The color black resembles strength, power and authority. There is no other color as significant as black. In fact, black is often regarded as a prestigious or elegant color. It’s also probably why black is one of the most common dog colors (along with white and brown).
There are few dog breeds as mysterious yet mesmerizing as a solid black-colored dog. That said, we’ve found 34 of the best black dog breeds the canine kingdom has to offer. We also organized them by size, from small to medium and large.
It’s worth noting that not all of these dogs are solid black. As long as they’re mostly black, then we think they should qualify for our list of black dogs. So, let us know in the comments section: which black dog is your favorite?
Great Dane
While Great Danes come in other colors besides black, we couldn’t leave them off this list since they’re the tallest dog breed.
A black Great Dane weighing up to 200 pounds is an impressive sight, but unlike many of the other breeds on this list, the Great Dane is generally not aggressive or overly protective.
Great Danes are quite calm with children, although one accidental whack with a paw or a tail could injure a toddler, so be sure to keep that in mind if you’re thinking of bringing one of these gentle giants into your home.
Since the Great Dane has such a lean frame, they eat somewhat less than you would expect, which is a nice benefit for a large dog.
The Great Dane is one of the oldest dog breeds on our list, with pictures of dogs resembling Great Danes going as far back as 3000 BC on Egyptian artifacts.
While they were originally bred to hunt game like boars, their aggressiveness has been bred out of them, making them a friendly family dog.
Sadly, their large size correlates with a short lifespan of only about 7-10 years. Great Danes are also quite prone to bloat, which can cut their life even shorter if it isn’t treated quickly enough.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, also called the Swissy for short, is a very close cousin to the Bernese Mountain dog, with the primary difference between the two being the length of their coats.
While Berners have thick, medium-length coats that shed seasonally, Swissies have short hair that sheds around the year.
While the Swissy does need some exercise and enjoys having a job to do, they have somewhat lower exercise requirements than other large breeds and tend to be calmer than their Bernese Mountain Dog cousins.
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is gentle with children, although they can weigh well over 100 pounds and may accidentally injure small children simply due to their size.
Despite their short coat, Swissies don’t do well in the heat. They are more acclimated to colder climates, so that’s something to keep in mind if you live in an area that stays hot for much of the year.
If you aren’t interested in common dog sports like agility or flyball, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog excels at a less-common dog sport – cart pulling. They were bred to pull carts laden with milk and enjoy the challenge of pulling heavy things.
1 German Pinscher
Highlights: Courageous, Smart, Lively
The German Pinscher is pretty much your prototypical “pinscher” dog. Some people think they look like a smaller Doberman Pinscher – and they do.
They have a sleek and shiny black coat with long and erect ears. Not only are they energetic, but also very intelligent dogs that excel with obedience training.
Once skilled ratters, these confident German dogs are up for any challenge and can surprisingly “do it all” with the right training.
FAQ
What breed is the big black dog?
- 01 of 10. Affenpinscher. Getty Images. …
- 02 of 10. Belgian Sheepdog. Getty Images. …
- 03 of 10. Black Russian Terrier. Getty Images. …
- 04 of 10. Flat-Coated Retriever. Getty Images. …
- 05 of 10. Labrador Retriever. Getty Images. …
- 06 of 10. Newfoundland. Getty Images. …
- 07 of 10. Pug. …
- 08 of 10. Puli.
What dog breed is big and fluffy?