3 Unusual but Lovely Breeds of Dog

There are many lovely dog breeds in the world and all of them boast their own unique traits and personalities. Over the years some breeds have become incredibly popular whereas others have made their mark as working dogs in some of the harshest environments on the planet with the Siberian husky being just one of them. With this said, there are quite a few lesser known breeds which have a lot to boast about whether it's their looks, personalities or their abilities and skills that make them stand out in a crowd, three of which are listed below.

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

These lovely dogs are affectionately referred to as “Tollers” and they are charming characters by nature. They boast an average life span of around 12 years and were originally bred as working dogs in Canada. Tollers are medium in size and known for their playful, loyal, affectionate and alert natures. But they are serious about their work and when it comes to retrieving waterfowl, these dogs are masters. They are hard-working canines that love their job.

The breed is still considered pretty rare although they are gaining quite a fan club outside of their native land due to their kind personalities and lovely looks. However, it's worth noting that Tollers can be a little strong willed at times and compared to a Golden Retriever or Labrador, they are not as eager to please. In short, this means they will quickly take over the role of Alpha Dog in a household if they are allowed to.

Tollers are not the best choice for first time dog owners because they need to be handled firmly yet fairly. Their training needs to be consistent throughout their lives for them to be truly happy well-balance characters. Because they are so intelligent, the Toller excels at all sorts of doggy activities and this includes playing interactive games. In fact, they need to be kept busy and occupied with lots of daily walks which ideally they should be taken on twice a day. Another little drawback is that Tollers have a tendency to let out a rather loud and strange high-pitched yelp which is more like a scream when they get overly excited or frustrated by something and it could become a problem for your neighbours.

The Leonberger

Adored by the Royals of Europe, the Leonberger is another charming looking dog that's not as well known outside of their native Germany as other breeds. They boast a life span of around 9 years and are known to be real 'gentle giants' especially when they are around kids. On the downside, they shed quite a bit which means setting up a good grooming routine is a must if you share a home with one.

Leonbergers boast a proud heritage having been created by crossing Newfoundlands with Saint Bernards and Great Pyreneans. They need to be handled with a firm yet gentle hand and they need consistent training throughout their lives or they have a tendency to be a little mischievous and naughty to the point of becoming destructive. They are high energy characters and because they are super intelligent, they need to be given lots of mental stimulation and masses of physical exercise to be truly happy. With this said, they are also very sensitive and don't like raised voices or arguing, but they love being around people and never that happy when left to their own devices. They are definitely not couch potatoes or apartment dogs!

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog

The Entlebucher is native to Switzerland, a country that's known for breeding some rather lovely looking dogs and this happens to be one of them. These charming characters boast a life span of around 13 years and more when well cared for. The breed is known for their kind and cheerful personalities which has seen them becoming more popular outside of their native homeland.

If you are looking for a loyal and friendly canine companion, you would not go far wrong by choosing to share your home with an Entlebucher. However, they can be a little hard to train, but being so intelligent and with a little perseverance, they will listen to you even if they retain a bit of their independent nature. The one thing these dogs like is spending time with the people they love and are never very happy when left on their own for long periods of time.

Entlebuchers excel at all sorts of doggy activities which include games like fetch, but they are also masters when it comes to agility and tracking. These dogs are never happier than when they have a job to do, in short training them to do things will result in a very content and happy character that's a joy to have around. Although they are known to be very loyal and loving toward the people they know, the Entlebucher is a little wary of strangers and for this reason early socialisation is a must if you decide to share your home with one. Their strong herding instinct often sees them trying to herd just about everything they come across, which includes the kids!

Conclusion

If you are looking for a more unusual breed of dog to share your home with and would like a canine friend that's loving and loyal, the three breeds mentioned above could be well worth considering. However, as with any other breed it's important to do as much research on the breed and any breeders so you know as much as you can about them before you make your final choice and you need to find out as much about a dog’s pedigree as you can which includes whether or not they are predisposed to any health disorders.