Editorial: July 7, 2023

We are all familiar with the top 10 of the 200 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. They are, in descending numerical order followed by the year of recognition: the French Bulldog (1898), Labrador Retriever (1917), Golden Retriever (1925), German Shepherd Dog (1908), Poodle (1887), Bulldog (1885), Rottweiler (1931), Beagle (1885), Dachshund (1885) and German Shorthaired Pointer (1930).

Now let’s give equal time and put a light on the 10 least-popular breeds according to the American Kennel Club: In declining popularity followed by the year of recognition, we have the Pyrenean Shepherd (2009), Cesky Terrier (2011), Sussex Spaniel (1878), Harrier (1885), Azawakh (2019), Belgian Laekenois (2020), American Foxhound (1886), Sloughi (2016), Norwegian Lundehund (2011) and lastly the English Foxhound (1909) at the bottom of the list.

With six of the 10 breeds only registered in 2000s, we will go back another 10 breeds (followed by the year they were recognized), rounding out the top 20 least-popular breeds in the country. Topping out at number 180 is the Chinook (2013), followed by the Polish Lowland Sheepdog (2001), American English Coonhound (2011), Irish Water Spaniel (1878), Cirneco dell’Etna (2015), Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen (2018), Dandie Dinmont Terrier (1886), Canaan Dog (1997), Finnish Spitz (1991) and Skye Terrier (1887).

While these last 10 breeds listed have five that were recognized in the 2000s, it is understandable that their popularity is growing. That leaves nine breeds that are really vulnerable, as they were recognized in 1880s and 1900s, and have been very low on the list for years. So from the Chinook to the English Foxhound, we have the 20 least-popular breeds.

In England, where many of our breeds hail from, the Royal Kennel Club creates a list that consists of native breeds that are vulnerable. They track the last six years of declining registrations and consider any breed to be vulnerable if it has less that 300 registrations. Some of the breeds listed are shocking. They are Bearded Collies, Bloodhounds, Miniature Bull Terriers, Smooth Collies, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Scottish Deerhounds, English Setters, Black & Tan English Toy Terriers, English Foxhounds, Smooth Fox Terriers, Glen of Imaal Terriers, Gordon Setters, Greyhounds, Harriers, Irish Red & White Setters, Irish Wolfhounds, King Charles Spaniels, Kerry Blue Terriers, Lakeland Terries, Lancashire Heelers, Manchester Terriers, Mastiffs, Norwich Terriers, Otterhounds, Curly-Coated Retrievers, Sealyham Terriers, Skye Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Clumber Spaniels, Field Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, Sussex Spaniels, Welsh Springer Spaniels and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

If you’re considering a second breed, maybe one of the above underdogs could be your next top dog.