What Dog Breeds are Brindle?

What Dog Breeds are Brindle?

Many dog owners choose their breed for a specific reason. Some dogs are hypoallergenic so they’re great for those with allergies. Others want a dog that is going to be their outdoor companion. And sometimes we choose a dog simply because they look cute.

Brindle dogs have a unique and special coloring that have drawn owners in for years.

What dog breeds are brindle? Does a brindle breed guarantee that they will all have that color pattering? Today, we take a closer look at different brindle dog breeds.

What is a Brindle Coat?

Brindle is a specific coat pattern that only occurs in a small number of dogs. The best way to describe the pattern is like “tiger stripes.” Usually, a brindle dog will have a base coloring with darker stripes.

It is not truly known what causes this difference in coats, but it has been narrowed down to a genetic mutation. Because the pattern is genetic, not all breeds can be born with a brindle coating. Most dogs who have a brindle pattern are short-haired. If you are interested in a dog with brindle coating, it’s best to look to short hairs.

There is also a coating that is called a reverse brindle. This occurs when a dog has a brindle coat that has a heavy emphasis on the darkened coloration. Where most brindles are lighter with flecks of darker colors, reverse brindle has such a large concentration of dark colors that it seems to give a reverse effect.

Brindle coloring has also been observed in other animals. Horses, cats, rodents and even lizards have been known to exhibit brindle coloring.

What Dog Breeds are Brindle?

Greyhound

Brindle on a Greyhound is not super common, but when they do have brindle, they have a huge range. Their colorings can include black, blue, red, fawn, and liver combinations. This large range makes brindle Greyhounds one of the most striking coats when it does appear.

American Staffordshire Terrier / Pit Bull

These dogs often exhibit a brindle pattern, though it is not necessarily breed standard. They just happen to be short-haired, so brindle becomes very apparent if they have it. These dogs are incredibly friendly, affectionate, and loving. Well raised and well-treated Pit Bulls make great family dogs and capable of filling a home with love.

Mastiff

The Mastiff has a large range of brindle color patterns. While these dogs are gorgeous, they are also large. They can weigh in at over 220 pounds. For this reason, they are usually not recommended for first-time dog owners. They are a lovely breed, however, and they make a great addition to most families.

Great Dane

The Great Dane gets its name from its enormous size. Many can reach weights of up to 200 pounds and tower over children. Despite their size, they are gentle, dignified, and very affectionate.

Whippet

The Greyhound and the Whippet share a similar ancestor, so it makes sense that they would have been used for the same purpose and have similar features. While the Whippet is lightning fast like the Greyhound, they also come in brindle coloring.

The American Kennel Club recognizes eighteen different brindle colorations for the Whippet. Whippet coloring can be blue, red, black, white, fawn or any combination thereof.

Dachshund

This small, German dog is great for apartment dwellers, just make sure they can get out to stretch their legs a bit. These dogs are alternatively known as “wiener dogs” because they have smaller legs and a long body.

The American Kennel Club does not recognize the Dachshund as a breed that has brindle coloring, though many breeders have noted brindle coloring in many of their dogs.

Akita

The Akita is a hearty, Japanese breed. They are loyal, courageous and affectionate. They are also not recommended to first-time dog owners because they can be very headstrong and stubborn.

If you’re ready to take on the challenge of training an Akita, you’ll likely be rewarded with a silly but protective family dog. Their loyalty to their family can only be beaten by their prey drive, so make sure you emphasize training.

Does Brindle Matter?

Brindle dogs may be more interesting to look at, but does the brindle coloring affect the dog? The answer is not really. It is possible for a brindle dog to have an increased chance of a health problem, but responsible breeders will genetically test for those issues.

Only in the most extreme cases are there any real issues. These health problems can include:

• Deafness
• Ocular Defects

Because these issues are very apparent, most responsible breeders take the necessary steps to ensure they will not breed two dogs that are likely to have these issues.

Brindle dogs are often stunning to look at. Though the coloring doesn’t really affect the dog in any other noticeable way. Their unique coloring can make them more attractive to potential owners, though most people are fine with a dog they can cuddle.