Not only are the most beautiful dog breeds attractive, but they also make great family pets. There are hundreds of dog breeds to choose from so compiling a list of the best dog breeds requires a certain amount of subjectivity. Here are some of our favorite dogs that are both beautiful and pet worthy.
Looking for the best beautiful dog breeds?
Beauty is subjective. What’s attractive to one owner may not be attractive to another.
Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, hair lengths, height, traits, and character. From toy breeds that are happy in their owners’ lap to large working dogs that prefer sharing the pasture with a flock of sheep to being indoors, the choices are endless.
Beautiful Dog Breeds That are Small
For families in search of a small dog for a small home or apartments there are many popular dogs that make great candidates for consideration.
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a small-to-medium sized dog breed originating from Germany. Its name translates to “Pomerania Popper”. Breeders developed Pomeranians to hunt rabbits and rodents. This dog requires frequent grooming.
Pomeranians are adorable, tiny pooches who love to play and cuddle. They are very smart and often take their training seriously. They tend to take over the heart of their owners and make wonderful companions. These doggies should typically remain indoors, except for bathroom breaks as needed, because they can become injured by larger dogs and animals if they wander outside unsupervised.
Despite the high maintenance they require, the Pomeranian is perhaps the cutest dog in the world.
Pug
The Pug is a small, sturdy dog breed that originated in Europe. They prefer sitting near their owners in the home and avoid going outdoors for extended periods, especially during summertime. These dogs have a coat of thick hair, short legs, and a short nose.
Pugs are great with kids and other dogs, although they can sometimes be aggressive. They are highly trainable and enjoy being spoiled by their caregivers. They need regular grooming and bathing to stay looking their best.
Bichon Frise
Bichons are dog breeds that look like bunnies. They are white, soft fur dogs with floppy ears. Originally bred in France, they are now commonly owned pets. The Bichon Frise is a top 10 most beautiful dog in the world.
Besides being one of the more beautiful dog breeds, Bichon Frise, are also quite popular as apartment pets. They are loyal companions to a fault. Bichons do not like being left alone for long periods.
Maltese
Maltese are popular dogs and among the best small designer dog breeds due to their intelligence, loyalty, affectionate nature, and good temperament. Its looks make it extremely popular among many different types of families; however, its high maintenance demands may not suit everyone.
Maltese are small dogs with curly hair that comes in diverse colors including black, brown, gray, tan, and red. They are born with a black coat, although a few may be born with colored coats. The breed developed in Malta and is known for its short coat, black nose, round ears, and golden eyes.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are small dogs with long hair and big eyes. Enthusiasts developed the breed, one of the most beautiful dog breeds around, in China more than 2,000 years ago. Shih Tzus are a good choice for stylish homeowners in search of a fashionable pet. This small dog has become increasingly popular with dog lovers. Their calm and loving nature attracts people to them. As they get older, they tend to lose their puppy-like characteristics and develop into well behaved family dogs. They are friendly and playful and have excellent house manners.
Yorkshire Terrier
The breed originated in England for hunting small game. The Yorkshire Terrier’s short hair makes it look even smaller than its size. It is also one of the most intelligent dog breeds. They are loyal, protective, and independent dogs that love to play. Yorkshires are highly active and energetic, making it a great fit for both adults and children. They are sensitive towards strangers and loud noises.
Beautiful Dog Breeds with Short Hair
Nothing against long-haired dogs, but some pet owners prefer less maintenance and less shedding. The most beautiful dog breeds in the world don’t always have long hair.
Dog with long hair shed a lot and require more cleaning. It gets on furniture and clothing. It’s easy to identify owners of long-haired dogs because they often end up with hair on their pants and other clothing.
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua dog breed hails from Mexico and Central America. The exact history of the breed is unknown due to its early origin. True chihuahuas are distinguished by their small size, short legs, rounded head, and wide ears.
Their tiny size and loyal companionship make them wonderful companions. Many Chihuahua owners take their dogs with them during their daily activities. They are small enough to fit in handbags and carriers.
Dachshund
Dachshunds were bred in Germany originally and are popular around the world. This dog is known for its short legs and strong body. It gets along well with children and other pets. Because these animals are small, with a long body, they are prone to back problems. They are poor swimmers and should not be left unsupervised near water. Dachshunds excel at blood tracking and are used by hunters to trace wounded game.
French Bulldog
French bulldogs are small dogs who resemble miniature bulls. This breed originates in France and is extremely popular among people who want an adorable companion. A French bulldog is intelligent, energetic, playful, and gentle. They love to snuggle in bed with their owner at night.
Dalmatian
Dalmatians are medium sized, energetic dogs with a long body and legs. As a working breed, Dalmatians developed as a coach breed and guarding teams of horses. They are typically white with black spots. The Dalmatian’s unique looks have made them popular breeds for popular movies, books, and TV commercials.
Dalmatians show well and draw lots of attention when they are out and about. In dogs, sometimes looks are deceiving because some aggression occurs. As traditional guardians of draught livestock, they are not “beginner” dogs and need lots of exercise to help temper some of those aggressive tendencies.
Experienced dog owners with experience handling strong, energetic, and sometimes aggressive make the best candidates for this breed.
Beautiful Dog Breeds with Long Legs
Greyhound
Greyhounds are built for speed. They have short hair and are well-known house dogs. With their roots in racing, many have retired from the track and now happily reside in homes across the world.
Adopting a greyhound dog from a rescue organization has increased interest in the breed. These non-profit organizations have made finding homes for greyhounds a primary mission. With adoption organizations in most all U.S. states, you might be surprised to find a good candidate in a community near you.
Greyhounds are sweet pets. There are a lot of assumptions made about the breed. They can adjust to many home environments, but contrary to some beliefs they are a low-key breed for the most part when kept as pets.
Afghan Hound
Think of Afghan Hounds as a Greyhounds with long hair. They are both site hounds with hunting root. As loyal dogs bred for hunting and spending hours outside on-the-hunt they’ve become a prominent show breed.
Do Afghan hounds make good pets?
Yes. As one of the oldest pure-bred dog breeds Afghan Hounds’ history spans several lifetimes. Traditionally, the dogs spent long days in mountainous regions in bad weather. Their long, flowing coat protected the dogs from sunburn and cold at the same time.
Are Afghans difficult pets?
Afghans have high energy, need regular grooming, and have a strong prey drive. They have a reputation as difficult to train, so someone considering one for a family pet needs to understand these traits and consider whether they have patience for a strong-willed dog that needs a lot of exercise to thrive.
Dogs that are Hybrids, But Still Beautiful Dog Breeds
For owners who like sporting dogs, but plan to keep them primarily as house pets, the designer dog varieties a worthy consideration. Here are three of the most beautiful dog mixes:
- Goldendoodle: a hybrid breed resulting from a Golden Retriever paired with a Poodle
- Cockapoo: Cocker Spaniel bred with a Poodle
- Labradoodle: Labrador Retriever bred with a poodle
There are many other possibilities, including some cross-bred pairs that aren’t quite so beautiful. We’ll leave those for a future article for the ugliest dog breeds.
