Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say, and it is a fact that mongrels can be as beautiful dogs as any other breed.
This article will introduce to you some of the most popular dog breeds that are considered to be the best looking dogs. Their unique physical characteristics make them stand out among everyone else and pet owners can rarely resist them.
However, you should remember that the dog’s coat and the physical appearance do not make him more important or beautiful than a mongrel, for example.
Before you decide to go for a particular breed, you must take into account its needs and temperament. This guide will help you and point you in the right direction, so you may find the right furry friend for yourself.
SOME OF THE BEST LOOKING DOGS
Check out this top 10 best looking dog breeds guide which can help you decide on the right dog breed, according to its appearance and temperament.
It is important that you know what you are looking for – whether that is a small companion dog for an apartment, a big protective dog that can spend a lot of time outdoors, a sporty dog full of energy or a loyal family’s dog that can spend time both outdoors and in the house.
All of these matter and you should not think about getting a dog if you are unable to tend to his basic needs; do not forget that a dog is another family member and it should be treated as such.
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
The Golden Retriever, originally bred in Scotland in the 19th century, is probably one of the most popular breeds in the world. It is common to see this breed almost everywhere. And it has also been featured in many films and TV shows, such as Air Bud, Fluke, Napoleon, Cats & Dogs, Up etc.
However, there is a reason why this breed is so popular and famous – the Golden Retriever is a beautiful type of dog, it has a golden upper coat that is water-resistant and rich. It can come in various shades of gold. The undercoat is softer, lighter and wavy.
Additionally, it is not only the beauty of the coat that attracts so many pet owners. They are very smart, loyal and friendly dogs that simply love to be part of family.
They are perfect for children and homes with many people, and the Golden Retriever is described as a typical family and kind dog, mostly because they are patient with kids.
However, they are not suitable to have a role of guard dogs, because they are always friendly and trusting to strangers and that also makes them poor ‘one-man’ dogs. The
Golden Retriever is one of the breeds that are not aggressive, nervous, or hostile, either to animals or people, and if a dog shows any of these characteristics, that would mean that something is wrong. The typical Golden Retriever is known for being eager to please any time and he is naturally calm and bright.
Some of the other interesting characteristics about this breed are that this dog is very active and he is suitable and used as a guide dog, a mobility assistance dog or a search and rescue dog. The Golden Retriever is also used for various performance events and games, and he almost always responds positively and well to the training.
You must take care to frequently groom and comb your Golden Retriever because they shed always throughout the year. They should be also taken to annual check-ups because they are known to have genetic disorders and various diseased.
SIBERIAN HUSKY
The Siberian Husky is a beautiful breed that originated in Siberia. This type of dog, together with Samoyed and Alaskan Malamute, is a direct descended of one of the oldest breeds of dog, the original sled dog.
Thanks to these dogs, the entire tribes and groups of explorers managed to survive throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and they are still used as sled dogs today.
The Siberian Husky is very popular because it really resembles a wolf, or a wild dog. The coat is much thicker than that of other dog breeds and it consists of two layers.
The coat can come in variety of colors.
When it comes to his behavior and temperament, the Husky is described as a wolfish dog. He howls, and almost never barks.
They are also known as escape artists, mainly because they are able to dig under the fence, jump over it or even chew though it and escape. They love to roam, which is a strong connection to their ancestors.
They are usually good with children, and they love to be part of family, or as they see it, part of a pack. If you do not care or train your Husky, he can be very destructive – attack cats or other dogs or run away.
They ask for a lot of space, exercises and quality nutrition. This means that you must train them and engage them in various outgoing activities, so they would spend their energy properly.
Nowadays they are usually kept as family and shows pets, and they are very obedient, loyal, fun, friendly and energetic.
Their beauty and uniqueness puts them on the list of the best looking dogs, and they deserve it.
MALTESE
The Maltese is one of the most popular companion dogs ever. They are small, cute, adorable, fierce and loyal. They are known for their white fluffy coat that almost never sheds.
They do not have an undercoat and the color is always white, which is usually long and silken, even though many owners tend to cut it.
The Maltese may be a small and tiny doggie, but he is brave and fierce and he is known for attacking dogs which are 10 x bigger than him. That is why you should take care of him and his fragile body and train him so he does not get into trouble.
Maltese do not get along well with small children, simply because a child can easily hurt the dog during a game by dropping him or holding him too tightly. It would be better to simply have a Maltese in a home with older children or teenagers.
It is also known that many respectable dog breeders would not sell this breed to the families with babies and small kids, simply because they believe that would harm the dog and his basic needs would not be met.
DOBERMAN
The Doberman Pinscher, originally bred in Germany, is a popular dog breed of medium size that was intended as a guard dog, which is his role even today.
He is known for having a masculine, proud and athletic appearance and his ears are usually cropped and the ears are docked, which has become illegal in many countries nowadays.
The Doberman is a dog breed of medium size, and his coat is short and black. However, there can be many variations, including red, blue, fawn, white and even albino. The life span is up to 12 years.
Even though they are stereotyped as the one of the most aggressive breeds, that has been toned down over the years, and the excellent training should make a Doberman behave normally.
They may look ferocious and intimidating, but they can be great friends and companions, not only protection dogs. This means that they also make great family friends and they get along with children.
However, just like with most breeds, you should socialize them from an early age and teach them the basic commands so they can behave normally in the company of other people and animals.
IRISH SETTER
The Irish Setter is a dog breed that originates in Ireland and it is one of the most elegant dog breeds in the world. It is famous for his long, silky, red or chestnut coat. Because of this coat and the dog’s stance, this breed has been regarded as very elegant and beautiful in every way.
This breed requires frequent grooming in order to keep it healthy and pretty. The Irish Setter loves water and nature, and you should always take it out for exercise as much as possible.
This dog was used for hunting birds and other prey on the fields, and his pointing position can be seen even today.
He can be stubborn, but he is always friendly and loyal. The breed belongs to the group of the most intelligent dogs. They are also used as therapy dogs in hospitals and schools. They are also great as family dogs because they love children and they also get along well with other dogs.
However, keep in mind that their hunting instinct may become a trouble for smaller pets, especially birds. They are also a breed that likes to play deaf and to roam, therefore a careful training should be a must from an early age and you should not let them off-lead until they master to respond to your calls.
The Irish Setter is not a dog that likes to be alone or left in the backyard. It is a dog that must be active and to have a job to do. They are not suitable as guard dogs.
AFGAN HOUND
The Afgan Hound, also known as Tazi, is one of the oldest and most unique dog breeds ever.
Originating from the cold mountains in Afghanistan, his coat is long, silky and thick, while the tail is curling at the end. The color of the coat can come in various colors.
This dog is pretty tall and it also may not get along with smaller animals. They can be outgoing and friendly, and they also have good reasoning skills. They are very popular at the performance events.
When it comes to his personality, this breed can be independent, but also sweet, silly and loyal.
POODLE
The poodle is a group of a couple of dog breeds, including the Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle, originating in Germany.
The poodle is known for looking like an ‘elite’ and celebrity dog; however, even though the appearance is pretty and cute, the dog is very intelligent and active. The coat is single, furry and dense, and it almost never sheds.
The dog must be combed and groomed regularly and in order for it to preserve the elegant look.
The poodle is always energetic and sociable. You must provide him with regular outdoor exercises and activities. The Poodle’s instinct for hunting is more prominent than in other breeds, and this breed should never be snappy or nervous.
The Poodles are highly trainable and they excel in most dog sports such as agility, fly ball, diving, tracking etc.
WELSH CORGI
The Welsh Corgi is a really small dog breed that originates in Wales and there are two distinctive breeds that belong to it – the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi. Each one is named after the country in Wales and the Cardigans are bigger.
Corgis are known as herding dogs, and their low height allowed them to avoid being kicked by the herds.
When it comes to their physical description, Corgis look very cute with their big ears and short legs, and the usual colors are dark and light brown combined with grey or white.
They are very curious and friendly dogs. They are very suitable for outdoor activities even though they have short legs.
They often compete in various dog sports and events such as the agility trials, fly ball, tracking, obedience and many more. They also make great alarm dogs since they tend to be very vocal and to bark a lot if they are not properly trained from an early age.
They get along with children; however, keep in mind their herding instincts since they can nip at the children’s heels during the play. You should also socialize them from an early age so they do not become cautious or shy around other dogs.
SHIH TZU
The Shih Tzu is a popular dog breed from China. This dog is known as a toy breed since it is very small with long and silky coat.
The muzzle is short and the eyes are large and dark. The coat is his most unique feature since it is long, silky, double and soft and it also comes in many colors. The regular grooming is of course, unnecessary in order to keep the long coat from tangles and to keep it healthy and beautiful.
According to the Chinese legend, the Shih Tzu is known as a ‘lion dog’ because it resembles the Chinese guardian lions. Until 1930, the Chinese refused to sell and trade their dogs because they praised them so much. Their dog breeds from ancient times can be seen in Chinese paintings and legends.
The Shih Tzu may be a small dog, but he is loyal, outgoing and very alert. He can be very stubborn, so you must train him from an early age; otherwise it would become impossible for him to obey even the most basic commands later on.
Additionally, they can become nasty if they are provoked, so you should keep an eye on them while they are playing with children.
GERMAN SHEPHERD
The German Shepherd or the Alsatian is a popular and beautiful dog breed that originated in Germany. The dog is of large size and they were originally bred for herding sheep, but today they are recognized as excellent guard, military, search and rescue and assistance dogs.
The German Shepherds are very strong, intelligent, endurable and trainable dogs. They are known for their intelligence and ability to learn new tricks and commands quickly. Because of these traits, they are the most used breed in police and military.
When it comes to their temperament and behavior, they are very protective, obedient and loyal. They would protect their family at any cost and that is why it is very important to train them and socialize them from an early age, because they have tendency to go after smaller animals or even strangers.
To sum up, there are many beautiful and nice looking dogs in the world, and you should choose the breed according to your taste, but also the ability to take care of it, mainly because each breed is different and requires a different treatment.
That means that whether you go for a tiny companion doggie or for a big, guard dog, both of them need exercises, proper diet and mental activities.
This article pointed out 10 best looking dogs, such as: the Poodle, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Corgi, Siberian Husky, Golden Retriever, Maltese, Doberman, Afgan Hound and Shih Tzu.
Some of them are companion dogs while the others are guard dogs. However, you should remember that, no matter what breed, every dog is beautiful and needs your love and friendship.