Black Dogs

Dogs that are black may often be overlooked and preferred less than their light-colored counterparts, especially when it comes to adopting from shelters. This aspect was highlighted in a study conducted by psychologist Stanley Coren which showed that black Labradors are not considered as friendly as the other colors.

It might be due to certain folklore that associates black dogs with the Devil as an omen of death, leading to a certain prejudice against them. However, the truth remains that black dogs are just as lovable and loyal as their other colored counterparts. And a black-coated dog would be just as gorgeous (if not more) as any other color.

List of Black Dog Breeds

The dogs mentioned here could either be all black or have markings of white, tan, brown, or any other shade on their chest, face, paws, and tail. The list below excludes designer dogs, only comprising breeds recognized by prominent registries like AKC, UKC, and FCI.

Small Black Dogs

• Affenpinscher – all-black, fluffy
• Briard – all-black, fluffy, long-haired
• Cairn Terrier – all-black, fluffy, long-haired
• Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Jagdterrier
• Karelian Bear Dog – fluffy
• Lancashire Heeler
• Manchester Terrier – pointy-eared
• Miniature Pinscher – pointy-eared
• Patterdale Terrier – all-black
• Schipperke – all-black, fluffy, pointy-eared
• Scottish Terrier – pointy-eared
• Skye Terrier – all-black, fluffy, long-haired, pointy-eared
• Cocker Spaniel – all-black
• Pug
• Pomeranian – all-black, fluffy, long-haired, pointy-eared
• Chow Chow – fluffy, pointy-eared

Medium Black Dogs

• Appenzeller Sennenhund
• Australian Kelpie
• Barbet – all-black, fluffy, curly-haired
• Belgian Shepherd – all-black, fluffy, long-haired
• Bergamasco – fluffy
• Black and Tan Coonhound
• Black Norwegian Elkhound – all-black, fluffy, pointy-eared
• Bohemian Shepherd
• Croatian Sheepdog – all-black, fluffy
• English Shepherd
• German Pinscher
• Gordon Setter – fluffy
• Labrador Retriever – all-black
• Latvian Hound
• Mudi Dog – all-black, fluffy
• Plott Hound
• Poodle – fluffy, curly-haired
• Portuguese Water Dog – all-black, fluffy, curly-haired
• Pudelpointer
• Puli – all-black, fluffy, curly-haired
• Pumi – all-black, fluffy, curly-haired
• Smaland Hound – all-black, fluffy
• Spanish Water Dog – fluffy, curly-haired
• Swedish Lapphund – all-black, fluffy, pointy-eared

Big Black Dogs

• Afghan Hound – fluffy, long-haired
• Beauceron – pointy-eared
• Bernese Mountain Dog – long-haired
• Black German Shepherd – pointy-eared
• Black Russian Terrier – all-black, fluffy, long-haired
• Bouvier des Flandres – all-black, long-haired, fluffy
• Cane Corso – pointy-eared
• Caucasian Shepherd
• Curly Coated Retriever – all-black, fluffy, curly-haired
• Doberman Pinscher – pointy-eared
• Flat-Coated Retriever – all-black, long-haired
• Giant Schnauzer – all-black, long-haired
• Great Dane
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Hovawart – fluffy
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Newfoundland Dog – all-black, fluffy
• Rottweiler
• Tibetan Mastiff – all-black, fluffy
• Belgian Sheepdog – long-haired

Black Dog Breeds Not Recognized by Major Registries

• Alopekis
• Canis Panther
• Carlin Pinscher
• Greek Harehound
• King Shepherd
• Labradoodle