independence.

Korean Dosa Mastiff

The Korean Dosa Mastiff is a humongous dog with a fairly large head and wrinkled, loose skin. It fits the bill as a spectacular guard dog enough to terrify any unsuspecting intruder. However, it needs to be socialized early to tame the suspicion and aloofness in its nature. Although fiery protectors, these dogs are not suitable for families with kids—they may hurt children owing to their massive size. Also, their strong prey drive renders them unsuitable around smaller pets. 

Komondor

Thanks to its thick, matt, corded coat, potting a Komondor in a flock of sheep can be a tough job—you might fail at spotting it. An adorable roll of fluff, the Kom is a calm and devoted dog with a strong protective instinct towards its family and their pets. A vigilant watchdog, the Kom is an agile and fiery protector who can hold down any intruder until the owner arrives.

Norwegian Lundehund

The Norwegian Lundehund is a rare, typical spitz-type dog whose peculiarities become apparent on closer inspection. The athletic canine has six fully developed toes, found only in a few other dog breeds, and an additional paw pad for a solid grip. And it does not end here; the superelastic neck can rotate back so far as to touch its spine and particularly flexible shoulders that allow it to extend its forelimbs at 90° to the side. Even the ears evolved to facilitate the hunting pursuits of the dog by closing shut in the forward or backward direction, helping to keep out the debris. 

Pekingese

Developed for the Chinese royalty, Pekingese are miniature dogs sized down from larger breeds to serve as lap dogs, even sleeve dogs for the nobility. The charming and affectionate toy dog has a thick coat, especially around the neck and shoulders, giving it a lion-like mane. Further noted for its distinctive rolling gait, the Pekingese is an alert watchdog with an opinionated personality thanks to its royal heritage.

Puli Dog

Puli is another dog breed famous for its unusual coat, in this case, lovely long cords that look like dreadlocks from afar. Confused by some for a smaller Komondor, this is a different breed altogether that comes in colors other than white, most notably in black. Bred for herding purposes, this is a sharp, active and agile dog who wants to please its human. Loyal guard dogs, Pulik (plural for Puli) get along really well with families but may have a tinge of willfulness. Prepare for some laughs if you intend to bring one of these at home as the dog might try to “herd” the family drawing from its herding genes.

Saluki

Saluki is a stunning Persian Greyhound used to catch game animals in ancient societies. The elegant breed is known just as much for its adeptness at hunting as it is for its sleek body, strong legs, graceful movements, and regal aura. The beautiful dog has captivated enthusiasts with its elegant physique and silky coat for ages. The feathery variety is even more fascinating with its “feathering” on its ears, thighs, behind the legs, tail, and sometimes even around the throat.

Shar-Pei

An ancient Chinese dog breed, the Shar-Pei—meaning ‘sand skin’ in Chinese—is best known for its enlarged, bulged out, hippopotamus-like muzzle and excessive folds on the skin. But it might be strange for western canine enthusiasts to discover that the original breed, called the bone-mouth, does not share the exaggerated muzzle and skin folds with its American sibling, the meat-mouth. Shar-Peis had their original claim to fame as strong, vigorous, and determined guard dogs in China, with a unique sandpaperish skin.

Final Words

Dogs are an intelligent species and hold an important place in our lives. We recognize them as our reliable companions and efficient protectors, shall the need arise. But owing to selective breeding, certain traits are more pronounced in some species than others. We put together a collection of weird dogs, some unique in their elegance, others in their ability to navigate challenging terrains, still others with peculiar builds and surprising camouflage. We hope you enjoyed the list!