Our List of Underappreciated Dog Breeds

We felt it was time for these perpetual underdogs to get a little love. Our list includes:

  • The Pitbull
  • The Rottweiler
  • The Flat-Coated Retriever
  • The Border Terrier
  • The Giant Schnauzer
  • The Greyhound
  • The mutt

Keep reading to learn why these guys deserve a little more of the spotlight.

Underappreciated Dog Breeds with a Bad Image

There are quite a few dog breeds out there that have gotten a bad image over the years, resulting in many people seeking pets steering clear of them in general. Most times these reputations are largely undeserved, though. A few underappreciated dog breeds that fall into this category include:

The Pitbull – The pitbull and associated breeds were originally descended from English bull-baiting dogs. These dogs were bred to be tough, biting and holding large animals like bulls and bears. When these types of sports fell out of favor, many turned to fighting these animals with one another. Pitbull type dogs are strong and athletic, and their breeding makes them a fierce foe, but with good socialization, training, and an exercise outlet they make very loving and loyal family friends.

The Rottweiler – Because of their intimidating size, powerful build, and traditional image as a guard dog, the Rottweiler tends to be a breed that families shy away from. While the breed can be a little hesitant with strangers, they tend to be quite affectionate with family and are eager to please their owners.

The Over-Shadowed Breeds

A few great and deserving dog breeds have become underappreciated solely because their more popular cousins overshadow them. There are quite a few examples of this, including:

The Flat-Coated Retriever – With such relatives as the Labrador and the Golden Retriever, it isn’t hard to see how the loving Flat-Coated Retriever gets left out. This happy, good-natured breed tends to be a little healthier than its more heavily bred cousins with all the personality.

The Border Terrier – The terrier group is a hard one to shine in overall. Brimming with personality, terriers tend to be wonderful dogs in general. The Border terrier, however, is one that we don’t see enough of. These scruffy little guys are full of energy and make excellent playmates.

The Giant Schnauzer – With the popularity of the Miniature and Standard sizes of Schnauzer, we don’t get to see too much of the Giant variety very often. These beautiful dogs are very intelligent with an even temperament. Their loyal and territorial nature is everything a family protector is made of.

The Forgotten Breeds

Then there are a few dog breeds that just simply get forgotten. That doesn’t make them any less wonderful, and we want to show them a little love. Don’t pass over:

The Greyhound – Most people don’t get a Greyhound as a puppy, but rather adopt them after their life on the racetrack is through. These gentle and often mellow dogs earn a place in their owner’s hearts very quickly.

The Mutt – We often forget to give props to the good old fashioned mutt. These Heinz 57s of dogs give us the best of more than one world. The mutt is often one of the greatest choices and certainly one of the most underrated dog breeds out there.

Certainly every breed out there is special and great in its own rite, and our list is definitely not all inclusive. We have a great appreciation for all the breeds that walk through our door. If you are the proud owner of a pet you think deserves a little extra appreciation, feel free to share him or her on our Facebook page. We love to see all of our furry patients!