Newest Dog Breeds You've Probably Never Heard of Before

The spinone italiano is one of the oldest hunting dogs in the world — dating back to 200 — but it was famous mostly in just Italy. The breed was almost extinct during World War II, as breeders and dogs were separated and breed records were lost.

Usually referred to as the PON (short for Polski owczarek nizinny), the Polish lowland sheepdog was recognized in the U.S. in 2001 but its origins go back centuries. The PONs come from Central Asia but eventually became known as a Polish herding breed.

The toy fox terrier is energetic, intelligent, and playful. It was bred in the last century for its size and hunting ability. Farmers who wanted a particularly small dog to catch rodents crossed fox terriers with toy dog breeds. The toy fox terrier was not registered by the American Kennel Club until 2003.

The German pinscher is a medium-sized dog and the oldest pinscher breed as well as dog breed in general in Germany. German pinschers are overall healthy dogs, though they can be prone to eye problems and blood disorders.

The toller is the smallest of the retriever breeds recognized by the AKC. This dog grows to be about 20 inches tall and weighs between 35 and 50 pounds. They are very active and won’t do well in a home with people who don’t have the energy to keep them busy.