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Aside from their breed, dogs can also vary in color. They usually range from black to white to many shades in between, including a beautiful reddish hue.
Yes—there are also red dog breeds.
However, red comes in assorted shades too. It varies from a shimmering orange, red, and gold, or gleaming cinnamon, alanine kay, tan, and ruby.
If you're interested in knowing more about these red dog breeds or even planning to adopt one in the future, you might want to take a look at this article.
Why Do Red Dog Breeds Have Red Pigments?
All dogs produce only two kinds of pigment in their fur, black eumelanin, and red pheomelanin. However, the latter is responsible for our canine's red coat.
Nonetheless, it is the dog's genetic code that decides how much pheomelanin they produce. Furthermore, it manifests differently all over the dog's body, whether in organized bands or on every strand of its hair.
As a result, red dog breeds come in different shades of red, all unique in their way.
Red Dog Breeds
1. Irish Setter
Irish Setters most likely originated during the late 17th or early 18th century.
Initially, this particular red dog breed was actually in the colors red and white. However, in the 19th century, the red Irish Setters were carefully selected to breed.
As a result, today's Irish Setters has its distinctive red coat. Their coat, which ranges from deep mahogany to lighter red, is the Irish Setter's most significant feature.
2. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
On the other hand, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a breed that originated in Nova Scotia, a province in Canada.
Some people often mistake them as Golden Retrievers because of their similar appearance to the breed. However, their coat ranges from golden to coppery red, with white markings across their chest and between the top of their nose.
According to tales, the Toller breed results from the fox-retriever cross, making their coat almost reddish than other retrievers.
3. Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier is a bold and dashing breed known as the “Daredevil” of the Emerald Isle because of its flaming red coat. Their coat has three classifications: bright red, golden red, and red wheaten.
Although they are known for their unique appearance, in reality, Irish Terriers are born with black coats at birth. However, as they grow, it gradually changes to red.
Aside from being the “Daredevil,” this breed is also the “poor man's sentinel” and the “farmer's friend.”
4. Dachshund
The Dachshund may not be the first dog breed that comes to mind when considering red-coated dogs. However, these well-known small dogs come in a broad range of colors, including a deep, rich red.
Red Dachshunds are typically brownish-red in color. In simpler terms, they almost look “rusty.”
Furthermore, they are a shared color among the breed's variety of colors because it poses as a dominant gene. However, it has two classifications. Solid Red Dachshunds and Shaded Red Dachshund.
The only difference between the two is that the former doesn't have a black overlay on the tips of their ears, back, and tail. Furthermore, the Shaded Red's coats are shaggier and fluffier than Solid Reds.
5. Redbone Coonhound
This hunting dog has a gorgeously smooth, shiny, short red coat. These pups are stunning to look at, with their chiseled, muscular physique and silky fur.
This shorthaired dog breed is very easy to groom that you don't have to bring them to a groomer. The use of a shedding tool every week will maintain the redbone coonhound's coat glossy and healthy.
Spend the time you saved grooming on a good amount of daily movement for these dogs to stay balanced. This breed offers a fantastic running or hiking partner if you are up for any adventure.
6. Vizsla
The Vizsla is a breed of sporting dog developed in the open plains of Hungary thousands of years ago. The truth is, they served as companions of early warlords and barons while surviving a couple of wars and threats to extinction.
These dogs have other names they go with, such as “The Hungarian,” or “Magyar Vizsla,” or “Smooth-Haired Vizsla,” are sporting dogs and loyal companions. However, the word Vizsla means “searcher” or “tracker” in Hungarian.
Although they are often confused with other dog breeds like Redbone Coonhounds and Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Vizslas are more versatile. This breed does not only have one single “red” coat but six varieties.
These varieties include Golden Rust, Golden, Red, Red Golden, Rust, and Rust Golden. Please don't confuse them with the Weimaraner's short, smooth, and sleek shades of mouse-gray to silver-gray.
7. Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are herding dogs with long, gorgeous coats that come in various color patterns. Aside from black and blue merle, there's also red and reddish merle, as well as a calico-like mix of red, liver, and cream.
Red Australian Shepherds are pretty rare since red is a recessive gene. And since it's a recessive gene, Solid Red Aussies are the rarest of Australian Shepherds.
Furthermore, contrary to the knowledge of many, Australian Shepherds are not from Australia but the United States. It is unclear who named them “Australian” when they're not an Australian native breed.
Some people say that their breeder is a shepherd from Australia; thus, the breed's name. However, this theory is still not proven up to this day.
8. Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu breed is a famous ancient dog breed that originated in Japan. It is one of the first native breeds in the country, along with Akita, Kishu, Hokkaido, Kai, and Shikoku.
According to American Kennel Club, Shiba Inu already existed as early as 7000 B.C and was taken care of by the Jomon-jin people.
Before World War II started, there were three types of Shiba Inus. They were Mino, Sanin, and Shinshu Shibas.
However, after the said war, all three variations of Shiba were on the brink of extinction. Thus, the people decided to breed all the remaining Shibas, leading to the Shiba Inus we know today.
Overall, the modern Shiba Inus have four colors: red, black and tan, sesame, and cream.
Red Shiba Inus are more the most popular of them all because it gives them a foxlike appearance. However, unlike other Shiba Inus, the Urajiro or the white markings on their chest is not sharp. Instead, they are blurred.
9. Red Golden Retriever
The origin of the Red Golden Retriever dates back to the mid-1800s in Scotland.
Legend has it that they were likely a mixture of a couple of breeds. These breeds include Saint John's Dog, Labrador Retriever, Tweed Water Spaniel, Red Setter, Wavy-Coated Retriever, and Bloodhound.
Contrary to popular belief, the Red Golden Retriever is the purebred Retriever. The only difference they have with the traditional Golden Retriever is their red color coat.
However, unlike the former, Red Golden Retrievers is only available in rust or mahogany colors. But although purebred, their color is considered abnormal.
Thus, they get disqualified in dog competitions without exception.
10. Red Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel's origin is unknown. However, people believed them to have existed since the 14th century in Spain due to the name Spaniel, which precisely means “Spanish dog.”
Overall, there are two types of Cocker Spaniel, American and English Cocker Spaniel, and both vary with different colors. However, English Cocker Spaniels have a variety of “red.”
It's unknown how the Red English Cocker Spaniels developed. But some people say that they were a mix of Cocker Spaniels and Irish Setters.
11. Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a product of several breeds from Southern Africa. These breeds include Mastiffs, Bloodhounds, Great Danes, and Greyhounds.
Unlike other breeds, this breed only comes in one color, and that is wheaten. However, their color ranges from red wheaten, light wheaten, and wheaten.
A Rhodesian Ridgeback's actual color is not “wheat” when they're newborn puppies. In reality, they may have the colors black, brown, or tan.
However, their coat color changes as they grow older, leading to the “wheaten” look.
Furthermore, a couple of Ridgebacks may even have a touch of black on their muzzle, ears, or eyes. But aside from its natural red color, Rhodesian Ridgeback also produces extremely rare shades such as wheaten black.
12. Akita
Similar to Shiba Inus, Akita also originated from Japan. Although they came from an Asian country, Akitas are a cousin of Huskies, Malamutes, Chow-Chows, and Norwegian Elkhounds.
Like other breeds, Akitas come in various colors, from black to brown, to fawn, silver, and white. Hachiko, one of the famous Akitas in Japan, is a white Akita.
On the other hand, red Akitas also exist, and it's the most common variety of Akita. However, their “redness” depends on their type.
Although Akitas originated from Japan, Helen Keller, an American educator, brought an Akita back to America. As a result, today's Akita includes Japanese Akita or Akita Inu and American Akita.
13. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a toy breed descended from the sled dog breeds from the Arctic. They got their name from a historical region in between Poland and Germany called Pomerania.
This breed earned its fame by often resembling the sweet treat people love: cotton candy. However, another thing that makes Pomeranians famous is their coat.
Aside from being puffy, a Pomeranan's coat is available in various hues, including red, orange, black, tan, and brown. But this color does not stay the same.
A Pomeranian puppy may have an orange coat at first. But as they grow older, they may turn red or brown, or vice versa.
As a result, people are often confused about which one they should adopt. However, red and orange Pomeranians have been consistently on top of the list.
14. Poodle
If you're into red dog breeds with a curly coat but a slim and athletic physique, then look no further because the Poodle breed is just the right one for you.
The Poodle breed is considered the national dog of France. However, contrary to popular belief, this breed originated from Germany, not France.
In reality, their name Poodle comes from the German word “pudel” or “pudelin,” which translates to “to splash in the water.”
This gorgeous breed has curly hair that can be solid or multicolored, including black, blue, silver, gray, cream, white, brown, and red.
Red Poodles was always considered as Brown Poodles, not until the year 1980. During that year, as they participated in a competition, their color, including chestnut, auburn, and copper hues, stands out among the brown ones.
As a result, people recognized them as a class of their own. Later, studies found out that the Red Poodles have a gene called the Rufus gene.
This specific type of gene is a recessive allele; thus, Red Poodles are considered rare.
However, like Pomeranians, Poodles are also prone to color change. Hence, it's not a guarantee that a Poodle will retain its color as it ages.
15. Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Cattle Dog (ACD), also known as Cattle Dog, is a breed developed by a cattle farmer named Thomas Hall from New South Wales.
In the 19th century, Hall decided to crossbreed the dingoes he had tamed and the dogs used by drovers that passed their house. The offspring of these two species is what we call now Hall Heelers.
After Hall died in 1870, the Hall Heeler modernized into two more breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog and Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. Robert Kaleski, a well-known breeder from New South Wales, made the standard Cattle Dog we know today.
Australian Cattle Dogs have two primary distinct coat colors: red and blue. Red Cattle Dogs are referred to as “Red Heelers,” whereas Blue Cattle Dogs are “Blue Heelers.”
But since the focus of this article is red dog breeds, let's focus our topic on Red Cattle Dogs.
Red Heelers have the color red as the base color of their coat. However, more often than not, they have white hairs mingled all over their body.
There are two types of Red Heelers: red speckled and red mottled Australian Cattle Dogs. The question is, what's the difference between the two?
Red Speckled ACD is speckled with white dots or spots, whereas red mottled ACD is in white patches.
Nonetheless, Red Heelers may range from a lighter to deeper red. On their head and other parts of their body, solid red markings may be present.
In the Glow of Red: Concluding the 15 Most Striking Red Dog Breeds
After reading this article, you should already have a good understanding of what red dog breeds are. Although a few more are available, this list includes the most common and non-common red canines.
Nonetheless, their unique coat color gives these dogs their appealing sheen. As a result, their appearance looks more lively and more attractive than any other dog color.
However, bear in mind that adopting a dog should not be based on its coat color. It should depend upon which dog breed matches your lifestyle and personality.
Remember, your pets may only be a part of your life, but to them, they are your life. Hence, choose wisely and adopt responsibly.
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