10 Funniest Dog Breeds in the World

The Puli may well be the funniest-looking dog breed in the world.

1. Puli

Look at those dreadlocks. The Puli looks like some sort of twisted, animatronic dirty mop. The Puli is a Hungarian herder whose tight curls make it virtually waterproof. It is similar to the much larger Komondor. These dogs are usually black, and some of the cream-colored ones have black faces. They’re fast and agile, headstrong and loyal. And mighty funny looking’. They easily take the top spot on my list.

2. Chinese Crested

You’ve probably seen some head-turning Chinese cresteds in the infamous “ugly dog” contests held every year. Some of these dogs sport mohawks. Others look like Robert Smith from The Cure.

To be fair, the crested pictured above is on the, um, “very ugly” end of the spectrum. The breed standard is much more presentable than shown here! See this photo, for example. If you love the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days as much as my wife does, you’ll recognize the dog named Krull as a Chinese crested:

3. Bergamasco

Coming in at third is another mop dog, similar to the Pulis and Komondors. Actually, the Bergamasco shepherd is a sheepdog, with an usual matted coat. Colors of the coat range from gray or silver gray to brown and black; this coloration probably was a camouflage in the Italian Alps, where this pooch originated.

4. Xoloitzcuintli

This Mexican hairless breed is not only funny looking; it’s also quite rare. Not to mention, I am a klutz when it comes to pronouncing the name (something like “SHO-lo-eets-KWEENT-lee” probably gets close). These lovable pups were considered sacred by the Aztecs, Toltecs and Mayans and were thought to have healing properties. If laughter is indeed the best medicine, then those ancient peoples certainly may have been onto something, because this dog = hilarious.

Be sure to check out our Xolo slideshow. And for more info, you’ll definitely want to read our Xoloitzcuintli breed profile.

5. Neapolitan Mastiff

This poor pooch, with is massive wrinkles and sags, looks like something out of a Salvador Dali painting. That earns it a cozy spot in my top 5.

Don’t let the saggy face fool you, though; the Neapolitan mastiff is fearless, and supposedly fought alongside Roman Legions (sporting spiked leather harnesses that disemboweled the bellies of enemy horses!). They’re large and powerful and don’t seem to know their own strength. Chuckle at your own risk.

The Neapolitan mastiff is also on Pets Adviser’s list of the 10 biggest dog breeds in the world.