Sleek sighthounds, two breeds with hairless varieties and a fun-loving Dutch Retriever are among the rising stars of the American Kennel Club’s Miscellaneous Class.
The dog breeds in this class are gaining popularity and could become fully recognized by the AKC once they reach the threshold number of registrations needed. We’ll introduce you to all 11 of the breeds in the gallery below. Get to know them now, so you can say you knew them when!
Breeds to Watch: AKC's Miscellaneous Class 2015

Eva-Maria Kramer, Animal Photography
American Hairless Terrier
He may not have a fur coat, but the American Hairless
Terrier looks striking and is smoothly muscular. He can be found in a
variety of colors and is known for the curious, alert expression on his face.
The breed maintains the hunting instinct passed down from his vermin-hunting
ancestors — but because he lacks a coat, he isn’t suitable for hunting. Many of these dogs aim
to please, and though they can make good watchdogs, they also tend to be affectionate and
playful.

Alice van Kempen, Animal Photography
Azawakh
The exotic-looking,
intelligent Azawakh is a
sighthound from Africa with a generally aloof and quiet personality. Like other sighthounds, this dog hunts
primarily using sight and speed. This rare breed usually enjoys being in the company of
her people but doesn’t tend to seek out a lot of affection. She has a protective
streak and may bark at strangers, and comes in many shades, including fawn, sand, brindle, white, black, gray, blue,
grizzle and brown.

Tim Hagendoorn, Animal Photography
Belgian Laekenois
The Belgian Laekenois is
the oldest and rarest of the four Belgian herding breeds — including the
better-known Belgian
Malinois, often the breed of choice for law enforcement — but is the only one not yet fully recognized by the AKC. The
wiry-haired dog has an inquisitive expression and can be good with kids, especially if he’s raised with them or
lives in a family with older kids who treat him with respect. If you have an active lifestyle, the Laekenois might be
the dog for you.

Ron Willbie, Animal Photography
Dogo Argentino
The Dogo Argentino, also
known as the Argentine Mastiff, is a big, strong guardian who needs an experienced
owner to firmly guide her. She can be both gentle and
fierce, and needs a job to do — she’s not content to just sit around. She also
needs early socialization. Many are territorial and protective by nature, and need a high
fence to keep them in their own yards. Despite her fierce personality, the Dogo generally has a penchant for being close to or touching her people.

Barbara O'Brien, Animal Photography
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
Typically happy, independent and outgoing, the Grand Basset
Griffon Vendéen is not that much
larger than his fully recognized cousin, the Petit Basset
Griffon Vendéen: The PBGV stands 13 to
15 inches at the shoulder, the GBGV, 15.5 to 18 inches. They were
bred together until the 1970s, and then split into two breeds. This rough-coated scenthound is a prized hunter in his homeland of France.

Peter Smith, Animal Photography
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje tends to be a smart, fun-loving and active dog who’s happy to kick
back and relax with you, too. A small Dutch Retriever with a beautiful red-and-white coat, he has a long, bushy
tail and usually weighs only 20 to 30 pounds. He's generally happy to be around his
people but can be a clever guy who might run circles around a novice dog owner.
This can be a great breed for someone who’s interested in being very involved with
training a dog and doing activities with him.

Eva-Maria Kramer, Animal Photography
Norrbottenspets
Many of the medium-size Norwegian hunting dogs are attentive and keen. They have the ability to hold prey at bay and then
call to a hunter with high-pitched vocalizations. The breed was
thought to be extinct but survived in the northern parts of Finland and
Sweden. The Norrbottenspets
shouldn’t be left off-leash in an area that’s not fenced in because of his
strong prey drive. Still, a well-socialized Norrbottenspets can be a kind and affectionate companion who may live well
into his teen years.

Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Peruvian Inca Orchid
The Peruvian
Inca Orchid, nicknamed the PIO, is ranked by the AKC
as the 166th most popular dog breed. People often think the hairless
version has a higher body temperature than other dogs, but according to the AKC, the dog actually just feels warmer to the touch, because there’s no coat between you
and the dog’s skin. Of course, no coat can leave her cold, so she’ll probably need a
sweater or jacket when temps drop. This charming yet reserved pooch is usually best handled by an experienced owner. We love how PIO fans refer to the small patch of hair on her otherwise-hairless head as the “kiss
spot!”

Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Portuguese Podengo
Though the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno was recently fully recognized by the AKC, his Grande and
Medio cousins are listed in the Miscellaneous Class. Another hunting dog, the Podengo is known for jumping straight up when he sees his prey. Because of
that, you’ll need a tall fence for your yard if you bring one into your family. The
Grande weighs 44 to 66 pounds and is rarely seen in the U.S. The Medio ranges
from 35 to 45 pounds. At any size, the Podengo tends to be an athlete who might enjoy agility and tracking.

Sally Anne Thompson, Animal Photography
Pumi
The Pumi is a Hungarian herding
breed that’s so closely related to the Puli and the Mudi that the breed can sometimes
be born in each other’s litters, according to the Pumi's parent club. (The world’s best-known
Puli may be Beast, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife's dog.) The typically energetic and lively
Pumi has a combination of wavy and curly hair, and comes in black, white, gray
and several shades of fawn. She wears a whimsical expression and usually likes being active.

Eva-Maria Kramer, Animal Photography
Sloughi
Like a tall drink of water, the
graceful and elegant Sloughi
is a sighthound with speed and agility. He’s
been known to take off after small animals, so he must always be walked on a leash.
Even if he gets along with small pets in his home, he has a tendency to forget
that when he sees them running around outside. He generally bonds
quickly with his family and will keep them on their toes.
More From Vetstreet:
- Selecting the Right Puppy for You
- 5 Training Tips for New Puppy Owners
- Why Does My Dog Kick Grass After Pooping?
- Find Your Perfect Pet With Our Breed Finder Quiz
- 10 Dog Breeds That Tend to Love the Water