Don't call yourself a dog lover if these species are unknown to you!

Lucknow: We often come across numerous dog species in our day to day lives. Some of the very common names we know include Labrador, Pomeranian, German-Shepherd, Pug and so on. Here are some rarely sighted dog species which hardly anyone of us know.

1- Mudi: The Mudi is a herding dog breed from Hungary. It is closely related to the Puli and Pumi, from which it was separated in the 1930s. Today, the Mudi is bred for work, sport, companionship, and show. They continue to be used in herding, as well as participating in a variety of dog sports.

2- Lagotto Romagnolo: The Lagotto Romagnolo is a breed of dog that comes from the Romagna sub-region of Italy. The name derives from Romagnol can lagòt, meaning "water dog". Its traditional function is a gundog, specifically a water retriever; however, it is often used to hunt for truffles.

3- Puli: The Puli is a small-medium breed of Hungarian herding and livestock guarding dog known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls of the coat appear similar to dreadlocks. A similar-looking, but much larger breed – also Hungarian – is the Komondor. The term used for a group of Puli is Pulik.

4- Skye Terrier: The Skye Terrier is a breed of dog that is a long, low, hardy terrier and "one of the most endangered native dog breeds in the United Kingdom" according to The Kennel Club.

5- Shih Tzu: A Shih Tzu, is a toy dog breed, weighing from 4 to 7.25 kilograms when fully grown. The breed originated on the Tibetan Plateau and was developed in China. Its is lively, affectionate, loyal, clever and independent.

6- Chow-Chow: The Chow-Chow is a dog breed originally from northern China, where it is referred to as Songshi-Quan, which means "puffy-lion dog".

7- Chihuahua: The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog and is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahuas come in a wide variety of colors, and two coat lengths.

8- Chinese crested dog: The Chinese crested dog is a hairless breed of dog. Like most hairless dog breeds, the Chinese crested comes in two varieties, with and without fur, which are born in the same litter: the Powderpuff and the Hairless.

9- Afghan Hound: The Afghan Hound is a hound that is distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end. The breed is selectively bred for its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan. Its local name is Tāžī Spay or Sag-e Tāzī.

10- Irish Water Spaniel: The Irish Water Spaniel is a breed of dog that is the largest and one of the oldest of spaniels. It is one of the rarer breeds with the American Kennel Club in terms of registrations.