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Every dog has its own unique markings, traits, and personality; beauty is often appreciated when it comes to having a furry companion.
In fact, there are quite a few people interested in a photogenic, show-stopping pup that stands out in a sea of dogs.
We think personality, behavior, and genetics are inherently more important than any physical attribute a dog could have, but when you want also to include beauty, we compiled a list of the prettiest dog breeds designed to capture the crowd and your heart.
The Prettiest Dog Breeds Ever
1. Yorkshire Terrier
What the Yorkie lacks in size, they make up in their personality. This feisty, loving companion is the most popular toy breed in the United States.
With their silky coat and adorable topknot, this prettiest dog breed is the epitome of style, beauty, and class.
For purebred breeds, their coat is perfectly straight without waves or ruffles.
The Yorkie has a single coat, which makes them prone to extreme heat or cold but limits the amount of shedding.
As the Yorkshire Terrier has a single coat, it’s important to stay on top of brushing, combing, and overall grooming.
This breeds a smart and self-assured personality, making the Yorkshire Terrier an adventurous spirit.
Just like their human companions, these little dogs have varied personalities, ranging from sweet and cuddly to outgoing and adventurous.
They can be mischievous and get into virtually everything within reach.
Yorkshire Terriers are companion animals, making them a loving and affectionate pup.
We know that the prettiest dog breeds love spending time with their family but can be suspicious of strangers.
Yorkies need lots of time, affection, and attention from their family, thriving on time spent with their favorite people.
These dogs are very receptive to feelings and emotions, making them a bit neurotic and fearful if overprotected.
We know that the Yorkie can become protective over its owner, becoming guarded in the event of a new animal, pet, or person entering the space.
Likewise, they can bark at strange sounds or intruders.
Although these dogs adapt well to apartment living, their terrier heritage makes them prone to being vocal.
2. Shiba Inu
Originally bred to draw out small game and birds, these dogs originate from Japan.
Known for their cat-like agility and giant personality, these companion animals are adorable and can be considered part of the prettiest dog breeds.
With squinty eyes, prick ears, and a curly fluffy tail, the Shiba Inu looks like a stuffed toy.
Despite their thick double coats, the Shiba Inu doesn’t require a lot of grooming, though they typically have heavy shedding periods twice a year.
Shiba Inu is known for independence, making him headstrong and strong-willed when it comes to training.
This breed has the capacity to learn basic obedience and training; however, he will often use his freethinking when deciding on performing.
In fact, many owners often have to persuade their dogs to think the trick was the dog’s idea.
Devoted and loyal to their family, this prettiest dog breed is a good family dog, particularly if children in the home treat the dog with respect and kindness.
The Shiba Inu is often associated with possessiveness, with the guarding of food, territory, and toys being common.
Early socialization and removing temptations from their sight is often the easiest method of prevention.
This breed can be quite temperamental with other animals (including dogs), making them best suited in a single-dog home.
The Shiba Inu has a strong prey drive and should ultimately not be trusted without a leash.
They’ve been known to chase chipmunks, vermin, cats, and other small animals.
3. Collie
Not only is the Collie one of the prettiest dog breeds to call your own, but this breed is also brilliant.
Their ability to pick up on when something is wrong stems from their sensitivity to their environment.
There are two types of Collie breeds: rough (long hair) and smooth (short hair).
The Rough Collie has a thick, straight outer coat that feels harsh to the touch.
The undercoat is thick and plush; it’s soft and dense like a down pillow.
The Smooth Collie has a short, dense outer coat with a thick undercoat.
Known for being gentle and good-natured, the Collie is wonderful with children and other pets, even if he’s never been raised with them.
The Collie is protective of her family, keeping the young safe and away from harm. This breed loves to spend time participating in all family activities, offering love and devotion in everything they do.
The Collie trains easily, remaining highly intelligent and receptive to positive training methods.
This prettiest dog breed requires mental stimulation mentally, making trick training or dog sports a great outlet for her energy.
As with all herding breeds, barking is quite common – although it can get significantly worse when the dog becomes bored or ignored.
It’s wise to train the dog to cease barking on cue, especially if you live close to neighbors.
4. Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is one of the prettiest dog breeds with wolf-like facial markings, a plumed tail, and a solid body that is a true sight to see. With a thick, dense, double coat, these dogs are built to withstand the elements.
With a corkscrew tail, this pup can cover its nose in the winter elements to stay warm.
These dogs are known for shedding, thanks to the two-inch undercoat. It is not uncommon for large clumps of hair to fall out twice a year.
The Alaskan Malamute is known for its playful, outgoing personality, greeting everyone as best friends.
This breed is pack-driven, enjoying their time with the human pack. They are occasionally vocal but will typically not bark. They are loyal and affectionate, remaining patient with children.
These dogs are working dogs, thriving when given a job to do. The Malamute loves hikes, sledding, carting, and long walks. This breed also loves to dig; it can become destructive if bored.
As the Alaskan Malamute is an arctic dog, they are sensitive to heat. They can survive well in extremely cold climates, provided there is adequate protection from the elements.
As they have a high pack drive, these prettiest dog breeds do well living inside a home with their human family.
The Alaskan Malamute doesn’t have an exceptionally high prey drive, but they will chase cats or small animals (unless raised with them). Despite socialization, they may still chase outdoor cats and animals.
5. Doberman Pinscher
Often given a bad name as a ferocious guard dog, the Doberman Pinscher is both regal and beautiful and one of our picks as the prettiest dog breed.
The smooth coat sits close to their skin in a fawn, red, blue, or black coloring.
The trademark rust markings are found above each eye, on the muzzle, throat, chest, legs, and feet. Traditionally, the Doberman has clipped ears and a docked tail, although many owners leave those intact.
Despite being known as a protective breed, this dog does well with children and other animals in the family.
If the Doberman sees another dog as a threat to his family, he may react aggressively.
Doberman Pinschers do well in a family environment, preferring to spend time with their family over being left isolated. They do not do well living outside or chained.
The Doberman does require plenty of exercise every day, both mentally and physically. Training is simple, although their intelligence can make it difficult to continue challenging the dog.
This breed tends to remain playful and puppy-like for the first four years of life, bringing excitement and fun to their family. They respond well to play, enjoying companionship and family activities.
The Doberman Pinscher is a natural protector and will respond immediately if it perceives a threat to the family. They are not aggressive dogs if unprovoked, despite their portrayal in movies.
6. Siberian Husky
With piercing blue eyes, stunning facial masks, and a multitude of colors, the Siberian Husky is definitely the prettiest dog breed.
With a medium-length double coat, this breed’s beauty comes at a price – so get used to copious amounts of hair.
During the spring and fall, the Husky will blow their coat (get rid of their old fur for the new season), leaving large amounts of fur wherever they go.
These dogs can have brown, blue, or heterochromia iridium (two different colored eyes).
The Siberian Husky has bounds of energy, making them ideal for a jogging or running partner.
They need at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity to prevent the dog from getting bored.
The prettiest dog breed enjoys working, particularly if it involves mental stimulation.
As they are highly intelligent, Siberian Huskies require early and consistent training to ensure good habits.
In fact, many pups can determine the difference between class time and home, reverting to bad behaviors once they’ve left the group.
The Husky is a pack dog, meaning they enjoy the company of other dogs or animals.
It’s important for any owner to establish the role of leader early on but expect him to frequently challenge that role.
Boredom and high energy levels can make the Siberian Husky quite destructive, with the ability to demolish a house if left unattended.
7. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
These short-legged dogs aren’t just for the Queen. They’re perfect for anyone wanting the prettiest dog breed that has an amazing personality to match.
This breed is exceptionally intelligent and loves being active. They’re easy to train and are willing to learn, making them great candidates for advanced training.
Although these dogs are highly intelligent, they’re also well known for their stubbornness and subservience. They enjoy thinking for themselves and may not follow all commands continuously.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is adaptable, thriving under almost any living condition, from a small apartment to a large home with a yard.
It’s important to remember that these dogs are incredibly vocal, barking at almost anything they see.
They enjoy physical activity and are considered high-energy (after all, they used to herd sheep, horses, and cattle).
Despite their sweet and loving nature, it’s important to remember that these dogs have a strong herding instinct.
Due to this, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi may nip at small children.
8. Australian Shepherd
Originating in the United States, the Australian Shepherd was bred to herd livestock.
They have water-resistant fur that keeps the Australian Shepherd comfortable in wet and cold environments.
Their hair is characteristically straight or wavy, with smooth hair on the top of their head.
Their colors can vary, with blue merle, red merle, and tricolor being the most popular.
This prettiest dog breed does shed year-round; however, the most intense shedding is in the spring.
The Australian Shepherd is a high-energy dog that loves being busy.
They can and will assert themselves as the alpha within your family, so confidence in training is required.
The breed is typically very loyal and loving to their family but can be standoffish with strangers.
Making sure the dog has had early socialization opportunities can limit this behavior.
They continue to thrive when working, loving to have a job within the family. They are well suited for dog sports or activities.
This prettiest dog breed is a pack animal, thriving in an environment with their family.
As such, Australian Shepherds do not fare well when left outside alone.
Australian Shepherds can become quite vocal and loud if left unattended for long periods of time.
They like to follow the alpha in the home and want to perform whenever possible.
This breed is known for confidence and assertiveness, making it difficult to control for first-time dog owners.
Final Thoughts
While each of these dogs is one of the prettiest dog breeds you can currently find worldwide, it’s important to remember that looks aren’t always indicative of a good match for your family or living situation.
Make sure to pay attention to the dog’s energy levels, personality, and temperament before committing to a breed.
Some dogs thrive in apartments, whereas other dogs need ample space to run.
Certain breeds are wonderful with other pets, cats, and small animals.
Some breeds are best suited to be a solo dog in the home. Also, consider your location and the climate that it brings to a dog.
For example, a Siberian Husky may do well in a multi-climate location like Canada but will struggle with Mexico’s heat.
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