Red Dog Breeds

Red dogs come in many different eye-catching shades. For example, depending on the specific breed its coat may be described as red wheaten, ruby, mahogany, or fox-red just to name a few. So for fans of this spectacular-looking coat color here are some of the top red dog breeds and what you’ll want to know about each of them.

English Cocker Spaniel

The English Cocker Spaniel was created in the United Kingdom. It is a hunting breed that was developed to flush game birds (namely the Eurasian woodcock for which it gets its name) out of hiding and retrieve them after the shot.

This cheerful medium-sized dog has long and floppy ears along with a silky medium-length coat. Its coat comes in red but also a variety of colors such as cream, golden, liver, roan, brindle, and black along with several others.

American Cocker Spaniel

While it originated from English Cocker Spaniels brought to America, the American Cocker slowly changed over time to a similar yet distinctly different breed. The American Cocker Spaniel is smaller as it was mainly used to hunt the American woodcock which is a smaller game bird than the Eurasian species that the English Cocker Spaniel was developed to pursue.

The American Cocker Spaniel also has a more dome-like head and a heavier coat than its English cousin. You’ll find this outgoing and friendly canine in a range of coat colors including a gorgeous red. And while it is a capable and naturally skilled gundog, today the American Cocker mostly serves as a companion.

Australian Cattledog

As you can guess from its name this Australian red dog breed was created to herd cattle in Australia. It is a tough and muscular canine of medium build that can work even in the hot and rugged Australian outback. In fact, the dingo, a native red-colored wild dog, was used in the breed’s development to improve its ability to handle the extreme Australian conditions.

So it’s no coincidence that the breed is often described as dingo-like in appearance. The Australian Cattledog has a wide head and pointy erect ears which are set far apart. And its coat is short with hard hairs and may be either red or blue in color.

Because the breed’s coat always contains white hairs as well, it gives the coat a speckled appearance instead of being a solid red or blue. While red dogs are known as Red Heelers those with blue coats are known as Blue Heelers.

Miniature Pinscher

Although nowadays it is most often utilized as a companion this small red dog breed was originally used as a ratter to help keep German barns free from vermin. Like its name suggests it is miniature in size and therefore classified as part of the toy group.

The breed typically has cropped ears and a docked tail. Its coat is short and smooth. In addition to solid red the Miniature Pinscher may also be black, or chocolate, with rust markings.

Golden Retriever

The golden-colored coat of this friendly and popular breed comes in many different shades. It ranges from a pale gold or blonde to a dark golden red. While red Golden Retrievers do typically tend to be from field lines,( those bred to do field work or hunt) any purebred Golden can have a red coat.

The red color in the breed’s coat can be traced back to its origins. That’s because one of the foundation breeds that was used to create the Golden was the Irish Setter, which itself is famous for its stunning solid red coat.

Labrador Retriever

For those searching for a large red dog breed that is just at home in the water as it is on land, the Labrador Retriever could be a perfect choice. Most fans of this affectionate Canadian retriever know that it comes in three official coat colors: yellow, black, and chocolate. However, there is also another option, fox-red.

While a fox-red Labrador Retriever may be a striking deep chestnut red it is not considered to be a separate coat color. Instead, fox-red is the darkest shade of yellow Labrador Retrievers and is also sometimes called dark yellow.

While most yellow Labs today are much lighter in color, fox-red was actually the first shade of yellow Labradors. Nowadays most fox-red Labrador Retrievers are from field or working lines as opposed to show lines.

Pomeranian

This small red-haired dog breed gets its name from the area known as Pomerania which was historically part of both Germany and Poland. The Pomeranian is not exclusively red, in fact far from it. The breed actually comes in all coat colors and patterns. It is considered to be a toy dog and the smallest spitz breed which is why it’s also known as the Dwarf Spitz.

This tiny companion is intelligent and easy to train. Don’t be fooled by the breed’s size however they do make excellent watchdogs as they won’t hesitate to bark when they hear or see something suspicious. These little guys do enjoy being pampered and therefore often have quite a cocky attitude.

Shiba Inu

The Shiba Inu is a unique breed of red dog from Japan. It is considered a primitive breed and was originally used for hunting and guarding. This small to medium size canine has a fox-like face with upright triangular ears and small dark brown eyes.

Its thick tail is distinct to the breed and carried with a sickle curve or in a single curl. The Shiba Inu coat may be red, red sesame, black and tan, orange, or yellow with an undercoat that is grey, cream, or buff (sandy color).

Irish Setter

One look at the Irish Setter and it’s easy to see why it’s considered by many to be the most beautiful of all dogs. This big red dog breed is tall and distinguished in appearance with a long neck, long legs, and floppy fringed ears that hang down.

However, it is the Irish Setter’s long and silky coat that is its most famous physical characteristic. The coat is a gorgeous mahogany or chestnut red. This outgoing and attractive breed was originally developed in Ireland for hunting upland game birds. It is also known as the Red Setter or the Irish Red Setter.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

One of the breed hallmarks of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is its richly colored deep red coat that may be from a golden red to a coppery red in color. Its soft medium-length coat also often includes white markings.

Because this Canadian native was developed not only to lure waterfowl towards hunters (known as tolling) but then to retrieve them from frigid icy water its double coat is warm and naturally water-repellant. Similar to several other breeds which work in the water the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has webbed feet which help to make it both a powerful and efficient swimmer.

Irish Terrier

Nicknamed both the “Red Devil,” and “Daredevil,” this is a fearless and feisty dog that hails from Ireland. And like many terriers, it was created to hunt vermin and to function as an all-around farm dog. The Irish Terrier is longer and leggier than most other terriers.

It has small v-shaped ears, a beard, and a tail that is traditionally docked. In addition to being one of the oldest terriers, the Irish Terrier also holds the distinction of being the only all-red terrier breed. Its coat is rough and hard to the touch and can be fiery red, red wheaten, or yellow-red in color.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large dog breed with a reddish-brown coat that originated in South Africa. It was originally used as both a hunting and guard dog. The breed was specifically used to hunt lions and was once known as the African Lion Dog.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a unique ridge of hair on its back that grows in the opposite direction of the rest of its short and thick coat. While gentle with their loved ones, because of their power and size these dogs do best with an experienced owner.

Vizsla

The Vizsla is a red bird dog breed that was developed in Hungary. In addition to being a pointing dog, it is also a versatile all-around hunting dog, a function that it is widely used for today. For those who are unfamiliar with the breed, it is actually often described as a red dog that looks like a Weimaraner. And it’s also commonly confused for both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Redbone Coonhound.

The Vizsla is lean yet muscular despite being lightly built and is slightly longer than it is tall. Its long hanging ears have rounded tips and its nose is always dark brown. The tail is typically docked one-third off. The golden-red coat of the Vizsla is short and close to the body.

Dachshund

While it may look like a hot dog and is typically a companion, the Dachshund is actually a hunting breed. It is considered to be a hound. The breed’s wiener-like shape is no accident; it was bred to be the perfect size for entering into the burrows of tunneling animals such as badgers to flush them out.

These short-legged hounds also have a fantastic sense of smell and are used for tracking wounded game as well. While red Dachshunds are one of the most common colors, they also come in cream, black and cream, black and tan, chocolate and tan, Isabella and tan, blue and tan, and wild boar. The breed’s coat may also be sable, brindle, piebald, or merle.

Chongqing Dog

This Chinese red dog breed is a very rare sight, even in its homeland. In fact, the Chongqing Dog is actually considered to be one of the oldest and rarest breeds in the world. This is a unique-looking canine that has a wrinkly face, undershot jaw, and a tail that looks like a bamboo shoot.

It’s one of only a few dogs that has a blue black tongue and its sparse coat comes in either black or red. Red Chongqing Dogs can be any shade of red from light all the way to dark.

Doberman Pinscher

The classic Doberman Pinscher has a black shiny coat with rust markings. However, it also comes in fawn, blue, or red, with rust markings as well. This attractive and muscular German breed is known worldwide for its abilities as a guardian and military dog. Traditionally it has both cropped ears and a docked tail. As a working dog, the Doberman Pinscher has a lot of energy which will require plenty of exercise.

Russian Spaniel

Those searching for a handsome red bird dog breed may have to look no further than the Russian Spaniel. Created from crossing various spaniel types including the Field Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, and English Cocker Spaniel, this breed is a favorite among Russian hunters for hunting birds, rabbits, and other small game.

However, it also makes a gentle and affectionate companion. In addition to red, its coat comes in various colors and markings, often with a dark head and ears.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This little red dog breed has a long silky coat, big round eyes, and a history that has included many royal admirers. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel comes in only a handful of colors and patterns: black and tan, tricolor (black, red, and white), Blenheim (white with chestnut markings), and ruby (a rich red).

In the show ring, the breed standard calls for ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to be a solid red with no white markings. However, when it comes to pets, this of course doesn’t matter. Interestingly at one time or another, each distinct coat color was associated with a specific noble British family.

Border Collie

Athletic, hard working, and highly intelligent are just a few words that describe this sheep herding breed. Many people, especially those who have owned a Border Collie actually consider it to be the smartest of all canines. The breed comes in three coat types: smooth, medium, or rough.

And while it is often mistakenly believed to only be black with white markings, the Border Collie comes in all colors, combinations of colors, and patterns. This includes several types of red, although because red is a recessive trait it is not seen as often as other coat colors.

Those looking for a red Border Collie can choose from Australian red (also known as ee-red), red merle, red and white, red and white merle, and red merle tricolor.

Chinese Shar-Pei

The medium-sized red dog breed is easily one of the most unique-looking canines on the planet. That’s because the Chinese Shar-Pei is covered in loose folds of skin. Shar-Pei puppies are actually even wrinklier than adults. However despite how cute and wrinkly this breed can be, especially when it’s young, it’s definitely one that is recommended only for owners with experience.

In addition to many other coat colors such as black, cream, fawn, and brown just to name a few the Shar-Pei comes in several red-colored options including red, five-point red dilute, red fawn, and red sable.

American Pitbull Terrier

The real American Pitbull Terrier is a loyal, loving, athletic, and human-friendly American breed. And it comes in all coat colors, patterns, and markings except for merle. Red-coated dogs are actually one of the most sought-after color options and especially dogs with red (copper-colored) noses.

Red nose American Pitbull Terriers can be traced back to specific lines or strains such as Old Family Red Nose dogs which came to the United States in the early 1920s from Ireland. These dogs were renowned for their gameness and also their attractive red noses, coats, toenails, and amber-colored eyes.

Tibetan Mastiff

Often referred to as the “Roof of the World,” wild and mountainous Tibet has produced several amazing breeds and the Tibetan Mastiff is no exception. This impressive extra large red dog breed is definitely not for everyone. It is a powerful and independent canine whose main purpose has always been as a guardian of livestock, property, and people.

Unfortunately for the breed, in recent years red Tibetan Mastiffs, in particular, have become status symbols in China with several individual canines fetching prices of over a million dollars. Fanciers of the breed can find it in a variety of colors including black, black and tan, brown, brown and tan, cream, cream and sable, red gold, red gold sable, blue-gray, and blue-gray and tan.

Poodle

The Poodle comes in many colors however red is one of the newest and rarest. Red Poodles range in color from Irish Setter red to dark mahogany. In this breed, red is a fading color. And that means that in most cases the dog’s red coat will get lighter, usually in its first two years, although this can happen at any time during the dog’s life.

Some red Poodles may fade to apricot, an even rarer Poodle coat color that is many shades lighter. Or fading may never happen. Occasionally red Poodles actually get darker in color or they fade and then regain their original color.

Redbone Coonhound

Of all the red hound dog breeds there is perhaps none with a more stunning coat than the Redbone Coonhound. This medium-to-large dog was created in the southern United States to track and tree raccoons and other animals which climb trees when they feel threatened.

The deep rich color of the Redbone Coonhound’s short red coat is incredibly eye-catching. These are solid red dogs (although they may have small white markings on the feet and chest) and are considered to be the most uniform in appearance of all the coonhound breeds.

Thai Ridgeback

Along with the Rhodesian Ridgeback and Phu Quoc Ridgeback, the Thai Ridgeback is one of only three dog breeds that have a ridge of hair on the top of its back that grows in the opposite direction to the rest of its coat. This is both a primitive and rare dog. Its coat is always solid in color and comes in red, blue, black, and light fawn (isabella). According to the breed standard, it is preferable that red Thai Ridgeback dogs have a black mask.

Australian Labradoodle

Unlike the other red dog breeds on this list, the Australian Labradoodle is not recognized as an official breed by any major kennel club. A Labradoodle is simply a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle and can have a widely varying appearance, and physical traits, and are only sometimes hypoallergenic.

However, an Australian Labradoodle is a much more standardized breed that was created to be allergy-friendly with an exceptional temperament. In addition to the Labrador and Poodle, the Cocker Spaniel was also used in its creation.

The resulting breed has three coat types, three sizes, and comes in colors such as red, caramel, chocolate, phantom, parti, lavender, and more. Like red poodles, red Australian Labradoodles do tend to get lighter in color.

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