They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if you’re a dog lover, it’s definitely in the eye of the breed lover! While crowd favorites like Golden Retrievers, Labs, and German Shepherds steal the spotlight, there’s a whole world of quirky, unique-looking pups out there just waiting to turn heads.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to stand out, break the mold, or just appreciate things that are a little different, these dogs might just be your perfect match. They’re the lovable oddballs of the canine world, rocking unusual features, surprising charm, and a whole lot of personality.
Sure, they may not win “Most Traditional Beauty” at the dog park, but what they lack in conventional looks, they more than make up for in heart. These pups are just as snuggly, loyal, and game for a walk as any classic breed, and honestly, who doesn’t love a little extra character?
Dog Breeds That Look Like They Came from Another Planet
1. Xoloitzcuintli
With a bewildering name and a sleek, hairless body, the Xolo, or if you want to pronounce the full name (it’s “show-low-eats-queent-lee). They are also called the Mexican Hairless dogs, and are a small and lively exotic dog breed from Mexico.
These dogs come in miniature, toy, and standard sizes, and can be as tall as 18 inches, 14 inches, and 23 inches. They can be both hairless and with a short, smooth coat. The hairless variety is better known. They are usually dark in color with grey, black, red, liver, slate, or brown colored skin that is tough and protective.
The hairless dogs usually have tufts of hair on the head, at the end of the tail, and on the feet. The breed is a primitive breed, which means that they are very old and have “wild” tendencies. These can be managed by extensive socialization and training as puppies.
These are intelligent dogs and have a protective nature, and make great watchdogs. They have different grooming needs, as the hairless version needs washing to remove oily buildup from its hide and then some moisturizing treatment.
2. Bergamasco Sheepdog
From one extreme to another, this is a Persian sheepdog with an eye-catching felted mat of three types of hair that form flocks of hair. These help insulate the dog from the alpine chill of the Italian mountains. These dogs will definitely turn heads when outdoors for their unique looks.
Underneath that shaggy coat is a loving and athletic herding dog that will look after his family members. The breed is friendly around other pets and children, especially with socialization.
Despite their woolly coats, they don’t require regular grooming and will do fine with just 2-3 baths a year, as per the American Kennel Club.
3. Chinese Crested
These alien-looking dogs are somewhat what a Chihuahua from another planet might look like. They have a mostly hairless body with tufts or “crests” of hair on their heads, paws, and tails. As members of the toy group, they can reach up to 13 inches at the shoulders.
These dogs make for bright and affectionate pets that will get along with the entire family, according to PetMD. They are energetic, but they are also delicate and will do fine with a few short exercise sessions in a day. Their hairless bodies can get sunburnt as well as develop other issues from sun exposure.
4. Peruvian Inca Orchid
These are unique dogs that can vary in size from toy to medium. Otherwise, these are lively, intelligent, noble, and protective animals. They are hairless with erect ears and round, curious eyes. The PIO or flower dog is usually pink, black, brown, and grey.
Like most hairless breeds, these dogs cannot handle long exposure to sunlight. They make for good apartment dogs as they enjoy short exercise and play sessions as well as walks of 20 to 30 minutes in the early mornings or evenings.
They are affectionate and loving towards their human families and need patience in training, as they can be stubborn. Grooming needs are minimal, and mainly towards protecting their fur-free bodies from sun exposure.
5. Puli
Another breed that resembles an alien sheep, the Puli is a dreadlocked sheepdog that looks out of this world. Their fur acts as an insulation and protection against predators. As tall as 17 inches at the shoulders, the Puli is a medium-sized herding dog that comes in solid colors like black, rusty black, grey, or white.
These are friendly and affectionate pets that love getting into mischief with their humans. They enjoy playing with other dogs as well as respectful children. They need special skills to maintain their unique coats. The locks need to be helped along in the early years, and while regular grooming is not necessary, the bathing process can be a tedious one to wash and dry their locks.
As an intelligent and willing breed, the Puli can be taught fun tricks to keep them mentally stimulated and happy. As energetic herding dogs, they also need a lot of exercise to keep them happy.
6. Azawakh
This African dog may as well be from another world, with its sleek and lean silhouette. Originally bred as a hunting dog, this rare breed still has a high prey drive and is a fiercely loyal dog. These are medium-large dogs and reach a height of 29 inches, and have a short, fine coat. They can be in almost all shades of brown and tan, black and white.
As sight hounds, the Azawakh is affectionate and very loyal to its family. They have an independent spirit and may be too much for new pet parents to handle. They have moderate exercise needs, happy to snooze around after a chase around the yard.
They have minimal grooming needs, but will need help keeping warm in cold weather as they have less fur and low body fat.
7. Bedlington Terrier
At first glance, this will look like a mix of a poodle and a lamb in an other worldly combination. They have a tufted, lamb-like face, arched back, curly coat, and leggy, furry legs. They reach up to 17 inches in height and have a mix of hard and soft hair in their coats.
The terrier makes for a loving companion, with its fondness for cuddles and a tendency to goof around. However, they make for efficient and alert watchdogs and are fiercely protective of their humans. They are good around children and can do well around other pets if trained properly.
They tend to bark a lot when anxious and need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy. They enjoy games of fetch and hide and seek, and seem to enjoy swimming as well.
The Bedlington has minimal grooming needs, but they do require trimming every two months to keep its fast-growing hair maintained, according to WebMD.
Conclusion
At first glance, most of these breeds are unique and seem to be out of this world. However, all of these remarkably unique breeds are part of the canine world and can make for a suitable option if you are looking for a unique pet. However, these unique looks have some additional needs and will require some care to protect them and give them a happy life.
