Every pooch is one of a kind. Trust us, we’re experts.

But some are rarer than most – and with National Dog Day coming up on August 26th, there’s no better time to acknowledge these lesser-known (but equally loveable) pooches.

• Azawakh
  Along with boasting a Game of Thrones-worthy name, this African sighthound has some unique qualities. It bounces back from injuries with notable speed, has an impressive memory, prefers to socialize with its own kind, and dislikes rain but can withstand exercising in incredibly high temperatures.
• Lagotto Romagnolo
  Leave it to Italy to produce a beautiful creature bred for hunting delicacies. This compact, curly-coated breed is an expert at finding truffles (the extra tasty, extra expensive type of mushroom). They’re healthy, easily trained, and they hardly shed – but all these pros will cost you up to $7,500.
• Czechoslovakian Vlcak
  This majestic creature is a relatively new addition to the puppy pyramid, the product of a 1955 biological experiment breeding a German Shepherd with a Carpathian Wolf. It’s characterized as fearless, capable, active, and fiercely loyal. As of March 2014, there were only 208 living in the US.
• Kooikerhondje
  Hailing from the Netherlands, this fluffy duck-hunter nearly went extinct after WWII. Today, a puppy costs around $700 – but for a dog described as friendly, cheerful, well-behaved and quiet that seems a small price to pay!
• Griffon Nivernais
  We might’ve lost this shaggy scenthound after the French revolution if it hadn’t been for a group of dedicated breeders. Originally bred for hunting large animals like wolves, wild boars, and bears (!), this French breed is good natured but can easily dominate an insecure owner.

Know of a breed even less common than these? Take to the comments section and tell us about it!