A hairless Mexican companion, a Hungarian herder with cords and a Norwegian dog with extra toes: the domestic dog world has plenty of surprises. This collection explores ten breeds that may be less familiar to Australian readers, with real photographs and practical questions about living with them.
An interesting history or striking coat is a starting point for learning, not a reason to rush into ownership. Read about grooming, exercise, training, health and household fit together. Meet adult dogs where possible, talk honestly with breeders or rescue organisations, and ask your vet about health considerations. Temperament descriptions are tendencies, not promises about an individual dog.
What makes these breeds unusual?
Here, “exotic” is an informal description, not a recognised breed category. We chose these ten domestic breeds for distinctive anatomy, coats, voices or working histories. The list is an editorial selection, not a ranking of rarity or suitability as pets; familiarity varies between places.
Looking for one in Australia? See verified enquiry routes ↓
Meet the ten breeds
PROFILE 01
Xoloitzcuintli
The Xolo stands out for its hairless and coated varieties, three sizes and deep place in Mexican cultural history.
Read the full profile →
PROFILE 02
Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested pairs a mostly hairless body with head, foot and tail furnishings, while its Powderpuff variety has a full coat.
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PROFILE 03
Basenji
The Basenji's famous yodel and barkless reputation make this Central African hunting hound unusual to hear as well as meet.
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PROFILE 04
Thai Ridgeback
The Thai Ridgeback wears a clearly defined strip of backward-growing hair along its back, above an athletic body developed for working life in Thailand.
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PROFILE 05
Azawakh
The Azawakh's exceptionally leggy outline, pronounced tuck-up and elastic movement reflect a sighthound associated with the Sahel.
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PROFILE 06
Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear is included for its cotton-textured coat and Madagascan heritage, rather than a claim that small white dogs are rare.
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PROFILE 07
Bergamasco Sheepdog
The Bergamasco's different hair textures form broad, felted flocks, creating a coat unlike the narrower cords of a Puli.
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PROFILE 08
Puli
The Puli combines long, rope-like coat cords with the quick movement and working energy of a Hungarian herding dog.
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PROFILE 09
Norwegian Lundehund
The Lundehund's extra toes, flexible shoulders and folding ears are linked to its specialised history hunting puffins on Norwegian cliffs.
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PROFILE 10
Otterhound
The Otterhound combines a shaggy coat, webbed feet and a powerful scenting ability inherited from its historical work around rivers.
Read the full profile →Finding these breeds in Australia
These are enquiry routes, not endorsements or promises of puppies. A breeder listing confirms a contact, not a current litter; ask about timing, adult dogs and opportunities to meet the breed.
We found Australian breeder contacts for eight of these breeds. For the Thai Ridgeback and Norwegian Lundehund, we did not verify a current local breeder or litter; that is not a claim that the breeds are absent from Australia.
Availability sources checked: . Follow each breed name for the evidence, location details and practical questions to ask.
Before you contact a breeder—or pay a deposit
Before paying a deposit, independently verify the breeder's current membership with the relevant state or territory body, check identity and the individual dog's records, ask for breed-relevant parental health results and a written agreement, and meet the dogs in person where practical (or arrange a live video call). Club registration and directory inclusion are not quality guarantees. Do not rely on copied photographs, pressure to pay quickly or an unverifiable membership number.
Dogs Australia member bodies · Basenji Club of Victoria listing disclaimer.
Choose the life, not just the look
The most useful question is not “Which dog looks most unusual?” It is “Which individual dog's needs can I meet throughout its life?”
Keep exploring our working-dog profiles, toy-dog series and Dog Encyclopaedia.
Test your dog knowledge with our ten-question quiz →
Photograph credits and licences
These are real photographs, not generated breed illustrations.
- Xoloitzcuintli
Photo: Micyaotl G.T., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. - Chinese Crested
Photo: Sheri Terris, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. - Basenji
Photo: PxHere, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. - Thai Ridgeback
Photo: Belagria (metadata copyright: ANAMARIA RAKAMARIC), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. Web copy shared under the same licence. - Azawakh
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. Web copy shared under the same licence. - Coton de Tulear
Photo: Nicole; exposure/color adjustment by Frei sein, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. - Bergamasco Sheepdog
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. Web copy shared under the same licence. - Puli
Photo: Sannse at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. Web copy shared under the same licence. - Norwegian Lundehund
Photo: Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. Web copy shared under the same licence. - Otterhound
Photo: Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source photograph. Resized where needed and converted to WebP; no crop or colour edits. Web copy shared under the same licence.
