#6. New Guinea Singing Dog: An Elusive and Formerly Wild Breed

Among the rare dog breeds, the New Guinea singing dog sets itself apart as one of the few that’s never been fully domesticated. They earned their name from the beautiful, haunting howls they use to communicate with one another, and their methods of communication include multiple types of barks and howls that cover an impressive spectrum of pitch and tenor. Until recently, it was believed that the only living members of this breed were the roughly 200 being kept alive in zoos and sanctuaries — and these domesticated specimens were becoming inbred thanks to the lack of variety within such an isolated breeding pool. A 2016 expedition in New Guinea uncovered a community of at least 15 of these medium-sized dogs in remote highland areas and leave open the possibility that these elusive dogs may be more prevalent still.