Have you ever fallen over yourself with excitement while going over to pet a white dog, especially one with long and fluffy fur? If you have, here's a treat for you - our 10 top white dog breeds!
This list has been divided into two categories - white dog breeds with long fur and then with short fur, to help you spot your favorite white dog breed!
Long-haired white dog breeds
#1 The Maltese
The Maltese has a long history and has existed for at least 29 centuries. The exact origin of this breed causes a bit of a debate. They are thought to have descended from Spitz-type dogs, possibly from Sweden, but another possible ancestor is the Tibetan Terrier from Asia. Some believe that they were originally produced in Italy or Egypt, however, evidence shows that they became abundant on the Island of Malta, hence the name of the breed.
The Maltese is one of the most popular small dog breeds and is an intelligent house dog with a lively personality. They are usually very attached to their pet parent and are known for getting their own way, even with the people that have no intention of spoiling them. Socialisation is important for Maltese dogs and they love making new friends of all ages.
The coats of these long-haired pooches need a lot of attention but this attention will be repaid in cuddles (and compliments from others).
#2 The White Swiss Shepherd
The White Swiss Shepherd Dog, also referred to the Berger Blanc Suisse, is a popular shepherd dog that was recognised in Switzerland in 1991. They were highly sought after for their handsome looks. Over generations, White Swiss shepherds were developed using American and Canadian White Shepherds thanks to their dark pigmentation and their white coats.
White Swiss Shepherds are kind, friendly, highly intelligent, and are known to be great family pets and companions. They can become completely devoted to their pet parents, are fast learners and love being taught new things. Training must start at an early age as this breed can be quick to pick up bad habits or behaviors.
White Swiss Shepherds are energetic dogs and will need to be given at least an hour of exercise a day, with as much time off of the lead as possible. Otherwise, they can get bored and could become destructive.
The breed is very muscular and robust, their white fur is one of their key features.
#3 The German Spitz/Pomeranian
The German Spitz and the Pomeranian share the same ancestry. They both originated from Germany but the Pomeranian was developed in the United Kingdom. Pomeranians used to be larger dogs and were used for hunting and herding. They are smaller today than they used to be and are classified as a toy dog breed.
Pomeranians are friendly, perky little dogs, and don’t seem to be intimidated by bigger canines. They need daily exercise, and are great alarm dogs, as they can be prone to excessive barking.
German Spitzes are independent, lively and loving. However, they can be rather shy and reserved with strangers until they get to know them. Cats don’t seem to be a problem for them, ideally if they are raised with a cat.
Pomeranians and German Spitzes are very attached to their pet parents and can be great family dogs if they are raised with children. Adult supervision is still important, just to make sure that the children don’t get too rough with the dogs.
These furry dogs need a lot of maintenance in order to stay tangle free, but in general, their owners enjoy grooming them. Some breeds have a caramel or cream coat, but there is also the stunning white breed!
#4 The West Highland White Terrier
The West Highland White Terrier (or Westie) is closely related to other Scottish terriers and was bred to be a working dog. It is said that Colonel Malcolm, the 16th Laird of Poltalloch, was hunting with his small brown terriers but accidentally shot one of the dogs, mistaking him for a fox. Thereon, he started to develop a small white dog that could perform the same as a working terrier but would never be mistaken for prey. He managed to create pure white terriers from breeding the lightest puppies from litters of Cairn Terriers.
West Highland White Terriers are lively, active dogs that need plenty of walks and play time. They are quite curious dogs that like to get into everything and will not let themselves be bossed around. Therefore early training is recommended.
The white double coat is the Westie's most distinctive feature, which distinguishes them from other terriers. The undercoat is soft and furry whereas the outer coat has stiff, coarse hair. Luckily, because of the rough texture of their fur, keeping them clean isn't too much of a job as mud is easily brushed out.
#5 The Poodle
Most historians think that poodles originated in Germany, but developed into their own distinct breed in France. In fact, the poodle is a very old breed and illustrations of poodle-like dogs can be found on Egyptian and Roman artefacts dating from the first century B.C.
Poodles come in different sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. Toy poodles stand up to 10 inches tall. Miniatures stand between 11-15 inches and standard poodles average 15-22 inches.
The poodle is known to be a very intelligent dog, always wanting to please their pet parent. If they are well trained, they can be very obedient and respond well to praise and affection. Some can be stubborn, so perseverance may be necessary during the early training stages, but they should still respond well.
The upkeep of a poodle's coat can be time-consuming if you wish to enter them into competitions. However, many grooming parlors are well experienced for both competitions and regular grooming appointments. Their coats can also come in apricot, black, brown and grey.
#6 The Samoyed
Samoyeds were originally used to hunt, herd reindeer, and haul sleds for the Samoyede people in Northwest Siberia. These beautiful white dogs were brought out of Siberia at the end of the 19th century to pull sleds during Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.
When you see a Samoyed, the first thing you will most probably spot is their thick, white, double coat. They come in white, cream, or white with biscuit highlights. They do shed quite a lot of fur, especially in places with high humidity, so be prepared for regular grooming and house hairs.
Samoyeds are inquisitive, intelligent, loving and loyal to their owners. They love personal attention as well as canine companionship. Even though this breed can be stubborn, they are affectionate, get along well with children and give great cuddles!
Short-haired white dog breeds
#7 The Whippet
Some people believe that Whippets date back over two hundred years. According to reports, they were developed in England in the 19th century and were originally bred to compete in rabbit-luring expeditions. The Whippet was used to describe any quick moving, small dog, and it was only in the 19th century when it was finally recognised as a separate breed. Whippet racing was much more popular than greyhound racing up until the First World War.
Whippets are the most popular short-haired greyhound in the UK. They are very sporty and excel at racing, flyball, agility, obedience and frisbee competitions, so daily exercise is a must for them. They can be timid, but Whippets are lovers, not fighters and adore their owner.
You'll find that their coats are short, smooth and usually white, but can also be black, red, fawn, blue, cream, or brindle.
#8 The Bull Terrier
The Bull Terrier dates back to around 1835 and was most probably created by crossing a Bulldog with the White English Terrier. They were then later crossed with Spanish Pointers to increase their size. Bull Terriers were bred to be tough, courageous, athletic and powerful. Some people suggest that the breed was developed to be pitted against other dogs in illegal pit contests.
Bull Terriers are quite an easy breed to spot, thanks to their egg-shaped head and Roman, or hooked, nose. They also have a short, flat coat that can be white or coloured and is very easy to groom.
While often thought to be aggressive, the Bull Terrier is a loving, courageous, lively dog and is great with children. They are very active and need a lot of affection as well as early education and socialisation.
#9 The English Bulldog
The English Bulldog was created sometime in the 1500s or 1600s, sadly for bull-baiting. They had to be furious, powerful and courageous. In 1885, bull and dog fighting became illegal in England and a number of Bulldog lovers attempted to preserve the breed, retaining the good qualities without promoting the bad ones. Bulldogs became one of the best temperamental specimens among canines, with their original aggressiveness bred out.
Bulldogs have large heads, are incredibly muscular and their flat face is covered with heavy wrinkles that should be cleaned daily. They have a straight, soft, short coat that comes in brindle, white, fawn, red or piebald. Their skin is stretchy and soft on the head, neck and shoulders.
This breed is known for being brave, calm and loyal to their pet parents.
#10 The Jack Russell
The Jack Russell was developed for red fox hunting in the early 1800s by an English hunting enthusiast, Reverend John Russell. They used to flush out the foxes with their steady barking but would never kill them. There are also longer-legged Jack Russells, called Parson Jack Russell Terriers. These two types of Jack Russells have been divided into separate breeds.
This is a very energetic, clever little dog that can be challenging to train but is incredibly fun, loving and cheeky! These little dogs could run all day if they wanted to, so they will need to be given a lot of exercise. Jack Russells also get along well with children and make great family pets.
You’ll usually see white Jack Russells with tan, brown or black patches, but there are also all-white Jack Russells.
Which white dog breed is your favourite?
