Black Dog Breeds with Short, Medium & Long Coats

Dogs can come in a variety of colors with overall different symbolisms, from being symbolic of positivity to mysteriousness and elegance. Dogs truly are varied when it comes to their coat and colors, something that can enchant a person into finally getting a dog as a pet.

The color of black, while most may perhaps consider it to be the color of darkness or even the omen of death, it is actually the opposite. The color black mainly symbolizes power and elegance in all its true forms, authority to the highest, and regality.

If you are looking for black dog breeds for reasons that might be personal or simply so that you feel a black-colored dog might be better resistant to getting dirty, then this article may just be helpful enough for you! You may just be able to find your favorite dog from the list of top 20 black dogs list.

Top 20 Black Dog Breeds

Dog breeds can be of different types, this article will mainly be dealing with a list of the top 20 black dogs which may just be the best for you:

1. Rottweiler

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 22-27 inches
• Weight: 80-135 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth coat that is very short and mainly has Black & Tan, Black & Rust, etc.
• Life Span: 9-10 years
• Origin: Germany, Rottweil

Some of the most beloved dogs when it comes to being tall, fit and healthy, these dogs are the perfect for being guard dogs that may either be used by the military or for guarding homes. Despite their status as a good watchdog or guard dog, the Rottweiler is not normally aggressive and can be great family dogs when given the chance!

2. Cane Corso

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 23.5-27.5 inches
• Weight: Dependent on the height
• Coat and Color: Smooth short coat. Colors can be either Black, Black Brindle, etc.
• Life Span: 9-12 years
• Origin: Italy

Due to their imposing structure, the Cane Corso dog breeds are the perfect line of defense against potential intruders or other dangerous entities that may enter a house. When not working, these dogs are intensely loyal to their owners and will follow their instructions to the brim!

Do note that the Cane Corso will need serious exercise to maintain their physical and mental health, else they may fall into a destructive state.

3. Bernese Mountain Dog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 23-27.5 inches
• Weight: 70-115 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-sized double coat. Colors can be Black Rust & White or Black Tan & White normally
• Life Span: 7-10 years
• Origin: Switzerland

Extremely heavy and strong, the Bernese Mountain Dogs are some of the best black dog breeds that are the perfect all-in-one package. These dogs can both be used as a watchdog or for herding livestock or cattle carefully.

They, however, should be trained in being a watchdog as they may at certain times remain aloof to strangers and docile when not doing any work.

4. Affenpinshcer

Breed Overview:

• Group: Toy
• Height: 9-11.5 inches
• Weight: 7-10 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry short-medium length coat. Colors generally are Black, Belge, Black & Silver, etc.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Germany

Small and loving, the Affenpinscher (also known as Monkey Terrier) is a perfect companion for an owner and a great family dog. These dogs however won’t be good for being watchdogs as they generally are aloof to strangers and will in fact be friendly to even them on certain occasions.

5. Giant Schnauzer

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 23-27.5 inches
• Weight: 55-85 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length wiry double coat. Colors may be Black or Pepper & Salt.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Germany

The Giant Schnauzer is a bigger variant of the Standard Schnauzer, typically coming with a black coat that is shiny and with slight curls. The Giant Schnauzer can be a perfect guard dog, yet these can be intimidating and dominating when required.

The Giant Schnauzer can be trained to be friendly with strangers as they are normally apprehensive of unknown people and may be aggressive.

6. Newfoundland

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 26-28 inches
• Weight: 100-150 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length waterproof double coat. Colors include Black, Gray, etc.
• Life Span: 9-10 years
• Origin: Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland dog breeds are some of the perfect guard dogs that may ever be found. Normally black in coat color and gentle with family members, these dogs can be used for general housework including pulling carts or other manual work.

7. Puli

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 16-17 inches
• Weight: 23-35 pounds
• Coat and Color: Corded double coat that is long in size. Colors normally are Black, White, or Silver
• Life Span: 10-15 years
• Origin: Hungary

Bred for guarding or herding livestock, these natural beauties are a sight to truly behold. With a normally black fur enshrouding their faces, these dogs may often need grooming by bathing them and working on the cords on their coat.

Otherwise, these dogs are perfect for being guard dogs as they are mainly bred for protecting herds or territories.

8. Schipperke

Breed Overview:

• Group: Non-Sporting
• Height: 10-13 inches
• Weight: 10-16 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short double coat with normally black color and white markings.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Belgium

Old and slightly rare, the Schipperke is a great watchdog and is often devoted to pleasing their owners and being good family dogs. The Schipperke dog breeds can also get along well with other animals including even cats.

Curious and energetic, these dogs will certainly bark for your attention when needed and will also bark at strangers when they are alert!

9. Scottish Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 10 inches
• Weight: 18-22 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry double coat that is medium in length. Colors may be Black, Black Brindle, Silver Brindle, etc.
• Life Span: 12 years
• Origin: Scotland

Also lovingly called Scotties, the Scottish Terriers, bred for hunting small game animals, are now perfect household pets. These dogs may often bark loudly when they see a stranger coming and are slightly up on the hill when it comes to their hunting instincts.

If you are not willing to have the neighbor come up to your yard to complain about your dog chasing their pet animals such as cats, then you may need to train them to reduce their hunting instincts.

10. Belgian Sheepdog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 22-26 inches
• Weight: 45-75 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-sized double coat with colors being Black or Black & White
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Belgium

Bred for herding cattle, these intelligent and trainable dog breeds are perfect for working under intense conditions. The Belgian Sheepdog can normally be friendly and wholesome, looking for companionship and love.

These dogs are often even used for police work and are versatile enough to do other tasks or even participate in dog sports.

11. Briard

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 22-27 inches
• Weight: 55-100 pounds
• Coat and Color: Long wavy double coat. Colors are Black, Tawny, or Gray
• Life Span: 12 years
• Origin: France

These fluffy and hairy muscular fellows may look slightly aloof, but they are highly intelligent thanks to being a herding breed. These dog breeds are distinctly recognizable due to their facial hair and rather silky-looking wavy fur.

These dogs are great for being guard dogs as their origin lies in originally protecting sheep and other cattle from predators.

12. Black Norwegian Elkhound

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 18-21 inches
• Weight: 40-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Weatherproof double coat that may be short.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Norway

Being a cousin to the Gray Norwegian Elkhound and rarer than them to come across, The Black Norwegian Elkhound is the perfect dog for a household and is highly agile even in snowy environments. These dogs excel at hunting games that are large in size such as a bear and can be the perfect watchdog for alerting an owner of a potential threat.

12. Miniature Pinscher

Breed Overview:

• Group: Toy
• Height: 10-13 inches
• Weight: 8-10 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth coat that is short in size. Colors can include Chocolate & Rust Chocolate & Tan etc.
• Life Span: 12-16 years
• Origin: Germany

Also known as Zwergpinscher, these small dogs aren’t something lightly to be taken of, primarily bred to hunt rats and other sorts of vermins. These dogs are the perfect household pet dogs along with being great cleaners!

Not only that but despite their size, these dogs are great watchdogs and will bark at anything that may look suspicious to them. The short coat hair of this dog is another positive for them as grooming them can be an easy task as compared to dogs that have long-haired coats.

13. Lancashire Heeler

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding (may be miscellaneous)
• Height: 10-12 inches
• Weight: 9-7 pounds
• Coat and Color: Double coat that is short. The colors is Black & Tan or shades of it
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: England

Bred to be a drover of cattle and other livestock or a herder, these highly intelligent dogs have become one of the best family dogs. These dogs have a hunting instinct and may often chase rats or other sorts that are similar to these.

It is important to train these dogs to be obedient as they can slightly be nitpicky when not doing the herding. These dogs may also not be the best for toddlers or very young children.

14. Portuguese Water Dog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 17-23 inches
• Weight: 35-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Coat that is curly, wavy, and long. Colors may come in: Black, White, or Brown
• Life Span: 11-13 years
• Origin: Portugal

Originally bred to help fishermen trap fish into the net or act as a courier of ships. The Portuguese Water dogs are fluffy to the very core, friendly, and easy to train, these dogs are extremely intelligent. If you are looking for a dog that may swim with you or jog, then these are the best!

15. Doberman Pinscher

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 24-28 inches
• Weight: 60-100 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth and short coat. Colors normally may be: Black & Rust or rarely Blue & Rust along with other color combination
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Germany

Serious and vigilant, the Doberman can be an intimidating guard dog when it needs to protect a household from predators. Agile and fast, rarely can a person outrun them, the keyword is rarely. Affectionate and looking for attention, these dogs may look broody, but they may enjoy family life when it comes to them.

16. Dachshund

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 8-9 inches
• Weight: 16-32 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wiry yet smooth coat that is small-long. Colors may either be Black, Cream, or Black & Tan
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Germany

Dachshund normally comes in two types: Miniature and Standard. Dachshund dog breeds make some of the best guard dogs as they are very protective of people or things they are possessive of and courageous when the need arises.

With excellent smelling ability, these dogs are perfect for tracking down certain lost items or even people.

17. Great Dane

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 28-32 inches
• Weight: 110-175 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-length smooth coat. Colors can be Black, Black & White, Fawn or Harlequin, etc.
• Life Span: 7-10 years
• Origin: Germany

One of the strongest black dog breeds that are fearsome for both animals and humans alike, the fearless Great Dane lives up to their name. Being easy to maintain and groom thanks to their short coat, these dogs are normally friendly with people and are sociable when trained to do so.

These dogs may seem slightly lazy at times along with being a loose cannon, meaning that once they catch a scent, they may wander off.

18. Black Russian Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 26-30 inches
• Weight: 80-130 pounds
• Coat and Color: Double coat that is curly and medium-long in size. Colors normally come in shades of black or may just be black
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Russia, Soviet Union

Extremely loyal and ready to jump when under threat, the black Russian terrier is considered to be one of the bravest dogs on this planet. Originally bred to be a part of the USSR in Red Star and used by the military in the 1950s, this dog breed may now be a family dog, but they are still perfect guard dogs.

19. Kerry Blue Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 17.5-19.5
• Weight: 33-40 pounds, females may weigh less than males in proportion
• Coat and Color: Medium-length wavy coat. Colors may include Black, Blue & Black, Silver etc.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Ireland

Bred for mostly working, these dogs are perfect for both house and work environments. Their coat is easy to maintain as they do not shed too much despite their waviness. They are distinctly recognizable due to the shades of blue in their coat which may be seen even when the coat is completely black.

20. Australian Kelpie

Breed Overview:

• Group: FSS (Foundation Stock Service, means not recognized by AKC)
• Height: 17-20 inches
• Weight: 35-50 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth double coat that is short in length. Colors may include Black, Black & Tan, Chocolate, etc.
• Life Span: 10-13 years
• Origin: Australia

Filled with an endless supply of energy, the Kelpie is one of the most devoted dog breeds bred originally in Australia. These dogs can easily live under the heated nature of Australian deserts and are capable of easily being trained by a competent owner.

Conclusion

While some of these 20 black dog breeds may come in different colors in some cases depending on their genes and recessive traits, it is an evident fact that they are almost black in many cases. And the color should not be the only factor, for these dogs are also some of the most loving and affectionate pets that are purely protectors and workers.

The factor of color itself can also depend on how old the dogs are as some of them may have a faded color once they become old. Therefore, if you notice an unnatural change in the color of your dog’s coat, then a vet checkup might be in order.