Whether big or small, old or young, dogs with wrinkles always look adorable. It’s no wonder that so many people want a wrinkly dog of their own. So here are some of the top wrinkly dog breeds you’ll want to learn more about.
English Bulldog
For many people, the lovable English Bulldog is probably the first canine that comes to mind when thinking about wrinkly canines. In the past, the facial wrinkles of the Bulldog which help to give the breed its characteristic look had an important purpose. Originally the Bulldog was used to fight bulls in a sport known as bull-baiting.
When the dog bit into the bull the facial wrinkles of the Bulldog helped the blood to drip down the muzzle and towards the ground, instead of getting into the dog’s eyes. While wrinkly bulldogs are cute their wrinkles need care. They must be kept clean and dry to prevent infections and other skin problems.
While some English Bulldogs only need their wrinkles cleaned a few times a week others may need cleaning each and every day. It depends on the individual dog.
Pug
The Pug is not just one of the most popular small wrinkly dog breeds, but one of the most popular dogs in the world. They are ideal for apartment living and make loving companions. The original developers of the breed in China believed that the wrinkles on the dog’s face were very important.
Wrinkles which looked as if they formed the Chinese symbol for the word “prince,” were the most sought-after. This is known as the “prince mark.” Before potential owners purchase a cute and wrinkly Pug puppy they should keep in mind that this is considered to be one of the stubborn small dog breeds.
Chinese Shar-Pei
The Shar-Pei could be the most wrinkled dog breed of them all. Its entire body is covered in wrinkly folds of skin. It is considered to be an ancient dog breed and like the Pug, it originated in China. The Shar-Pei’s wrinkles are no accident. The breed was created to be wrinkly not for cuteness, but for defense.
Because the Sharpei was developed as a fighting dog, the wrinkles helped to protect it from being injured. When bitten, the opponent usually only got a mouthful of extra skin. This is a breed recommended only for experienced owners. And like many other types of wrinkly dogs, their skin folds need to be taken care of on a regular basis.
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is considered by many to have the best sense of smell of any breed on the planet. Its superior tracking ability is the reason it is the dog of choice for many hunters, search and rescue teams, and police forces.
The Bloodhound’s wrinkled face actually helps the breed to catch scent particles in the air making it easier for it to follow a scent trail. It is also known as the St. Hubert’s Hound since it was developed by the monks of the St. Hubert monastery in Belgium.
English Mastiff
The English Mastiff is a truly giant dog breed. The Mastiff has been used as a war dog, fighting dog, and guard dog. While the breed is much more peaceful today it is still wary of strangers and protective of its family. Despite its massive size, the Mastiff is actually quite sensitive.
Therefore during training, positive praise and rewards generally work best. One thing you may notice about the Mastiff is that while its coat comes in several colors, this big wrinkly dog breed always has a black muzzle.
Neapolitan Mastiff
The Neapolitan Mastiff is a very large and ancient dog. One look at the Neo is all it takes to see that this is a really wrinkly dog breed. It is also a natural guardian that is fearless and will defend its family at any cost.
The wrinkles, hanging skin, and jowls, which are characteristic of the breed, are believed to have been purposely developed to give the dog a frightening appearance to help scare off intruders. Due to its guarding instincts, it’s incredibly important that the Neapolitan Mastiff is socialized from an early age.
Dogue de Bourdeaux
The Dogue de Bourdeaux is also known as the French Mastiff. It’s a stocky dog with a huge head. In fact, relative to its body, it is considered to have the largest head of all dogs. This powerful canine is a descendant of ancient war dogs and is a fierce family protector. It’s also a dog breed with a lot of wrinkles.
Potential owners should keep in mind that this is a dog that does drool excessively. And also that Dogue de Bourdeaux’s wrinkles need to be cleaned regularly with a damp cloth to prevent infection in the folds of the dog’s face.
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a favorite with fans of wrinkled face dog breeds who prefer a pet that is more compact in size. The Frenchie is a dog known for its clownish antics, deeply pronounced facial wrinkles, and upright bat-like ears.
Despite the breed’s name it actually originated in England however it was popularized in France. The French Bulldog is typically excellent with kids and makes a great watchdog as well since it usually only barks when there’s actually something important to bark about.
Basset Hound
There is no mistaking the Basset Hound for any other breed. It has long floppy ears, a wrinkly face, and an elongated body, that is set on top of very short legs. The Basset is a top-notch hunting hound that was developed to hunt rabbits. And similar to the Bloodhound and several other scent hounds the wrinkly Basset Hound’s face helps to capture scent.
The Basset is believed to have the second-best nose of all dogs. That is after its cousin the Bloodhound of course. The Basset Hound is a dog that needs to be kept on a leash at all times, and in a securely fenced-in yard when outdoors, as it will not hesitate to follow after an intriguing scent.
Boerboel
Also sometimes called the South African Mastiff the Boerboel is one of the extra-large wrinkly dog breeds. It was developed by the Dutch settlers in South Africa. They used imported dogs such as Mastiffs, Bulldogs, Greyhounds, and Pointers, along with a handful of others which were then interbred with native African dogs as well.
The Boerboel was created to work as a farm dog and more specifically as a guardian. And it’s still used today to defend against both human intruders and dangerous wildlife such as lions.
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