15 Brindle Dog Breeds

A dog’s coat serves as one of its most eye-catching features. Dogs’ coats come in various colors and patterns, like solid colors or tricolors, and patterns like merle or harlequin. It can also be different textures, such as rough, wiry, wavy, or silky. Brindle is among the most unique dog coat variations. It is only found in a few dog breeds, as not every breed has the right genes to be brindle. 

What is a Brindle Dog?

Brindle is not a specific dog breed but rather a type of tiger-stripe coat pattern. This pattern is usually characterized by a light-colored base coat with darker stripes. However, brindle markings also appear over base colors like red, fawn, black, chestnut, and grey. For a dog to have a brindle coat pattern, they must carry one or two copies of the brindle gene. 

American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier is one of several Pit Bull breeds. These dogs are medium-sized, with adorable, squared muzzles and loyal temperaments. Their coats are found in various colors and patterns, ranging from white, blue, fawn, sable, and buckskin. Brindle is one of this breed’s most common coat patterns. Although brown brindle coats are frequently seen, rarer variations include fawn or black. 

Cane Corso

The Cane Corso is an Italian mastiff breed usually kept as a guard dog or companion. Brindle is one of this breed’s most unique coat patterns that is recognized as the breed standard. Cane Corsi can have either chestnut, black, or grey brindle coats. Grey brindle is the rarest brindle variation because a recessive dilution gene is needed to achieve it. 

Whippet

Whippets are medium-sized, quiet, and gentle dogs that come in a variety of fascinating colors and markings. It’s refreshing to see this breed with a brindle coat, as solid colors are the most common. The stripes can either be a dark black or blueish color over any Whippet coat color. Tan, dun, orange, and silver brindle are some of the many Whippet brindle variations. 

Boxer

Brindle is one of this German breed’s most popular coat variations and is recognized as a breed standard color. Reverse brindle is commonly seen in Boxers and consists of a light base coat and dark markings. Flashy brindle Boxers have predominately white patches along their upper torso and legs. Sealed brindle Boxers are the rarest, with concentrated brindle stripes that give them a super dark appearance. 

Great Dane

Great Danes are the second tallest dog breed and what dog lovers lovingly refer to as “gentle giants”. This breed has seven recognized coat colors, including black, fawn, blue, brindle, harlequin, merle, and mantle. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard for Great Danes, the base coat should be a golden color and brindled with black cross stripes. 

Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized breed primarily kept as a working dog. Fawn is this breed’s most common coat color and is so frequently seen that few people know about the other coat variations. Brindle is one of the Belgian Malinois rarest non-standard coat variations. It gives them distinctive tiger stripes that blend in perfectly with a light-colored base coat. 

American Bulldog

The American Bulldog is a beloved breed that descended from English Bulldogs. Both the United Kennel Club (UKC) and American Kennel Club (AKC) accept brindle as one of the many American Bulldog coat variations. Some brindle American Bulldogs can have such dark coats that they almost appear black until they stand in direct sunlight. Otherwise, the base coat is usually a red to light fawn color with dark brown to black stripes. 

Akitas

Brindle Akitas are incredibly unique and highly sought-after by dog enthusiasts. Both the American Akita and the Japanese Akita Inu have brindle recognized as a breed standard coat color. However, it’s very rare and difficult to breed. American Akitas, the larger of the two, can have brindle coats in colors like red, black, brown, silver, and fawn. The Japanese Akita Inu can have black, red, and silver brindle coats. 

Greyhound

Greyhounds are the fastest dogs in the world, averaging speeds of 45 miles per hour. What looks even more impressive is seeing this breed sprint at high speeds with a distinctive brindle coat. It’s one of this breed’s most highly favored coat variations because it accentuates their athletic build. Brindle Greyhounds typically have light to deep red or fawn base coats with dark stripes. 

Dutch Shepherd

Dutch Shepherds are loyal herding dogs with many different coat types. This breed can have short, rough, or long-haired coats often seen in gold brindle and silver brindle. However, it can be difficult to see the brindle pattern through the curls of a rough-coated Dutch Shepherd. They are sometimes mistaken for the Belgian Malinois, as the two look very similar standing side by side with brindle coats. 

Bullmastiff

Bullmastiffs are large dogs known for their loyalty and protective nature. These gentle giants typically have solid-colored coats in either red or fawn. Both colors can be brindled with darker stripes which makes this breed look incredibly unique. Fawn can vary from a light to dark, rich fawn color that blends in with the brindle stripes. Bullmastiffs can also have red fawn brindle coats, which is the rarest variation. 

Dachshund

These adorable sausage-shaped dogs are found in a range of colors and patterns. Dachshunds usually have solid-colored coats, so brindle is a unique pattern that is highly sought after. It is one of the four Dachshund markings recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The dark, uneven brindle stripes stand out in this breed and overlay a red, fawn, cream, or tan base color. 

Basenji

The Basenji is a hunting dog hailing from central Africa. These courageous dogs have short, sleek coats that are found in various colors and markings. Brindle is an official marking accepted as a breed standard for the beloved Basenji and found on a chestnut red basecoat. They can have brindle and white or black brindle and white coats. To fit the breed standard description, all Basenji’s should have white paws, chests, and tail tips. 

Bull Terrier

Bull Terriers are a distinctive breed recognized by their egg-shaped heads. These courageous dogs are found in various colors, including brindle which is an official breed standard color. Brindle is a preferred color for this breed and consists of dark stripes on a tan or light brown base color. Bull Terriers can also be solid brindle with a few small patches of white along their paws or noses.