Ever catch yourself wondering how some breeds of dogs used to be ubiquitous—on the sidewalks, in the movies, even in your neighbor’s yard—only to quietly disappear from view? The popularity of dogs ebbs and flows in waves, influenced by history, trends, and even Hollywood. It takes a single blockbuster movie to make a breed an overnight sensation, or lifestyle trends or health issues to send them into relative obscurity. Let’s count down 13 breeds that were once familiar household names but are now rare sights—some hanging by a thread on extinction, others simply eclipsed by cooler pups.
13. The Sloughi – A Fading Desert Runner
Dancingly known as the Arabian greyhound, Sloughis have been beloved for millennia in North Africa. Lean, elegant, and long-trained for hunting, they were nomadic companions and are referenced in ancient works of art. Today, though, they’re all but invisible stateside—finishing last among AKC breeds in 2023. War, rabies epizootics, and the erosion of hunting cultures have all contributed to their decline.
12. The Canaan Dog – Israel’s Near-Forgotten Breed
Free-roaming pariah dogs once, Canaans wandered the Middle East, but were rediscovered in the 20th century and hailed as Israel’s national breed. But contemporary strife and restricted breeding plans have made their future uncertain. In the U.S., they languish near the bottom of AKC popularity lists at number 191—a nearly stunning drop for such an old breed.
11. The Molossian Hound – A Warrior Lost to Time
In Ancient Greece, the Molossian hound was the brawn of the canine world: protecting property, herding animals, and even leading the charge into battle. Unfortunately, they didn’t make it through history. There are theories why—a collapse of Rome, changing human requirements—but their legacy lives on in modern mastiff breeds. The Molossian itself, however, remains only in legend.
10. The Sealyham Terrier – Hollywood’s Ex-Pat Darling
A favorite of Golden Age celebrities such as Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor, the Sealyham terrier was the “it” breed of the 1930s and ’40s. However, following WWII, the numbers fell. By 2008, registrations bottomed out, and even casting one for the 2012 film Hitchcock was difficult. Even a surprise win at Best in Show in 2023 did nothing to change their rarity outside the show ring.
9. The Scottish Deerhound – A Giant Hunter of Aristocracy
Lanky and refined, the deerhound was previously a Scottish aristocrat’s pride and joy, employed to run down deer over rocky terrain. But zoning restrictions and habitat loss came close to eradicating them. Now they are number 171 in the AKC’s list of 200 breeds—still respected, but largely by serious followers who can manage their size and aloofness.
8. The Old English Sheepdog – From Disney Stardom to Rarities
Due to the Shaggy Dog movies, this shaggy dog breed enjoyed their moment in the pop culture spotlight, double-registering after the 1959 film came out. Many years later, however, their glory waned. As of 2020, the Royal Kennel Club even classed them as “vulnerable,” with fewer than 300 new puppies registered annually in the U.K. They exist, but are no longer a celebrity draw.
7. The Pug – A Fall Off From Peak Popularity
Few breeds have waxed and waned between popularity and decline as has the pug. Following Men in Black made them cult heroes in 1997, they were in demand. But in the more recent past, their health issues—particularly respiratory issues—have seen numbers decline, with registrations dropping 68% from 2017 to 2022. Cherished by devoted followers, yes, but no longer the status symbol companion.
6. The Foxhounds – Once Trendy, Now Forgotten
American and English foxhounds were used for sport, running down foxes through fields with endurance and speed. But as fox hunting fell out of fashion, so did the breeds themselves. In today’s modern times, the American breed is number 182 in AKC popularity, while the English one is even less common at number 199. Their more accessible cousins, such as beagles, have had the spotlight instead.
5. The Norwegian Lundehund – Puffin Hunter in Peril
This adorable little dog breed was developed to climb cliffs to hunt puffins, with double-jointed necks and six toes on each foot. But when it was made illegal to hunt puffins, they lost their work—and most of the breed. Less than 600 are still left in Norway today, making them one of the world’s rarest breeds.
4. The American Water Spaniel – Wisconsin’s Hidden Gem
Small, curly-coated, and wonderful in the water, this spaniel once prospered with hunters in the Great Lakes. Today, with hunting on the decline, their numbers total only a few thousand globally. As Wisconsin’s state dog, they’re loved here, but elsewhere in the world, they’re almost unknown.
3. The Otterhound – A Breed Without a Job
Half bulldog, half bloodhound in nature, Otterhounds were developed to control otters in rivers. But when otter hunting became illegal in the 1970s, the future of the breed fell apart. Today, there are fewer than 800 worldwide, with only a couple of dozen puppies born in the United States yearly.
2. The Clumber Spaniel – Heavyweight of the Hunting World
Sturdy but able, Clumber spaniels previously worked for the English aristocracy as faithful gundogs. But now, they’re perilously scarce. Fewer than 200 puppies are registered with the AKC annually, and their existence rests in the hands of just a few dedicated breeders and enthusiasts.
1. The Dalmatian – The Risks of Hollywood Fame
After being catapulted to superstardom by Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, this speckled breed poured into shelters when inexperienced owners discovered they weren’t as simple as they appeared. Inclined to deafness and suspicious of strangers, Dalmatians watched their registrations drop by 97% from 1993 to 2008. In contrast to Toto’s Cairn terrier, whose fame didn’t impact numbers whatsoever, these dogs were victims of their own popularity.
The appeal of dog breeds is never constant—it changes with lifestyle, culture, and even Hollywood fads. Some breeds, such as the Dalmatian, blaze brightly but briefly. Others, such as the Molossian hound, vanish completely. And a few manage to hold on to life through dedicated enthusiasts. Common or unusual, all of these breeds have a compelling history—and a reminder that “man’s best friend” has many overlooked faces.