If you love dogs and you want to know what the coolest dog breeds are in order to choose a puppy that’s as cool as you are – you’ve come to the right place. So, what are the coolest dog breeds, and what is it that actually makes them cool?
The truth is, coolness is a relative and subjective term that differs from one person’s opinion to the next. In other words, it’s in the eye of the beholder – just like beauty is.
What’s cool to me might not be cool to you, and it would take forever to debate the subtle nuances of what makes a certain dog breed cool or not.
Every dog breed has its perks, and each individual dog of a certain breed might differ from the norm in terms of appearance, temperament, energy levels, needs, etc.
That being said, there are some dog breeds out there that most people can agree upon as being objectively cool dog breeds.
13. The Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is a large dog that originated in Germany in the late 1800s – it was developed by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann (whom the breed was obviously named after) as a working dog and a guard dog.
The coolest thing about Doberman Pinschers is their intimidating appearance coupled with their admirable intelligence… traits that make them the ultimate guard dog – no burglar has ever tried to outsmart a Doberman and gotten away with it.
Doberman Pinschers are versatile dogs that are used for many different purposes, from military and police work like bomb detection and search and rescue, to therapy and assistance work – there’s nothing a purebred Doberman can’t do, and that’s why they’re the coolest.
Although they’re iconic for their classic black and rust coat color, Dobies come in nine different coat colors – the coolest and rarest ones of all being the white Dobie and the black Dobie.
12. The Xoloitzcuintli
Also known as the Mexican Hairless Dog, the Xoloitzcuintli (or Xolo, for short) is another hairless dog breed whose ancestry dates back to at least 3500 years ago to the ancient Aztecs – it was named after the Aztec god of lightning and fire, Xolotl, with the suffix “izcuintli” meaning dog.
Apart from having the coolest name out of all the cool dog breeds, Xolos are cool because they’re completely hairless – and unlike the Chinese Crested, which is a small breed, the Xolo is a medium-sized breed that was used primarily as a companion dog and watchdog.
This hairless Mexican dog breed comes in 14 different colors and patterns, which is unusual for a dog that has no actual coat to speak of – they’re also quite a rare find.
Temperament-wise, Xolos are known to be calm, intelligent, and cheerful, but are also alert and protective dogs that make excellent watchdogs.
The Aztecs believed that Xolotl, the god of fire and lighting, had the body of a man and the head of a dog that resembled the Xolo dog – what’s cooler than owning an ancient hairless breed that shares both the name and the likeness of a god?
This unique breed is sure to turn a lot of heads wherever it goes, and it is guaranteed to garner a lot of compliments on the way.
That said, one downside to owning a Xolo is that they’re sensitive to cold weather due to their lack of fur, so prospective Xolo owners should consider purchasing a warm and comfortable doggy sweater if they live in a colder climate.
11. The Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is undoubtedly one of the cutest and most popular small fluffy dog breeds – it originated in the 17th century in Germany and Poland, and is believed to have been developed from larger Spitz-type dogs like the German Spitz.
Apart from being adorable toy dogs that possess enviable lap-warming skills, Pomeranians are affectionate, playful, goofy, friendly, and active dogs that enjoy the company of humans more than anything in the world.
This charming dog breed comes in 25 different colors and patterns – the most popular and most common one being the red Pom, and the rarest of all being the lavender Pomeranian and the merle Pomeranian.
Temperament-wise, both male and female Pomeranians are sociable, energetic, and affectionate dogs that love to be the center of attention – in fact, they love it so much that they’ll often bark, yip, nudge, and nip at their owner just to get their attention back on them.
Another cool fact about Poms is that even though they stand at a mere 11 inches in adulthood, they are known to be alert and fearless watchdogs – an even cooler fact is that breeders have developed an even smaller and cuter version of the breed, called the Teacup Pom.
However, Pomeranians require lots of attention, grooming, and proper nutrition in order to stay healthy both mentally and physically – if you’re not prepared to handle their clinginess and frequent barking, you should consider another breed.
10. The Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback (also known as the African Lion Dog) is one of those cool dog breeds that have a distinct physical trait that separates them from other breeds – the characteristic ridge on their back is the staple of this breed, and it’s actually hair that grows along their spine in the opposite direction compared to the rest of their body.
Apart from their distinctive ridge, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are cool because they were originally bred as hunting dogs that were used to hunt big game, such as lions – yes, you read that right… lions.
What’s cooler than being bred for the purpose of helping humans take down a predator that’s three times larger than you?
However, due to their innate hunting instincts, Rhodesian Ridgebacks still retain a high prey drive – therefore, proper training and socialization are key in order to teach these dogs how to behave properly toward other animals in the house.
This short-coated breed comes in nine different coat colors, the coolest of which is definitely the silver and gray Ridgeback.
9. The Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world, in addition to being one of the cool dog breeds.
The breed originated in Siberia, and was originally used as a sled-pulling dog by the Chukchi people of eastern Siberia.
Siberian Huskies are famously known for their characteristic wolf-like howling, and although they often howl during nighttime, Huskies are also avid barkers during the daytime.
Siberian Huskies come in various coat colors and coat patterns, including the gorgeous, rarely-seen brown Siberian Husky.
Temperament-wise, both male and female Siberian Huskies are intelligent, loyal, affectionate, outgoing, and friendly dogs that mesh well with other dogs in the house, which makes an ideal choice for families who already have pet dogs.
Although they’re not hypoallergenic, Siberian Huskies are medium-shedding dogs that only shed heavily twice per year when they blow their coat.
8. The Schnauzer
The Schnauzer is another cool dog breed that has a trademark look – it originated in Germany sometime between the 14th and 16th centuries, and was developed as a rat-hunting dog.
The coolest physical trait of this breed is its characteristic beard, which makes it look like a wise old man who was reincarnated as a dog.
Temperament-wise, the coolest thing about Schnauzers is their intelligence, friendliness, and obedience – all of which make them ideal family dogs.
This hypoallergenic breed has a double coat that comes in 19 different colors and markings – the coolest of which is the phantom Schnauzer.
7. The Tibetan Mastiff
Native to the Himalayan mountains of the Tibetan plateau in China, the gigantic Tibetan Mastiff is one of the largest and oldest breeds of dog in the world – in addition to being one of the most expensive dog breeds.
One look at this enormous and fluffy dog breed is enough to understand why they’re one of the coolest cool dog breeds.
This giant breed is calm, affectionate, and friendly with its loved ones, and is also very protective – Tibetan Mastiffs will never allow a stranger to enter the home – which is why they’re a good family guard dog for people who can handle them.
Temperament-wise, this dog breed is intelligent and very gentle toward its owner, but they’re also known to be self-willed and stubborn – they should be properly trained and socialized early on so that they can be kept in check.
Apart from its massive and powerful build, which only adds to its fierce appearance, the Tibetan Mastiff possesses a dense and wooly double-coat that resembles a lion’s mane – regular grooming and bathing are essential in order to keep a Tibetan Mastiff’s coat healthy.
Needless to say, these behemoths are not a good choice for first-time dog owners since they can sometimes be a handful even for some experienced canine enthusiasts – in addition to that, they’re also expensive to purchase and keep.
Purebred Tibetan Mastiff puppies in the U.S. cost anywhere between $2,000 and $12,000 depending on various factors – but the most expensive Tibetan Mastiff, and the current record-holder for the most expensive dog in the world, was sold for a staggering $1.95 million.
6. The Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Another obscure breed that deserves to be on the list of cool dog breeds is the Treeing Tennessee Brindle – it originated in Tennessee, and was primarily used to hunt small to medium-sized game.
The term ‘treeing’ refers to a method of hunting where dogs are used to force animals to climb up into trees so that hunters can easily shoot them.
This unique dog breed is cool because of its intelligence, obedience, natural hunting skills, and great work ethic – all of which make it the perfect hunting companion.
Their coat is beautifully spotted, and comes in only two colors – brindle, and black and brindle.
Temperament-wise, Treeing Tennessee Brindles are affectionate and sensitive to their owner’s moods, but are also courageous and alert dogs that make excellent watchdogs.
When properly trained and socialized, these dogs are able to peacefully coexist with other dogs and small animals in the house.
5. The Vizsla
The Vizsla is one of the nine dog breeds that originated in Hungary – its name means ‘pointer’ in Hungarian, and it’s believed to have originated sometime in the 9th century.
Vizslas are highly energetic, active, courageous, alert, and obedient dogs that thrive when they have a job to do – this breed is not for owners who prefer a more laid-back and low-maintenance breed.
One cool fact about Vizslas is that they are an almost odor-free breed that cleans themselves frequently, so Vizsla owners only need to bathe their dogs occasionally.
A large breed, Vizslas can grow to 24 inches at the withers, and weigh up to 54 pounds, which is why prospective Vizsla owners might want to keep a Vizsla growth chart handy in order to keep track of their puppy’s developmental progress.
4. The Cane Corso
One of the largest, most intimidating, most expensive, and cool dog breeds – the Cane Corso is an Italian dog breed that was developed to be a guard dog and a working dog.
Like other large breeds, one look at the massive Cane Corso is all that you need in order to realize why they’re one of the coolest cool dog breeds in the world.
Apart from its impressive stature and formidable presence, the Cane Corso is an ancient breed that was also used as a war dog by the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Persians – what’s cooler than owning an ancient war dog/personal protector?
Temperament-wise, both male and female Cani Corsi are affectionate, calm, and friendly toward their immediate family, which makes them good family dogs – but, just because they’re loving toward their owner doesn’t mean that this breed is friendly to everyone.
Cani Corsi are known for their protectiveness and their guard-dog instincts – these dogs will gladly give their life if it means that their owner will be safe.
However, this breed is one of the most expensive breeds to purchase and keep. They can eat a lot, and should be fed a proper diet. They are known to suffer from several health issues – which is why vet bills and food bills can quickly rack up.
3. The Basenji
The Basenji is one of the oldest extant dog breeds in the world, and it is believed to have originated in ancient Africa – it’s also known as the Barkless dog since it can only vocalize a yodel-like sound due to its unusually shaped larynx.
The coolest thing about the Basenji is that its ancestors were some of the first dogs to ever be domesticated.
The Basenji is still very genetically different from most modern dogs that were derived from extensive crossbreeding over the centuries – which is why scientists have mapped the genome of the Basenji in hopes of further understanding the domestication and subsequent evolution of modern dog breeds.
Temperament-wise, Basenjis are affectionate and protective of their loved ones, but they can also sometimes be aloof or even mischievous due to their ingrained hunting instincts – in fact, Basenjis are among the few dog breeds that love being escape artists, and they will often look for ways to jump the fence to go out and explore on their own.
One interesting thing to note is that even though they’re a highly active breed, Basenjis need very little maintenance grooming-wise – this breed is known for its cat-like behavior of self-grooming and cleaning – how cool can a dog get?
2. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a toy dog breed that originated in the early 1900s in England – it was primarily developed to be a lap dog for British royalty, and it is still hard at work in people’s laps today.
With their tiny size and long, fluffy ears, Cavs are one of the most adorable toy dogs anyone could ask for – they love being around humans, and are generally friendly, affectionate, calm, obedient, and eager to please.
They come in more than 10 coat colors and markings – the cutest and coolest of which are the ruby and chocolate Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
They also come in a smaller version, called the Teacup Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – and you thought they couldn’t get any cuter.
Cavs are a generally healthy dog breed that are prone to only a few health problems, and they have a longer average lifespan than some other small breeds.
1. The American Bully
The American Bully is a relatively new dog breed that was developed in the United States by crossbreeding American Pit Bull Terriers with American Staffordshire Terriers.
Apart from being one of the youngest designer breeds in the world, the American Bully is cool because it has all the best qualities of both of its parent breeds – an intimidating and powerful dog, the American Bully is the ultimate personal protector.
Contrary to popular belief that Pitbull-type dogs are aggressive by nature, American Bullies are well-tempered dogs that are affectionate toward their owner, and get along well with kids when properly socialized and trained.
This breed is energetic, but not as demanding as its parent breeds – most American Bullies are satisfied with moderate amounts of exercise.
However, this breed is quite expensive to buy and keep since it can grow large and is prone to several health problems.
Prospective Bully owners can choose between six main types, which include the pocket Bully, the standard Bully, the classic Bully, the XL Bully, the exotic Bully, and the extreme American Bully – phew… that’s a lot of Bullies.
Out of all possible Pitbull colors, these dogs come in nine different colors – the rarest and coolest of which are the blue American Bully and the panther-like black American Bully.