Top 10 Ugliest Dogs

Lists: All, Animals, Bizarre ; Written or Posted by: TopTenz Master

Ugly is a subjective term, but it’s pretty accurate in the cases listed below. And, whilst all dogs have a special canine appeal that makes them adorable, there are some cases where that special appeal is not aesthetic. Or to be more kind, these dogs are so ugly they are actual cute.

10. Chihuahuas

Let’s start by picking on the little guy. Bulging eyes, a breed standard height that shouldn’t exceed 10 inches, and notoriety through Ren and Stimpy, put this little chap’s paws firmly in the list of ugliest dogs.

9. French Bulldog

Without trying to be insulting (because you don’t have to try with this ugly little mutt) the French Bulldog looks like a Chihuahua on steroids and a carb-hi diet. A lovely dog that’s rich on personality but far from photogenic.

8. Japanese Chin

This dog’s eyes are so far apart it could possibly guard the front door and the back door at the same time. At a breed standard height of up to 11 inches, it’s not far enough out of the ground to be healthy.

7. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The Dandie Dinmont, named after a farmer in Sir Walter Scott’s novel Guy Mannering, is another small dog. In most regards the breed’s appearance is quite pleasing and a far cry from being described as ugly: except for the Dandie Dinmont’s characteristic topknot of hair. Bad dog or bad hair day?

6. Whippet

Facially, whippets are one of the most attractive breeds of dog. However, when you see the whole body, the concept of “ugliness” can never be far from anyone’s thoughts. Whippets are thinner than an anorexic supermodel who’s just undergone liposuction. It’s not a good look.

5. Chinese Shar Pei

Well, we’ve criticized bulging eyes and baldness, so now we’ve got to take into account wrinkles. Originally developed as a Chinese farm dog the Chinese Shar Pei could well be the mascot for unsuccessful anti-wrinkle creams. Adorable: yes. Sweet natured: naturally. Ugly: no doubt about it.

4. Standard Schnauzer

It’s not that the Schnauzer is ugly – it’s just that this breed of dog never looks happy. With a bearded appearance that’s reminiscent of a gruff and disapproving uncle, and an angular head that looks like it’s been crudely carved from a block of wood, the Standard Schnauzer is never going to be described as a canine pretty boy.

3. Shih Tzu

Whilst it may appear inconsistent after criticizing bald dogs, the Shih Tzu takes hirsuteness to an unnecessary extreme. Also, having the name Shih Tzu – this dog deserves to have the number three position on this list of ugly dogs

2. Pug

The phrase “plug-ugly” came about through an etymology that relates back to street gangs in the 1850s. However, over the century and half since this reference originated, the term has neologistically mutated into pug-ugly. One look at the number two dog in this list is sufficient explanation as to where that reference originated. Noted for its sunny disposition and winning personality, it is one of those dogs that comes close to having its nostrils point the wrong way and runs the danger of drowning if it goes out in the rain.

1. Chinese Crested

No one condones picking on the bald – but it’s not natural in a dog. Dogs are supposed to have hair, moult, and need grooming. They shouldn’t need polishing.

Written by Ashley Lister

Photo Credits: 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 10

As an added treat here is a video of some very cute, yet ugly dogs. Some are from this list, but you’ll find many more too.

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Comments

20 Responses to “Top 10 Ugliest Dogs”

kelsee on October 23rd, 2008 1:30 pm

the #1 dog is a very ugly dog
Lizzie on December 2nd, 2008 8:39 pm

I agree the number one dog is the ugliest otherwise I think the others are cute. A dog that I find ugly would be the chow chow and they aren’t listed.
AuntieD on December 8th, 2008 7:47 pm

Whoever wrote this list didn’t try very hard. It looks like the author just had a stack of photos of his friends’ dogs and picked the ten least attractive. A friend of mine has a Bichon Freeze, and I always thought it was ugly. But I’ve gone to a website of these dogs and they are actually rather attractive, so my friend’s dog is just dentally challenged, in that he seems to have an underbite (only his lower teeth show) and he drools a lot. I guess this list is very subjective!
suzybabies on December 11th, 2008 3:03 pm

what about the mexican hairless. its much worse that a shar pei who made this list.
Kayley on December 19th, 2008 11:22 pm

I love pugs! I have one and she is so cute! I love dogs with the little squashed in faces and bulgy eyes. Chinese crested are pretty ugly though.
Leslie on December 31st, 2008 1:46 pm

Just because u come across a picture of a poorly bred dog doesn’t make the breed as a whole ugly. If you look you can find beautiful Chinese cresteds!! Mine is absolutely beautiful and everyone says so.
Ozjeppe on January 15th, 2009 9:47 am

C’mon people, this is all in fun! And the motivation descriptions are great…
Crested Dogs on February 19th, 2009 10:11 pm

I have a crested and he probably looks better than your children.
Nicole on February 25th, 2009 10:19 pm

Just because you found one picture of a badly bred (and very old) crested does not mean the entire breed is that way. I have a Chinese Crested and he gets complimented on his cuteness (and similarities to a small werewolf) all the time. I also bet you didn’t know there is a hairy version of the crested as well, known as the powderpuff.

Some peoples’ kids are ugly, does that mean we should say children as a whole are ugly too?
Isabela on April 5th, 2009 9:57 am

hey! shih tzus areent ugly they are really cute! you justgot an ugly picture shih tzus doesnt deserve top 3 grrrrrrrr……….
People Search on April 6th, 2009 11:17 pm

That French Bulldog with the round glasses looks like Jean Paul Sartre. LOL !
Harry on April 16th, 2009 8:36 am

My black standard schnauzer is very hansome and we always have people stop to admire how good looking he is. He is so cheeky and is always smiling as if he is laughing. So i do not agree the Schnauzer should be in there.
autumne on April 25th, 2009 6:26 pm

THIA LIST IS SO UNFAIR! especially fa numba 1. that dog breed has 2 kinds ONE OF THE TWO HAS HAIR! the picture fa dat one is a retarded dog. the actual bald dog don’t look like that they’re plenty ugly but that pic is just not justice. most of the dogs here are famous! chihuahuas are cute 2 a lot of people n pugs 2! n a shar pei is a cute one 2 WHO MADE THIS????
autumne on April 25th, 2009 6:28 pm

shi tzus?! this person is crazy!
aya on April 28th, 2009 8:16 am

i love dogs. and i dont care how good looking or ugly they can be. as long as they make a good pet.
mobycat on May 10th, 2009 10:42 pm

You’re completely wrong on the whippet. A side view of the whippet shows an incredibly attractive dog. It IS a good look. And watching one make it’s way through lure coursing is a beautiful sight.
Jess on May 22nd, 2009 4:50 pm

Pugs are F’in sweet!!! especially the black one’s. Are you serious man?
Josh on May 22nd, 2009 5:06 pm

Of course there are not ugly dogs, this list is just a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the stranger looking canines of the world. Everyone should simmer down now and take this list for what it is - a light-hearted look at man’s strange looking best friends.
TopTenz Master on May 22nd, 2009 5:09 pm

Thanks, Josh for the sage advice. This is true, all dogs are cute in their own way and to their owners. Maybe I should have titled this list strangest looking dogs rather than ugliest dogs? But then I look at the Chinese Crested dog and think, “Man, that is one butt-ugly dog.”
LAURA AND IM MAD on May 25th, 2009 12:07 pm

YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY FOR GOODNESS SAKE HOW WOULD U FEEL IF I SAID YOU WHERE THE UGLIEST PERSON ON EARTH
10 IS ADORABLE 9 IT JUST THE GLASSES 8 IS SOOOOOOOO CUTE 7 IT ADDDDDDDDDDORABLE 6 IT A REALLY FAST RUNNER 5 IS JUST WRINKLY LIKE YOUR GRANNY 4 IS SOOOO CUTE 3 IS A SHOW DOG 2 IS SOOOOOO CUTE AND 1 IS JUST BEEN TREATED BADLY LIKE ALL OF YOU WOULD TREAT THEM