20 Brown Dogs – A Look at This Wonderful Coat Color!

Brown is one of the most popular colors for pups. Let’s be honest, it’s a classic. There are so many amazing brown dogs – from the biggest of furry friends to the very smallest. In fact, there are so many that it’s easy to overlook some of the lesser-known ones (we’re not talking about the chocolate Labrador Retriever).

We’ve racked our brains to come up with 20 of our favorite brown dog breeds so that you can decide which pooch is best for you.

But, as always, it’s important you really think before adopting a dog. There is so much more to owning a pooch than the color of their beautiful fur. You need to consider living requirements (like cost, whether they get on well with kids, exercise needs, and size) and your own experience. Some pups need a firmer trainer whilst others are good for newbies too.

What Is A Brown Dog Breed?

OK, we’re not trying to really explain to you what a brown dog is… we know you know. But actually, there are so many different colors of brown that we think it’s important we go through them a little.

In canines, brown can range from tan all the way to very dark chocolate brown. So there really is a vast range. And that’s before we’ve even gone through different patterns such as brindle dogs, spots, patches, ticks… and the rest.

In this blog, we’re going to (try) to concentrate solely on solid brown dogs, although we can’t promise they won’t have the odd white spot!

20 Amazing Brown Dog Breeds

Here are 20 of the most amazing brown pups. We’ve even grouped them into big, medium, and small brown dogs to make it a little easier!

Small Brown Dogs

Chihuahua

That’s right! The smallest dog breed in the world can also be brown. In fact, according to the American Kennel Club, these tiny pups can be chocolate, fawn, and gold (if you count that as a type of brown). They can also have white, brindle, and black markings.

Although adorable, Chihuahuas are known for being feisty. Their personalities are certainly much bigger than their bodies. They need a firm owner who knows how to handle them and train them correctly. With this, all 7 types of Chihuahua make amazing pets and are one of the most popular breeds for people living in cities.

Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is another amazing small brown dog breed. They can be lots of different shades of brown including red (which often looks brown), chocolate, brindle, chocolate merle, orange, and beaver. They can also have various markings.

Poms are very intelligent and alert dogs. In fact, one of the best ways to describe these pups is perky. They love playing watchdog and using their voice whenever something exciting happens.

They’re easy to train and are happy to please their owners but they can have a big dog personality (it’s a small dog thing). There are some amazing Pomeranian mixes that can also be brown, these include the Maltipom, Pomski, and Border Collie Pomeranian mix.

Maltese

Maltese are stunning dogs that are known for their irresistibly silky coats. Most of us think of Maltese as being pure white, which many of them definitely are. But it’s also possible for these small brown dogs to be tan too (possibly with the odd white spot).

These furry friends are very sweet and caring. They’re playful and adore having a cute toy to play with. They’re smart and love spending time with their owners, either cuddling or out exploring their surroundings.

They’re eager to learn and have very witty brains which can be entertaining for adults. They can, however, be a bit reserved around loud kids, so make sure you monitor children playing with a Maltese.

Cairn Terrier

Perhaps not the most popular brown dog on this list, but Cairn Terriers are certainly cute, inquisitive, and active dogs that make great pets. These pups are often brindle but they can also be wheaten, which can be a light brown color. They have a double coat made up of a very soft undercoat and a slightly wirey and shaggy outer coat.

This small dog breed was originally bred to root out foxes, hares, and other prey in Scotland. They’re certainly tenacious but they’re also very lively and caring. They need to spend lots of time with family and love going outdoors or playing in the yard.

Mini Goldendoodle

So, you’ve probably heard of the hugely popular Goldendoodle, but did you know there’s a mini version too? And it can be a brown dog! Of course, with a Golden Retriever as its parent, many of these beautiful pups are yellow dogs, but if they have a brown Poodle parent they can also be various shades of brown!

Mini Goldendoodles are very cute, caring, and playful dogs that get on well with other dogs and kids. They love chasing after balls and frisbees and have lots of energy (so they need lots of exercise). As well as being amazing small dogs, they also have hypoallergenic coats, so are a better choice for any owners with allergies.

Dachshund

There are lots of beautiful Dachshund colors and one of the most common for these dogs is black and brown. But they can be totally brown too! It’s usually a rich chocolate or fawn color. These wonderful, cheeky dogs can have short and long coats, both of which shed and both of which are very cute!

These pups are smart and vigilant and game for anything. They love running through undergrowth (not necessarily always after a badger) but they do need both mental and physical exercise. Care should be taken with these little dogs’ backs. Because they’re quite elongated, they can have trouble going up and down stairs, jumping, and swimming.

Brussels Griffon

The Brussels Griffon is one of my favorite breeds (mainly because a friend of mine has a one-eyed Brussels Griffon who is just adorable). These comical, confident, and intelligent dogs can be many different colors including brown, tan, red, and belge (a kind of red/brown).

These adorable bearded dogs have the cutest faces, framed by an adorable mustache and beard. Their eyes are dark, intelligent, and incredibly caring. Anyone who ever looks at a Brussel Griffon falls in love with them straight away!

Patterdale Terrier

Patterdale Terriers are fun, spunky, and very charming little pups that originated in England. They’re friendly and get on well with kids and other dogs (although they can be a bit reserved to begin with). These charismatic dogs often have a deep, reddish brown coat that matches perfectly with their lighter eyes.

Patterdales were bred to be working pups and they can be energetic and determined. They need to be kept occupied with fun toys and training sessions. If they’re left to get bored too long, that energy can turn destructive.

Medium-Sized Brown Pups

Labrador Retriever

Of course, the exceptionally loveable Lab had to make it onto this list of stunning brown dog breeds. These amazing canines may even be the definition of man’s best friend. They’re loyal, sensitive, intelligent, and very caring – which is an excellent mix.

These English dogs weigh between 65 and 80 pounds and can be three different colors – yellow, black, and brown. They do shed, so you’ll need to brush them regularly. Labs are the ultimate family dog and are great with kids and other pets.

German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is the perfect gundog. These stunning dogs are athletic, noble, intelligent, and very fast. They form strong bonds with their hunters and owners and are very dependable dogs.

They’re built to spend long days out in the forest or field and need lots of exercise to keep them properly entertained and healthy. They’ll love swimming, running, chasing, and playing all day long!

These dogs can have a fully liver-colored coat which is a kind of red-brown. It’s really one of the most beautiful dog coat colors there is! This popular dog is also famous for having a beautiful ticked coat, which means they have very small patches of white too.

Irish Doodle

The Irish Doodle is one of our favorite doodle mixes. Just look at that picture and you’ll see why. These friendly, charming, and highly intelligent dogs are great company and keep any owner entertained.

They’re usually a deep red color (thanks to the Irish Setter parent) but some have a much darker coat that is distinctly brown. Thanks to the doodle nature of this brown breed, these pooches often have hypoallergenic coats too!

Irish Doodles are very active dogs and need lots of mental and physical exercise every day. They need toys to play with and space to run around in. Training is relatively easy as they’re eager to learn, but it should be kept fun and interesting for them.

Poodle

Actually, the French Poodle could be in any of these brown dog categories because there are 3 official Poodle sizes. They are Standard (which is medium to large) Miniature (which is medium to small) and Toy (which is small, about 10 inches tall).

These dogs are one of the most popular brown dog breeds thanks to their intelligence, caring nature, and enthusiasm for any kind of activity.

They’re incredibly intelligent dogs and love to take part in competitions and dog classes. They get on well with kids and other pets, but they can be a bit standoffish to begin with. They need time to warm up and become best friends.

(Oh, and whilst there may only be 3 official Poodle sizes, there’s also the beautiful Moyen Poodle, but they’re not officially accepted).

Irish Water Spaniel

Irish Water Spaniels are amazing, friendly, and versatile companions that have lots of energy. These stunning Irish pups have tightly curled brown coats that are water-resistant and keep them warm whilst they’re jumping in and out of ponds.

They’re very alert and hard-working and don’t like to get bored. These pups prefer to live in a home with some outdoor space that they can enjoy and use to burn energy. According to the American Kennel Club breed standard, these pups can only be liver with no other markings.

They’re good with kids they grow up with but they can be wary of new kids and it may take them a while to warm up.

Pittbull Terrier

Pitbulls are really popular pups thanks to their soppy, adoring nature and endearing personality. But, these doggos are often misunderstood thanks to their particularly muscular stance and fighting history.

Despite what many think, these muscular pups are actually very affectionate dogs and they make wonderful pets for many families.

There are also lots of great Pitbull colors. One of our favorites is the brindle Pitbull, but they can also be brown, tan, and fawn. Your Pitbull will have a smooth coat that doesn’t require much grooming but they do shed, so brushing every week is recommended.

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are undoubtedly one of the prettiest dog breeds there is. And one reason is because of their beautiful coat colors. It’s common for these pups to have the merle gene, which gives them a stunning, almost marble, effect on their coat.

One of the most attractive colors for these dogs is red, but occasionally, the red can be so dark it looks very brown. These dogs may have lighter brown markings (usually around their faces).

Australian Shepherds are very hard-working dogs and love running. They have lots of energy and need to be kept occupied a lot of the time. A herding ball could be a great toy for this breed. It will help them to hone their skills (if you don’t actually have sheep for them to herd) and keep them fit and happy.

German Shepherd

German Shepherds are always near the top of the list of most popular dog breeds. And it’s not just because they’re beautiful brown dogs! These pups are very loyal, intelligent, and caring.

Most GSD owners love this breed because of their dedication and how well they easily become part of the family. They need lots of fun exercise and it’s really important to remember to keep their brains engaged too. Puzzle toys can be a great way for them to learn new skills and stay stimulated.

These working dogs can be a couple of different colors. Two of the most common are sable and black but these dogs can also be brown. They may have a black mask and some small black markings but the overall appearance will be brown.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chessies are wonderful, tireless, and adoring retrievers that originated in America. They have waterproof coats (that help to keep them warm and dry) that can be in many different shades of brown, including light brown, dark brown, deadgrass (which is a coat color that can be very light or darker brown), and tan.

These wonderful family pets love being outdoors. They’re happiest swimming (they even have webbed feet) but they also enjoy going on long hikes, and playing with kids. They may be gundogs but they’re more family-orientated than other working pups. They make lovely family pups and are eager to be part of a pack.

Big Brown Dogs

Great Dane

There are so many amazing Great Dane colors. These very big dogs can be brindle but they can also be fawn. Fawn is a stunning, light-brown sandy color that suits these beautiful dogs amazingly. These pups can also have wonderful chocolate markings which, when combined with a fawn coat, is particularly beautiful.

Although quite imposing (they’re often considered a scary breed), any Great Dane owner will tell you that these elegant pups are gentle giants. They’re kind, friendly, and happy protectors of their beloved families. They need regular time outdoors but not huge amounts of exercise. Think walks rather than long runs.

Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiffs are incredible, big, brown, fluffy dogs that can weigh up to 150 pounds! These impressive canines can be a range of different colors including brown, and brown and tan.

Tibetan Mastiffs are generally calm in their own space and with those they love, but they can get territorial with strangers. In fact, they’re amazing watchdogs and do a great job at deterring intruders too.

They’re sweet with their family but can also be aloof. As dogs bred for guarding, they’re happy spending some time alone, wandering the perimeter of their property.

Leonberger

These lion dogs are enormous. Under all that shaggy hair is a muscular and athletic body built for protecting and cuddling. These big brown dogs can be many beautiful colors, one of which is red-brown. Many of these pups have other markings too, such as a black mask.

Male dogs have a very impressive lion-like mane which makes Leonbergers look even bigger than they are. As you can imagine from a dog with a mane, Leonbergers shed a lot.

They need to be brushed daily to stop tangles and should be thoroughly groomed once a week. Taking on a Leonberger is a big commitment, not only in terms of space but also in terms of brushing!

So, Which of These Brown Dogs Is Your Favorite?

There are so many incredible brown dog breeds, it really is one of the best and most common colors for pups. Each of them has different living requirements and a different temperament, so it’s essential you adopt a pup that would work well in your family.

We’re sure we’ve missed a couple off our list. Which other adorable breeds would you add?