Some dog breeds are bastions of beauty and others… not so much. The phrase “a face only a mother could love” applies to the ugliest dog breeds that we still adore. Bug eyes, sparse wiry hair, and droopy faces are all common among our list of the top seven ugly dog breeds. Despite their ungainly looks, these dog breeds are still loving and loyal to the bone.
No matter how a dog may look on the outside, some people are able to achieve a loving relationship anyway. Over half of pet owners claim they have a mutual love language with their pets. Don’t judge a book by its cover! All dogs deserve love and affection.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. No matter if they are a little odd-looking, the bond between owner and pooch is undeniable. In fact, a recent study shows that seven in 10 dog owners consider their dog their best friend.
Beauty is highly subjective: where one person might see an ugly dog, another might see an adorable new friend. Our sources helped us learn about the ugliest dog breeds characterized by their unusual looks. Let us know your favorite ugly dog breeds in the comments below!
The List: Ugliest Dog Breeds, According to Experts
1. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is an unusual looking dog. They are mostly hairless with spotted skin and a wild looking puff of hair on the tops of their heads and on their paws. AnimalsAroundTheGlobe rants, “The first prize goes to the Chinese crested, as they are famous for their ugliness. They have snagged the title many times over in the last 30 years. They have pointy teeth and are generally prone to missing teeth at a very tender age. Sometimes, the teeth overcrowd or may arc and grow towards the mouth, giving them a creepy smile.”
WAF praises, “Chinese crested dogs have managed to warm the hearts of many with their ‘playful, loving, and devoted’ personalities, says the American Kennel Club (AKC)… This pup is celebrated by its owners and has also won six coveted ‘World’s Ugliest Dog’ contests since 2010.”
Parade Pets exclaims, “A (mostly) hairless breed of dog, the Chinese Crested Dog comes in two varieties—one completely devoid of hair (the Hairless) and one with minimal hair (the Powderpuff) in just a few places.”
2. Pug
“Pug ugly” is a phrase that originally referred to the beaten faces of boxers. Now the term also refers to these odd-looking lovable dogs. The Scotsman says, “Bulging eyes, a flat snout and a deeply wrinkled brow certainly hasn’t harmed the popularity of the Pug. Originally bred in ancient China they remain a much-loved breed today.”
Daily Paws describes, “With protruding eyes and pronounced wrinkles, the pug is the stereotypical ugly yet cute dog, recognized by most and revered by some, including ancient Chinese emperors who held pugs in such high esteem they were bestowed upon outsiders as gifts. The pug today is the 29th most popular dog breed in America, according to the American Kennel Club, and is a family-friendly fixture found in many homes.”
“The irresistible pug may be ugly to some, but he’s absolutely adorable to others. These endearing furry friends are known for their caring yet comedic nature, and they are always amusing their owners with their endless antics. Pugs are highly adaptable and will live just about anywhere as long as they’re not too far from their favorite humans,” elaborates K9 of Mine.
3. English Bull Terrier
The English Bull Terrier has a bulbous snout and beady eyes. This breed has also received media glory as the mascot for brands like Bud Lite Beer and Target. Yahoo! comments, “While it can feel like some less popular breeds are relegated to live in the shadows, others like the Bull Terrier have been lucky enough to enjoy some time in the limelight. Just ask anyone who remembers when Spuds MacKenzie was a household name.”
Care adds, “You can’t get much more distinctive than this breed (especially if you’ve ever watched a Target commercial). With its egg-shaped head and uber-long snout, this pup has character coming out of its pointy, cat-like ears! Fun-loving and friendly, bull terriers make playful pets.”
Pet Helpful details, “English Bull Terriers are the dogs that are well-known for having egg-shaped heads (as well as for being the brand dog for Target stores). I think that all dogs are cute in some manner, including English Bull Terriers, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be ugly in another sense, too.”
4. Affenpinscher
Affenpinscher is a small dog with a peculiar face. Many have an over or underbite, and frequently have a cool or standoffish personality. AZ Animals explains, “The poor affenpinscher is a terrier that always looks like it was bested by one of the rodents it was trained to hunt. Its fur is in disarray, it has pop eyes, a spectacular mustache, and a blunt muzzle. It frankly resembles a monkey, and one of its names is the ‘monkey terrier’ which happens to be what its name means in German.”
AnimalsAroundTheGlobe offers, “They have a harsh and rough coat of fur all over their bodies. A shorter coat covers their hind quarters and back, while it is shaggier on their head and shoulders. They have popped eyes and blunt muzzles, which along with their disarrayed fur, make them look quite displeasing.”
WAF states, “Far from being a big dog, weighing in at around 10 lbs., an Affenpinscher has many different looks, depending on his stylist. He is a bit of an intense-looking ugly dog and, along with several other small breeds, thinks he’s bigger than he actually is.”
5. Mexican Hairless
The Mexican Hairless Dog is adapted to warm climates. They also have bristly whiskers and occasionally an ungainly tuft atop their wrinkled heads. K9 of Mine claims, “The Xoloitzcuintli — otherwise known as the Mexican hairless dog — is a calm, loving companion with smooth skin. Unsurprisingly, these [dogs] excel in warm climates and come in black, liver, slate, bronze, and gray-black color varieties.”
Parade Pets claims, “The Mexican Hairless is the more colloquial name for the dog known as the Xoloitzcuintle (which is also nicknamed Xolo). One of the few breeds of totally hairless dogs, the Mexican Hairless originated from Mexico, has lots of apparent wrinkles and is also characterized by dental abnormalities.”
Daily Paws reviews, “Though they may not be hairy, they are hardy, with an average lifespan of up to 18 years… They are another ‘ugly dog breed’ with a prided pedigree, thought to have earned their name from the ancient Aztecs’ god ‘Xolotl,’ and today are recognized as the national dog of Mexico.”
6. Bulldog
Bulldogs are chunky slobber machines. Though loveable, they often suffer health problems due to their breeding. “You can’t help but fall in love with these loveable lugs. Bulldogs are known for their calm, friendly demeanor paired with a side of humor and occasional stubbornness. These lazy canine couch potatoes love spending time at home though they’ll still need moderate exercise,” according to K9 of Mine.
Care asserts, “With that trademark squished face, jiggling jowls and wrinkles, the bulldog is a drooling mess of sweetness. The Bulldog Club of America notes that this breed’s temperament veers from courageous to dignified. Contrary to how they look, they’re not at all aggressive.”
AZ animals evaluates, “One of the ugliest dog breeds, the bulldog’s ugliness has led to it being subject to health problems. Its squashed-in face and undershot jaw make it difficult to breathe properly, and its huge head sometimes requires puppies to be delivered by Caesarean section. Its eyesight is often bad, it can’t tolerate hot weather or even hot rooms but is also intolerant of cold.”
7. Neapolitan Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiffs are large dog breeds. They have distinctive wrinkly skin that seems to hang off their bodies. Pet Helpful throws some shade, “Neapolitan Mastiffs resemble a mixture of an English Mastiff, Bloodhound, and a Shar-Pei gone terribly wrong and inbred.”
AZ Animals says, “In 2017, a Neapolitan mastiff named Martha beat out all those Chinese crested dogs at the World’s Ugliest Dog contest at California’s Sonoma-Marin Fair. There was a good reason for this. Neapolitan mastiffs have monstrously large heads filled with folds and dewlaps, a permanently wrinkled forehead, and sad eyes. There are even wrinkles around its front feet.”
WAF articulates, “The Neapolitan mastiff, an ancient breed, looks like what you see when you stand in front of a carnival mirror. They take stretched out to a whole new level and are full of wrinkles and saggy skin. With droopy eyes and jowls the size of heads, these ugly guys were developed in Italy from large Roman war dogs crossed with British mastiffs.”
You might also be interested in:
Sources:
- AnimalsAroundTheWorld
- WAF
- Parade Pets
- The Scotsman
- Daily Paws
- K9 of Mine
- Yahoo!
- Care
- Pet Helpful
- AZ Animals
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
As the proud owner of a rescue Neo, I find this article very offensive. She is beautiful inside and out ♥️
Beautiful dogs
Exactly how does a person get to be an “expert” in Ugly Dogs? Bit of fluff and nonsense. Took 2 minutes to read, 2 minutes I will never get back.
I own a 6 yr. old female Affenpinsher, When I take her out, comments are beautiful, cute, lovely little dog. Never heard ugly.
In my appinion none of them dogs are ugly
No animal is ugly in my opinion
BULLSHIT. NEO MASTIFFS ARE GORGEOUS.
Mastiffs no matter what breed are the most amazing family members you will ever have! My English Mastiff passed away 4yrs ago & I got what I used to raise Chinese Shar pei, but I got one not like my last 3. I am missing my Bear!
There is no such thing as an ugly dog. Ugly minded people, yes, but not dogs.
Definitely the breed used in Target ads is my fav. They are far from ugly, as are all these breeds for that matter!
There are two types of Chinese crested but the hairless HAS hair, but only has it on its head, feet and tail. The powderpuff has hair. Everywhere! They almost look like mini afghans. For an article on dogs you think you would have some easy to find facts about the dog correct! Fun fact, only the hairless variety has the funky teeth. The gene that causes the hairless variety is what causes the teeth issue. So the powderpuff has normal teeth.
Experts my ass. I’ve been showing dogs for most of my life and most of these dogs are cute or beautiful.