canines come in all shapes, colors and sizes (truly), but we tend to run into the same breeds over and over.
So we did some research into rare dog breeds that are either hard to find outside of their native homelands or have spent decades making comebacks from population decline.
1. Azawakh
average height: 26 inches average weight: 44 pounds temperament: affectionate, dedicated origins: west africa
Yannis Karantonis/500PX/Getty Images
2. Bedlington Terrier
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 16 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 20 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: Lively ORIGINS: Northumberland, England
Catherine Ledner/Getty Images
3. Biewer Terrier
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 9 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 6 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: calm, friendly ORIGINS: hunsruck, germany
Vincent Scherer/Getty Images
4. Catahoula Leopard Dog
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 23 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 70 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: Territorial, loyal ORIGINS: catahoula parish, louisiana
Tara Gregg/Getty Images
5. cesky terrier
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 11.5 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 19 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: playful, mellow ORIGINS: Czech Republic
Matthew Eisman/Getty Images
6. Chinook
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 24 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 70 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: Energetic, sweet ORIGINS: wonalancet, New Hampshire
Amy Neunsinger/Getty Images
7. Dandie Dinmont terrier
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 10 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 21 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: Independent ORIGINS: Scotland
Arco Petra/Getty Images
8. English Foxhound
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 24 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 70 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: social ORIGINS: england
Alex Walker/Getty Images
9. Estrela Mountain dog
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 26 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 100 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: Friendly, fearless ORIGINS: portugal
Slowmotiongli/Getty Images
10. finnish spitz
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 18 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 26 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: happy ORIGINS: finland
Flashpop/Getty Images
11. Hovawart
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 25 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 77 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: loyal, intelligent ORIGINS: germany
FHM/Getty Images
12. kai ken
AVERAGE HEIGHT: 18 INCHES AVERAGE WEIGHT: 30 POUNDS TEMPERAMENT: smart, active ORIGINS: japan