10(+) Underrated Dog Breeds!

You may have read a few days back that I go absolutely crazy for cat memes, but my first true love is dogs. Honestly, folks, I like dogs more than people. It’s just fact. I have serious potential of being an animal hoarder and I’ve alerted my friends to look out for signs.

Living in LA, you see so many of the same designer breeds. But popular breeds have the risk of being inbred, which can lead to lots of health and behavioral issues. Now, I’m no Cesar Milan or anything (I mean, let’s face it: He’s a god.) but I do my fair share of research about different dogs. I’ve created this list of 10 or so underrated canines you might want to consider.

Obviously, I am basing this off of their historical behavior. You should always do plenty of research about not only the breed, but also the particular breeder and family tree of your puppy. A breed could be great; a breeder could be not so great. You can always consult the AKC website for registered breeders, and I recommend visiting with both the puppies and parents a few times before making a decision.

For this list, I tried to pick low maintenance dogs when it comes to feeding, grooming or training that all have friendly temperaments. Keep in mind: All dogs have a tendency to be disobedient if they are not properly stimulated. I mixed in big, medium and little dogs who are all unique and bound to turn heads.

Of course, my favorite dogs have always been mutts. Adopting a dog is great thing! They generally come along with less health issues and have longer life spans. You can also easily visit a shelter and see how the dog behaves around you and your family, outside of its adorable puppy stage.

It was difficult picking just 10, so don’t be offended if your favorite dog isn’t on the list and please feel free to share comments and pics of your favorite dogs below or on twitter @HelloGiggles & @origToriqua!

Image of Chinese Crested Powder Puff via DailyPuppy.com; All other images via AKC.org & @AKCDogLovers