The Rarest Dog Breed In The World
Like 3 Dislike 0 Published on 13 Dec 2019
A lot of dog breeds are contenders for "world's rarest." While the Otterhound, the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, and the Lowchen all have numbers that could potentially qualify them as the world's rarest dog, there are a few out there that are even more rare. Ultimately, though, the title comes down to who you ask.
A strong contender for the world's rarest dog breed is the Cretan Hound, which is thought to be one of Europe's oldest hunting breeds. This dog is rare not just because it's low in numbers, but because it's rather jealously guarded by breeders and owners.
According to Only Crete, this breed has been mostly isolated on the island for thousands of years. Even today, breeders don't like to sell Cretan Hounds to outsiders, so you won't find many of them in other parts of the world. They also tend to keep the best examples of the breed hidden away, and all but the best males are neutered, which means the breed has remained pretty small in number and isolated from outside influence. That's one of the reasons why you won't find this dog in an American Kennel Club book. The AKC has yet to recognize it due to insignificant numbers in North America.
The Cretan Hound is what's known as a "sighthound," which is a type of hunting dog that relies on speed and sight rather than scent, though enthusiasts say it also has a pretty decent nose, which makes it ideal for hunting hares and rabbits. The ideal Cretan Hound is slender with a long, elegant face and long ears, and it has a distinctive curly tail. Both males and females can weigh between 45 and 65 pounds.
If you're lucky, you might see a Cretan Hound at an international dog show in Athens, but for the most part, Cretan hounds stay on the island of Crete.
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Cretan hounds are hidden away | 0:16
Stabyhouns make the cut | 1:30
The missing link | 2:35