25 Popular Black Dog Breeds
Black dog breeds evoke various impressions at first glance: some appear regal and sophisticated, mysterious, or daring and intimidating. While black coats are a dominant gene in the canine world, it is rare for dogs to possess them.
Here are 25 of the most common black dog breeds.
01 of 25
Affenpinscher
The American Kennel Club classifies the affenpinscher as a toy group dog for their small 10-pound size and 11-inch stature. This dog was bred to dispatch rats and other vermin.
Affenpinscher is German for “monkey terrier," which is understandable once you see their adorable pushed-in face. Affenpinschers have strong, bold temperaments and are charming and entertaining companions.
Their wiry coat requires biweekly brushing to prevent mats and needs trimming every few months.
Breed Overview
02 of 25
Rottweiler
The rottweiler, or rottie, is a descendant of ancient Roman cattle dogs, but has had many service jobs over the centuries, including work as guard dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and service dogs.
While intimidating in appearance and somewhat aloof with strangers, they are calm, gentle, affectionate dogs with their families. Their smooth short coat is mostly black with rust, tan, or mahogany trim.
Breed Overview
03 of 25
Belgian Sheepdog
Intelligent and watchful, the beautiful Belgian sheepdog is a black dog breed that is also named the Groenendael for a place in Brussels. Of the four related Belgian sheepherding breeds (the others are the Belgian Malinois, the Belgian Laekenois, and the Belgian Tervuren), the Belgian sheepdog is the only one that solely comes in black.
Known as “workaholics,” Belgian sheepdogs are highly trainable and full of energy. The glossy black coat is easy to care for, requiring only weekly brushing and the occasional bath.
Breed Overview
04 of 25
Newfoundland
The majestic Newfoundland is massive but also known as a gentle giant that is usually great with children. A working dog, Newfies were used by Canadian fishermen to perform water rescues in icy waters. Newfoundlands were well-suited to the task, with a heavy, water-resistant coat, muscular, strong bodies, and webbed feet.
The Newfie is also an all-purpose worker on land, pulling carts and guarding the home. The thick, double coat requires brushing several times a week to prevent mats. Also, be prepared for a bit of slobber. Their coat is most commonly black, but it can also be brown, gray, or black and white.
Breed Overview
05 of 25
Flat-Coated Retriever
Bouncy, silly, and fun-loving, the flat-coated retriever is often mistaken for a black-coated golden retriever, a more familiar breed. Flat-coated retrievers are more active and athletic and require more exercise.
The breed’s lustrous, straight coat lies flat (hence its name). The flat-coated retriever comes in two solid colors: black and liver (chocolate brown), although black is far more common.
Breed Overview
06 of 25
Black Russian Terrier
The black Russian terrier looks like a giant schnauzer, with a similar body outline, plus a long beard and mustache. This black dog breed only comes in black and is affectionately called a "blackie" for short.
The schnauzer breed was used (among others) to develop the black Russian terrier. If you stand the two side by side, the massive black Russian terrier is more than twice the size of the giant schnauzer. This working dog requires an expert owner used to training powerful, strong-willed dogs.
The coarse double coat requires twice-weekly brushing and regular clipping.
Breed Overview
07 of 25
Standard Poodle
The standard poodle is highly intelligent, curious, playful, and trainable. These dogs were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl for hunters, but also were popular dogs for circus acts.
Along with the miniature and toy poodle, standard poodles are often solid black or black and white, although they can also be many other colors. Their soft, curly hair sheds very little and this breed is usually considered to be hypoallergenic as well.
Breed Overview
08 of 25
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador retriever held the No. 1 spot as the most popular dog breed in the United States for nearly three decades. Friendly and trainable, Labs are known to be excellent dogs for families.
The short, black coat is water-resistant and sheds heavily, so frequent brushing will cut down on hair lying around the house. This sporting dog needs lots of exercise daily, preferably off-leash running or games of fetch.
Breed Overview
09 of 25
Portuguese Water Dog
Highly affectionate and eager to please the Portuguese water dog was originally bred as a fisherman's helper. Today, these dogs mostly serve as beloved pets, thanks to their playful, social, and engaging personalities.
They do require quite a bit of exercise and playtime to be at their best. While most often solid black or black and white, they can also be brown, white, or a combination of those two colors.
Breed Overview
10 of 25
Schipperke
Schipperkes worked as ratters and watchdogs on and around ships and barges in Belgium as far back as medieval times. The breed name means “little captain” in Flemish.
These charming and feisty little dogs are usually solid jet black with twinkling, dark-brown eyes. They can also come in cream, ivory, wheaten, gold, red, white, blue, and chocolate, although it's rare.
The schipperke is small but has the energy to spare and loves to accompany their favorite people on all their adventures. Excellent watchdogs, schipperkes are wary of strangers and protective of their homes and people.
Breed Overview
11 of 25
Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman pinscher is the quintessential watchdog. Alert, loyal, and fearless, these dogs can be ferocious in defense of their families. And yet, with their favorite people they are affectionate and playful dogs with high intelligence and lots of energy.
Their smooth short coats are typically mostly black with rusty-brown trim, although rarely they can also be blue and rust or red and rust.
Breed Overview
12 of 25
Giant Schnauzer
The giant schnauzer was originally bred to drive cattle, but has also served as a military and police dog. These imposingly large beauties are very energetic and intelligent, and are quite affectionate with their families, but do require a great deal of exercise and training to reign in their tendencies towards protectiveness and overly high spirits.
They are typically solid black, but can also be salt and pepper like smaller schnauzers.
Breed Overview
13 of 25
Pug
A pug’s most important job is to be a loving and loyal canine companion. This toy group dog is most commonly seen sporting a tan- or fawn-colored coat with a black mask and ears, but they also come in solid black.
The pug’s breed standard uses the Latin phrase multum in parvo, which means “a lot in a little.” The phrase perfectly describes the solidly built, lively pug in both body and personality. Their short coat sheds a lot, so frequent brushing is a must.
Breed Overview
14 of 25
Scottish Terrier (Scottie)
Although almost everyone who pictures a Scottish terrier thinks of a black dog, they also come in wheaten (a yellow shade) or brindle (tiger stripes).
With short legs and long, substantial bodies, Scotties were well-suited to dispatching rats and hunting foxes and badgers in the Scottish Highlands. Today’s Scottie is still happy to take care of pesky rodents, and like other terriers, Scotties are incredibly bold and feisty, especially with other dogs.
Breed Overview
15 of 25
Puli
The medium-sized puli is compact and square with a long, shaggy coat that naturally forms cords in adults. This herding dog herded sheep in Hungary. The unique corded coat protected this breed from the cold weather and also served as armor against flock predators like wolves.
The puli is vigorous, alert, and active, and needs abundant exercise to remain happy. If you don't want to maintain the dreadlocks (which is a lot of work), the coat can be trimmed in a low-maintenance short style.
This breed always has a solid colored coat; it's usually black, although it can also be a gray or white coat.
Breed Overview
16 of 25
Great Dane
Despite their intimidating size, Great Danes are typically easy-going, gentle and affectionate dogs that are protective of their family, but patient, playful, and dependable with their people. A dog of this size does require a commitment to regular exercise and training, however.
Great Danes are often solid black, but can be many other colors as well as color combinations.
Breed Overview
17 of 25
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Muscular dogs once bred for fighting, today the Staffie is a good-natured, devoted, and smart breed that loves to play with children and spend time with family. They make good watchdogs and have high energy needs, meaning you'll need to be diligent about training and exercising your Staffie regularly.
Their short coats, which are often solid black or black and white, although they can be many other colors and color combinations, require little beyond regular brushing.
Breed Overview
18 of 25
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian might be tiny in size but is big in personality. These fluffy dogs love to be with their people as much as possible. They are spunky, playful, affectionate dogs that are active, but don't require a large exercise commitment.
Their long, silky coat is often solid black, but can be many other solid colors or combinations of colors. They need regular brushing, but surprisingly aren't heavy shedders.
Breed Overview
19 of 25
Border Collie
Considered to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds, the border collie is highly trainable, very active, affectionate, curious, and athletic. These dogs need to be kept busy, or else frustration can lead them to excessive barking or undesirable behaviors.
With enough exercise and playtime, however, they are fun family dogs that get along great with children and most other pets.
They are most often black and white, but can be solid black as well as many other solid colors or color combinations.
Breed Overview
20 of 25
Chow Chow
Chow chows are one of the oldest dog breeds, with roots stretching back to ancient China. Dignified, calm, and somewhat aloof, they are distinguished by their dark tongues, which are purplish black.
While intelligent and trainable, they are not demanding in their need for exercise and playtime, although they are affectionate with their families.
Their thick coats are often solid black, although they can also be blue, red, cinnamon, or cream.
Breed Overview
21 of 25
Greyhound
The fastest breed of dog, greyhounds can reach up to 45 mph while racing. But off the track, these dogs are gentle, calm, and good-natured. They are affectionate and do have a lot of energy, so you'll need to let them stretch their legs daily.
But their grooming needs are low, and their short coats shed very little. Greyhounds can be solid black, black and brindle, or several other colors and color combinations.
Breed Overview
22 of 25
Miniature Pinscher (Min Pin)
Small but mighty, the min pin is a high-energy dog that requires a great deal of exercise and interaction to fend off a tendency towards excessive barking. These dogs are very protective of their families, but can be quite affectionate and playful as well.
Their short, smooth coats are usually mostly black with either rust or tan trim, but they can also be brown or red.
Breed Overview
23 of 25
French Bulldog (Frenchie)
The adorable Frenchie is smart, playful, affectionate, and trainable, making them an ideal family dog. Their large ears add to their alert expression, and indeed, they are good watchdogs despite their fairly small size.
They love to play with children, but do not have excessive needs for exercise, and their short coats are easy to groom. While Frenchies are often solid black, technically the AKC does not recognize black as an official breed color. They can be many other colors or color combinations as well.
Breed Overview
24 of 25
Cane Corso
The cane corso is a powerful black dog breed that dates back to ancient Rome. They are strong and muscular working dogs, and can weigh up to 120 pounds, but they’re also gentle giants around the people they care about, so their looks are deceiving.
They have a coarse, short double coat, and the undercoat’s length will depend on where they live, as dogs that live in a colder environment will have an undercoat that is thicker and longer. They shed throughout the year and more heavily in the spring, but a weekly brushing should be sufficient.
In addition to black, their coat can be various other colors.
Breed Overview
25 of 25
Bernese Mountain Dog
A working dog from Switzerland, the Bernese mountain dog features a coat that is mostly black. They are intelligent and good-natured, with an outgoing personality. These dogs are also loyal to their family and eager to please.
Berners have a double coat. This helps insulate them when it’s cold out, and it also can repel dirt. However, they shed a lot, so they need to be brushed at least once a week, and daily during shedding season.
Breed Overview
Breed Characteristics
According to some shelters and breeders, with dogs of the same breed or litter that come in black and other colors, such as poodles, the black-coated dogs may fail to get adopted or are adopted last compared to other colored dogs.
This dog adoption issue is also known as "black dog syndrome" and is based on anecdotes and assumptions. Factually, there are more black dogs in the world, as black is a more dominant color, and coat color has no impact on personality or temperament.
Breeds to Avoid
If you want a dog with a black coat, and you're torn between a few dogs on this list, then consider a couple of other things before you make your decision.
If you don't have a ton of time to devote to exercise and training, you might want to nix the black Russian terrier, the puli, and the Belgian sheepdog from your list; they each require a lot of both.
If you have allergies, the Newfie manufactures a ton of drool. Slobber is just as responsible as shedding for causing allergies.
If you’re busy and want a low-maintenance breed, the border collie has extensive care needs that can make them difficult to look after.
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