When we describe dog coat colors, we use many different terms. Often, what might seem to be red or reddish brown to someone might be described by someone else as deep golden or bronze. Many breeds, like the golden retriever, come in a range of coat colors as fawn or tawny or even red or wheaten red. Coat colors also may not be obvious immediately as some breeds have double coats wherein the outer coat and undercoat colors vary greatly. Also, some breeds have fur with different bands of colors. Many dogs also come in spots, speckles and patches. In this article though, we will be discussing dog breeds having red fur or red colored coats that may be solid red or ruby or even red merle and other combinations.
A few interesting facts about red colored coats
- Liver color and red coat colors – Liver is a dark chocolate brown and must not be confused with red. Often people make the mistake or calling liver colored dogs as having red fur.
- Red hair syndrome – This is a progressive change in dogs with black coat color from black to red or rust brown. Diets deficient in protein can transform coat colors to dark reddish brown or rust color. Levels of tyrosine amino acid is less, the result is a progressive change from black to rust brown to reddish. Once the diet is corrected, the black coats are restored.
- AKC gives different names for the same color. For example, instead of red, Cavalier King Charles and King Charles Spaniels may be described as having ruby coats.
With that out of the way, let us discuss some dog breeds with red coats.
1. Irish Setter
The Irish Setter’s coat is medium length, silky and shiny and ranges in color from chestnut red to deep mahogany. The hairs on the head are short and fine while that on the stomach, ears, back of legs and are long, silky ad feathering. The tail hair is long and tapers all the way up to the tip. Some Irish setters have white patches on the neck, chest, head or toes. Other Irish red haired dog breeds are the Irish Red and White Setter. This is a close relative of the Irish setter and typically has white base color with rust or red patches. Often, the Irish setters and related breeds are called ‘Red Dogs’ for this reason.
Related content – English Setter Dog Information
2. Redbone Coonhound
The Redbone coonhound has a lush red coat thanks to its rich, Irish ancestry. They are not named Redbones owing to their coat colors though. In reality, they are named after Peter Redbone, a Tennessee breeder. Redbone’s coat is hard, dense and short. It is one of the most uniform of all Coonhound types.
3. Vizsla or Hungarian Pointer
The Vizsla may have gotten its solid red coat thanks to the Sweizhund which is known for its red fur. Accepted coat colors in Vizsla show dogs are solid, rusty gold, dark sandy yellow and typically in darker shades. Dark brown and pale yellow coat colors mean instant disqualification. You can read more about the Vizsla here.
4. Golden retrievers
Most Golden retrievers have golden colored coats. But many also have golden red coats. Their thick coats may be wavy or straight. Goldens shed a lot, so you need to brush their coats at least once a day. The beautiful red gold coat also gets matted and tangled easily. Brushing regularly can solve all these issues.
5. Korean Jindo
Korean Jindo is popular in Korea but a rarity elsewhere. They come in white, red or black and tan colors. This is one of the popular red dog breeds with short hair. The coat is longer on the back of the thighs. Their coat is also thicker on the neck, and on the back, thick fawn red hair stands away from the body.
6. Norfolk terrier
The Norfolk terrier is also one of the red dog hair breeds with short hair. They also come in other shades like wheaten, black and tan or grizzle. This is a double coated dog breed with a dense thick undercoat and a harsh outer coat. Grooming the Norfolk terrier for shows requires skill and time as show dogs need hand stripping of the fur to remove dead hairs.
7. Pomeranian
The most common color associated with a Pomeranian is the classic orange or red shade. Early Poms/Spitz dogs were white but thanks to Queen Victoria’s dogs, the red color became immensely popular. Today, the AKC allows Poms in nearly 18 different shades including white, black, brown, orange, red, cream, blue or sable. The most common Pom colors are orange, white, black or cream. Red Pomeranians are actually orange, but red is also an accepted color in show dogs. The red coat of a Pom often changes with maturity. Also, a dark chocolate Pom could have red tints making it a mahogany hue. Remember that this breed is famous for changing its coat colors. So a red Pomeranian could develop many hues or shades over its lifetime. Check out information of the Pomchi – a mix of Pomeranian and Chihuahua.
8. Rhodesian ridgeback
Rhodesian ridgeback coat color ranges from wheaten to red wheaten. It is short and dense with a sleek and glossy appearance. Ridgebacks actually change their coat several times over their lifetime. Between 9-12 months, they begin to develop hormones as a result of which the coat can take on fuzzier, lighter and even a spotted appearance.
9. Dachshund
Dachshunds come in red or black colors but it is also not uncommon to see Isabella (fawn colored) and dapple (merle), and brindle patterned ones. Piebald dachshunds are white with large spots and double dappled and gray or blue colored Dachs are also accepted in shows. Dachshunds are bred in three varieties of coats: smooth, wire haired and longhaired.
10. Miniature pinscher
Miniature Pinschers come in solid red, stag red (red with intermingling of black), or chocolate with rust red markings. For show dogs, red and stag red( a rich vibrant medium to dark shade) is preferred. Min Pins are very similar to Doberman Pinscher but both breeds are unrelated and the Min Pin is actually more ancient of the two breeds.
11. Australian cattle dog
Australian cattle dogs come in red and blue colors, though chocolate and cream do occur too. Red dogs are evenly speckled with solid red markings. Both red and blue dogs are actually born white and the red and black hairs grow in as they mature.
12. Australian Kelpie
This is a smooth coated, medium sized dog in black, black and tan, red, red and tan, blue, blue and tan, fawn, fawn and tan and cream or yellow colors. Red and red and tan Kelpies with white on the chest are known as Red Cloud Kelpies.