There are a number of breeds that come in white. Labs, golden retrievers, and Chihuahuas all have variations that range from the completely white coat to the more common yellow or cream variety. But some breeds are almost exclusively white.
If you’re thinking of adding a white dog to your family, here are the most common breeds you’ll find. Each has their own unique personality and set of needs, so be sure to do your research before bringing one home! If you want to narrow down your choice, you can also check out our articles about small white dog breeds, big white dog breeds, fluffy white dog breeds or even amazing big & fluffy white dogs!
Let’s Start Big: 10 Extra-Large White Dog Breeds (100+ Pounds)
Great Pyrenees
Weight: 80-120 pounds. Key traits: friendly, patient, devoted to family. More about this breed:: A large dog with a long white coat, the Great Pyrenees was developed in France’s mountainous regions as a livestock guardian and watchdog. He is calm and very good with children, but like any dog, young ones should always be supervised when around. His white coat is very fluffy and needs to be brushed often.
Maremma Sheepdog
Weight: 70-195 pounds. Key traits: brave, reliable. More about this breed: The Maremma Sheepdog is a breed of guardian dog who needs lots of exercises and loves to play. He can be wary or suspicious of strangers. The pure white coat of the Maremma Sheepdog is one of his most appealing characteristics.
Central Asian Shepherd
Weight: 90-170 pounds. Key traits: independent, self-confident, devoted, intelligent. More about this breed: The Central Asian Shepherd is a breed of guardian dog who needs lots of companionship and exercise to be happy. His thick coat is usually pure white with dark points. This breed has a lot of love to give in return for companionship and exercise.
Akita
Weight: 80-110 pounds. Character traits: intelligent, strong-willed. More about this breed: Another dog native to Japan, the Akita is a breed of companion dog who enjoys playing with children and other dogs. He can have a variety of colors in his coat, including pure white.
Kuvasz
Weight: 90-115 pounds. Key traits: gentle, devoted. More about this breed: The Kuvasz was developed in Hungary as a livestock guardian dog who is both sweet-tempered and focused on protecting his family and flock. He can make a fine watchdog. His fluffy white coat presents some challenges for dog caretakers, but the work is worth it.
Dogo Argentino
Weight: 90-120 pounds. Key traits: friendly, loyal, strong-willed, territorial. More about this breed: The Dogo Argentino is a highly intelligent dog who can be aggressive towards other animals unless properly trained. He’s fine with older children (over age seven), but not with infants or toddlers (due to his size and exuberance). Because they tend to be territorial, they can also be excellent protectors for your family.
Tatra Shepherd Dogs
Weight: 80 to 130 pounds. More about this breed: The Tatra dog’s double-coat is pure white with no other color marking, making it one of the most attractive large white dog breeds. Originally from Poland, and just like several of its’ easter-European or Russian counterparts, Tatra dogs were used as shepherd dogs to protect livestock from predators. They can make excellent watch dogs due to their instincts and large size (they can reach up to 130 pounds).
Komondor
Weight: 80-100 pounds. Key traits: calm but physically active. More about this breed: Komondor dog’s white coats are sure to draw a lot of attention. Just like Puli dogs, they can easily be nicknamed as “mop dogs”. However, it’s not because they look like a giant mop that they are simply happy staying at home. Much the contractor: their white coats hide strong muscles. They are fast and need a lot of exercises and running. They are also very large and powerful – sometimes reaching a hundred pounds.
Russian Shepherd Dog, also known as Ukrainian / Russian Sheepdog
Weight: 70 to 110 pounds. More about this breed: The Russian Shepherd dog (Wikipedia link) is not a breed listed on the American Kennel Club, but they remain popular, particularly in Europe. They are believed to be descendants of shepherd dogs used in Russia and Ukraine. Zoologist Sabaneyev even described them as “Russian Wolf Killers – they were originally used to protect livestock and cattles from predators including wolves.
Slovensky Cuvac
Weight: 70-100 pounds. Key traits: eager to please, affectionate, devoted. More about this breed: The Slovensky Cuvac is a versatile working dog who makes a lively and loving family companion. He’s good with children, but should be supervised around strangers. The Slovensky Cuvac’s coat can be white, black, black, and tan or grayish.
Large White Dog Breeds (30-100 pounds)
Samoyed
Weight: 35-65 pounds. Key traits: friendly, affectionate, and social. More about this breed: If you’re looking for a loving dog breed, the Samoyed is a great choice. It’s known for being one of the most enthusiastic dogs when it comes to showing affection towards people. It will never say no to a cuddle! And how could you resist a cuddle with this little white fluff ball? This popular breed is usually everything that the words “friendly” and “huggable” imply. The Samoyed is happy in both cold, snowy weather and under the scorching sun of warmer regions because its thick coat protects it from heat as well as cold.
Borzoi
Weight: 55-100 pounds. Key traits: agreeable, calm (but fast!). More about this breed: Despite an impressive stature and clocking a max speed of 40 miles per hour, Borzoi dogs are actually known for their calm temperaments. They are equipped with a white silky coat and a look that resembles Greyhounds.
White Golden / Labrador Retrievers
Weight: 65-75 pounds. Key traits: friendly, intelligent, affectionate, and vivacious. More about this breed: Most retrievers are beige, brown, or black, but you will also occasionally see white-coated retrievers (white or off-white). There is no breed that’s as sweet as the golden retriever. This dog breed is known for its gentleness, friendliness, and loyalty to the family.
White Husky
Weight: 35-60 pounds. Key traits: active, devoted. More about this breed: The Siberian Husky is a loving family companion who needs plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. He’s good with children, but can be a handful to housebreak. His fur ranges in color from black and white to pure white.
White Swiss Shepherd
Weight: 55-90 pounds. More about this breed: Have you heard of White German Shepherds? Breeders located in or near Switzerland started to breed white GSD with the intention of creating a new breed altogether, called “White Swiss Shepherd” (WSD). The WSD is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club as of our publication date, but it is recognized by the International Kennel Club.
White Bulldogs
Weight: 40-55 pounds. Key traits: friendly, affectionate, patient. More about this breed: Bulldogs are fun-loving and gentle with children. They make charming watchdogs because they bark little and love everybody. White bulldogs are a rare color variant of the American Pit Bull Terrier. There is no character difference between white American terriers and bulldogs, and the colored ones. White Bulldogs are often preferred for aesthetic purposes.
Kishu Ken
Weight: 30-60 pounds. Key traits : friendly, loyal, playful. More about this breed: The Kishu Ken is a breed of hunting dog who requires lots of exercise and loves to play. This breed is not well-known outside of Japan, but their white coats are eye-catching. Certainly a breed to consider if you are looking for a white dog breed.
Old English Sheepdog
Weight: 60-100 pounds. Key traits : affectionate, intelligent. More about this breed: The Old English Sheepdog is a breed of herding dog who needs plenty of exercise and usually requires a large play area. His pure white coats are striking in appearance. However, his thick coats can be a challenge to groom.
Basset Griffon Vendeen
Weight: 40-55 pounds. Key traits: friendly, affectionate. More about this breed: The Basset Griffon Vendeen is a scent hound who makes a lively and loving family companion. He’s good with children, but can be timid when teased.
Canaan Dog (White)
Weight: 45-55 pounds. Key traits: brave, loyal, intelligent. More about this breed: The Canaan dog is an ancient breed of working dog who enjoys spending time outdoors. His coat is usually black and white, but can also be brown or pure white.
White American Bulldog
Weight: 60-100 pounds. Key traits: active, friendly, intelligent, protective. More about this breed: The American Bulldog is a medium-sized dog breed who enjoys spending time with children and other dogs. This breed needs plenty of exercise and loves to play. His coat is usually white, brindle, or a combination of both.
White Bull Terrier
Weight: 50-85 pounds. Key traits: friendly, fearless, playful. More about this breed: The Bull Terrier is a loyal and protective dog who makes a great family companion for active people. This breed is good with kids, but requires early socialization to prevent aggression toward other dogs.
Hokkaido
Weight: 44-66 pounds. Key traits: affectionate, devoted
The Hokkaido is a compact and sturdy dog who needs lots of exercise. He’s playful and smart, but can be difficult to housebreak. Hokkaido’s coats can be orange, brown-white, or mostly white.
Yakutian Laika
Weight: 50-66 pounds. Key traits : friendly, active, devoted. More about this breed: The Yakutian Laika is an excellent hunting dog who needs lots of exercise to stay healthy and happy. He’s good with other dogs and family members, but should be supervised around strangers. His coat can be pure white and golden-white.
Borzoi
Weight: 70-105 pounds. Key traits: agreeable, calm. More about this breed: Despite an impressive stature and clocking a max speed of 40 miles per hour, Borzoi dogs are actually known for their calm temperaments. They are equipped with a white silky coat and a look that resembles Greyhounds.
That’s it for the large and extra-large white dog breeds (Click here to view more info about big white dog breeds). But we are not done yet: we have kept the best for the end: let’s now look at the most adorable (often super-fluffy) small white dog breeds.
The Cutest Small White Dog Breeds (With An Emphasis on Fluffy)
American Eskimo
Weight: 25-35 pounds. Key traits: affectionate, playful, alert. More about this breed: The American Eskimo is a breed of companion dog who enjoys playing with children and other dogs. His pure white coats are striking in appearance and considered a major attribute of the breed.
American Eskimo puppy:
Pomeranian
Weight: 4-8 pounds. Key traits: active, loyal, playful. More about this breed: If you love the look of cute fluffy white dogs, you will love the Pomeranian! A well-trained and socialized Pomeranian makes a good family pet. Their fur coats can be red, orange, brown-white, or mostly white.
Bichon Frise
Weight: 12-18 pounds. Key traits: gentle and friendly. More about this breed: Bichon Frises are one of the most popular toy breeds in America. And it’s not hard to see why when you look at this little puppy face!
Maltese
Weight: 4-7 pounds. Key traits: friendly, lively. More about this breed: The Maltese dog makes a delightful house dog for city or country dwellers alike. He is an entertaining companion who enjoys playing games and getting into mischief with you. His fluffy little white coat is virtually carefree, requiring only occasional weekly brushing to keep it clean (about twice a week).
West Highland Terrier
Weight: 12-22 pounds. Key traits: friendly, lively, affectionate. More about this breed: Westies are spunky and lovable dogs who like to be the center of attention. These dogs are good for people with little experience in dog care because they adapt well to new situations. Their white coats need combing and brushing several times a week to prevent tangles.
Havanese
Weight: 10-16 pounds. Key traits: affectionate, playful, intelligent. More about this breed: The Havanese has a long coat which comes in a variety of colors, but the most sought after is pure white. People love havanese dogs because they are highly intelligent, kind, and playful.
Puli (White or Black)
Weight: 22-33 pounds. Key traits: dreadlocks! More about this breed: Puli dogs are very unusual and will definitely get noticed. Their white coats are made of dreadlocks, and you can easily understand why they are called the “mop dogs.” The Puli is an active breed and very social. Most of these dogs are white or black.
Pekingese
Weight: 7-14 pounds. Key traits: affectionate, playful. More about this breed: The Pekingese is a small dog who needs lots of companionship. His thick coat is usually pure white. However, this breed is not the most hypoallergenic of dogs because of his thick fur.
White Chihuahua
Weight: 4-6 pounds. Key traits: Friendly, lively, devoted. More about this breed: Chihuahuas are proud and intelligent dogs who bond closely with their people. They get along well with kids, but don’t always tolerate being handled roughly.
Coton De Tulear
Weight: 8-13 pounds. Key traits: friendly, lively. More about this breed: The Coton De Tulear is an affectionate family dog who has a playful, clownish side to him as well. He thrives on human companionship and loves to be a lap dog.
Silkese
Weight: 4-7 pounds. Key traits: friendly, outgoing. More about this breed: This affectionate little dog is gentle with children and loves to play. The Silkese is a toy breed which is the result from crossing Silky Terriers with Malteses, which is where he gets his unusual name.
Poodles
Weight: 6 pounds (toy poodles) to 70 pounds. Key traits: friendly, intelligent, easygoing. More about this breed: Poodles come in three sizes–Toy, Miniature and Standard (the one shown here), and can be white or multicolored. This breed is people-oriented and loves playing with children and other dogs.
Sealyham terrier
Weight: 18-20 pounds. Key traits: friendly, bright, lively. More about this breed: The Sealyham Terrier is an active dog who needs plenty of exercise. He’s fine with children, but can be headstrong and independent-minded–so he may not be the right dog for inexperienced owners.
Japanese Spitz
Weight: 11-20 pounds. Key traits: cheerful, active. More about this breed: The Japanese Spitz is a small dog who needs plenty of exercise and loves to play. If you love the look of cute fluffy white dogs, you will love the Japanese Spitz! Here is an adorable puggy picture of a Japanese Spitz:
Volpino Italiano
Weight: 9-14 pounds. Key traits: affectionate, playful. More about this breed: The Volpino Italiano is a small dog who needs plenty of exercise. He’s good with children, but can be timid or suspicious around strangers. The Volpino Italiano’s pure white coat is one of his best attributes.
Cockapoo
Weight: 12-24 pounds. Key traits: lively, intelligent. More about this breed: The Cockapoo is an eager-to-please, friendly, and playful dog who loves being in the middle of family activities. His coat can be white or white with a mix of other color such as black or brown.
Bolognese
Weight: 8-14 pounds. Key traits: affectionate, intelligent. More about this breed: The Bolognese is a small white dog breed that needs lots of exercise. This breed is not well-known outside of Europe, but their pure white coats are eye-catching.
White Dogs with Colors… and a Lot of Cuteness
Australian Shepherds
Papillon
Cavalier King Charles
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
Japanese Chin
French Spaniel
Border Collie Sheepdog
Miniature American Shepherd
Brittany Spaniel
View More White Dog Breeds Images:
Small White Dog Breeds (With Cute Images!). If you are only interested in a small white dog breed, we’ve made a shortlist with super-cute pictures worth checking out.
Fluffy White Dog Breeds that Will Amaze You. White dogs can have fluffy coats or short hair. We’ve made a shortlist of white dog breeds that come with irresistible extra-fluffy white coats.
Big white dog breeds. White dogs come in all shapes and sizes. If you are interested in large or big white dog breeds, this article is for you.
Is Getting a White Dog Breed a Good Idea?
White dogs are generally considered attractive by the majority of people. However, most white dog breeds have a few drawbacks that you should be aware of.
Those considering a white dog should also be aware of potential drawbacks. While dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors can develop health issues, white dogs, in particular, are prone to the following:
- Risk of Deafness
Surprisingly, white dogs are more likely to be diagnosed with congenital deafness than dogs of a different color. That’s because the same stem cells which determine coat color also play a role in hearing. Genetically, white, piebald, and merle dogs are at a heightened risk of hearing loss (Learn more on AKC.org).
In some breeds, (for example, Bull Terriers) the rate of deafness can be a whopping 20%! Overall, AKC estimates that “5-10% of dogs suffer from deafness”.
2. Dirty Appearance Makes Them Costlier to Groom
This next point can be a little confusing…but allow us to explain! The greatest disadvantage of a white dog breed is that it requires extra maintenance to keep its coat looking great. Most people would consider this drawback to be minor, but it should not be overlooked.
A white dog won’t necessarily cost more than, say, a black dog to groom. However, white dogs look dirtier faster than darker dogs. Mud, grass stains, and debris is impossible to hide on white fur.
Many white dog breeds also have a lot of fur which requires regular maintenance to avoid shedding around the house.
Consequently, the frequency of visits to the grooming salon can add up over time, thus making it more expensive to own a white dog in the long run! Whereas a brown dog might only need a bath once per month, a white dog could require two or three.
White coats also show signs of wear and tear more easily than dark or multicolored coats do. White fur tends to turn yellow over time. Dogs with light brown, gray or beige fur are less likely to show their age than dogs with white coats.
Gallery of the Cutest White Dog Breeds:
Samoyeds, Bichon Frise, Maltese, Kuvasz, Kuvasz, and even white Golden Retrievers are some of the most popular white dog breeds. Check out this gallery for cute white dog pics, or scroll down to read our list of the most popular white dog breeds.
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