20 amazing sable dog breeds (with pictures!)
Are you interested in having a dog that's quite popular amongst the crowd? If so, then you might want to explore sable coat dog breeds.
Not only are these dogs well-liked by many, but their coat pattern is also simply stunning. Many of the top dogs in the world have this beautiful coat color. Therefore, whether small lap dogs or big ones are your thing, sable coats are available across all.
To know more about these gorgeous dogs, keep on reading.
What's a sable dog coat?
If you don't know what exactly a sable dog coat is by now, your brain is probably racking up a range of questions about their appearance.
A sable coat simply has a hair shaft that is a lot lighter towards its base and darker at the tip of the shaft. When looking at the hair from the outside, it produces an ombre texture. This texture only comes as a result of one dog carrying the dominant gene, which can produce that color.
Typically, there are three types of sable coats which are shaded, tipped, and clear. Here is a further breakdown.
- Clear: These are full red color, showing different hair coloration over the body
- Tipped: The color varies here on their back, tail, and head.
- Shaded: This coat contains more black and brown hairs across the head and back.
While Sable coat colors are no doubt beautiful, there are some sable dog breeds that are worth knowing about before.
While many dogs have this eye-catching pattern, here are some sable standouts to admire.
German Shepherd
When thinking about the German Shepherd, you might think of one distinct color, which is the sable coat.
While this is the most recognized, they do come in several colors. In addition to the coat color, they're great family dogs with great intelligence.
Their smart nature makes them a good breed for obedience training and agility exercise. Alongside this, they also have a sharp wit and great energy. If trained well, they will charm you with their good behavior and eagerness to please. This key quality makes them great assistance dogs.
While this breed is a doggie superstar, they also need the care of one. Therefore, you should give them daily workouts and stimulation to keep them happy and out of trouble. If you don't do this, they can easily engage in self-destructive behavior and develop anxiety problems.
English Bulldog
The English Bulldog comes in various coat colors, one of which is sable. This cute breed is renowned for its mellow personality; they're often quite the couch potato. They're great for first-time dog owners, as they don't require much maintenance; they only need a daily walk or two.
As they're a flat-faced breed, they require a little care regarding their grooming. If you live in a hot climate or take them out in the summer, they must be kept cool, so they don't overheat. They're also a gassy breed, so you should be prepared for some iffy smells!
English Mastiff
As one of the biggest sable coat dog breeds, the English Mastiff has a lot of followers. Usually, they have a short coat that can be easily looked after.
However, this breed can be a bit slobbery, dropping food and saliva into it; therefore, you might want to pay a bit more attention to grooming to stop particles lingering in there.
But don't be deceived by their big size; they actually require a lot of motivation to work out. This is a dog breed that can easily gain weight and needs a push to go on a daily walk.
Borzoi
If you like a dog with long legs, you might be interested in the Borzoi. This dog loves to utilize them by being fast, running, and walking. Their also light-footed, which means they display an elegance that looks more like a cat.
If you have children and seniors in your home, this is a dog that can get on well with them if trained while young. Sometimes they can show a stubborn streak in training, but as long as you are persistent, this can be overcome.
On the contrary, if you have small dogs or cats in your home, this is not an ideal companion to have, as they often have similar hunting traits to a sighthound.
Their strong prey drive makes them want to go out exploring when they need daily exercise. Therefore don't be surprised if they bring rabbits or birds into your home. If you're not a fan of prey being brought into your home, you'll want to keep them on a leash or have a well-fenced backyard.
English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel is renowned for its long coat, which comes in a range of patterns and coat colors. If you want this breed, you have to be prepared to provide them with frequent maintenance and care.
The English Cocker Spaniel requires frequent brushing to stop their fur from becoming matted or tangled. You'll want to do this from an early age to ensure their coat remains healthy.
Apart from that, they're quite a happy dog that is known for their charming nature. In addition to this, they're quite a sporty breed who love to exert their energy through playing, walking, and hunting.
Shetland Sheepdog
Out of all the sable coat dogs that exist, one of the most common ones out there is the Shetland Sheepdog, otherwise known as the Sheltie. In addition to their sable coat, they also come in merle and two-tone combinations.
Their coats tend to be long, which means they can end up shedding a lot. You also have to be careful when grooming as they can mat easily around their tail, ears, and elbows.
The Shetland Sheepdog also requires a lot of exercise, as they love agility-based tasks. Every day they must have regular and intense exercise to stop them from undergoing the zoomies. Because of their high need for exercise, they're not a dog suited for an apartment.
Belgian Tervuren
If you're an outdoorsy person, you might like to own the Belgian Tervuren. This is a sable dog breed that loves to run, hike and use all its energy. In addition to this, they require regular mental stimulation to remain happy. They're also a dog breed that likes to be given tasks and responsibilities; they are eager to please nature.
If you want to enter them for shows, this dog makes an excellent agility and herder participant. Alongside their personality, this is a dog breed that needs to be brushed 2-3 times a week to eliminate dead hair. They tend to shed twice a year; therefore not the best breed to own if you suffer from allergies.
Pug
If you're a fan of smaller dogs, then you might like to have a Pug, another sable coat dog breed.
This mischievous dog is a joker and will never leave you bored. Apart from their clown nature, they will win your heart over with their cuddles and affection.
Don't be deceived by their wrinkles, though; they can be quite lively dogs that love to jump. If you're a first-time dog owner, they're also a fun dog to have as they don't require a lot of exercise, just a light daily stroll and play indoors.
Dachshund
The Dachshund is often challenging to house train. Part of the reason for this is that they are scent hound dogs bred to hunt rabbits, wolves, badgers, and other burrow creatures.
Dachshunds are bright, independent canines with a playful attitude. They are therefore capable of mischief. So when you're training them, be kind yet firm.
Hunters even used packs of Dachshunds to retrieve wild pigs. Because of their adaptability, they make great family pets, show dogs, and small-game hunters.
They're not velcro dogs either; this is a dog breed that can handle living on its own if needed. But, be warned, sometimes they can produce loud and deep barks!
Saluki
The small yet strong Saluki is one of the world's oldest dog breeds. For a long time, their original purpose was to serve as a royal hunting hound.
They're great at agility and speed, and Salukis like a good chase. They make kind, respectable, independent, and devoted pets. Salukis are incredibly flexible and can thrive and operate in any environment if they're trained from an early age.
A Saluki is simple to groom, challenging to teach, and should never be left unattended. They're a breed that can easily develop separation anxiety if they're left on their own for too long. On the contrary, they'll be a devoted and lifelong friend if you're someone who can easily give them time and attention.
When it comes to the appearance of a Saluki, they have a distinct look. They have a lean and thin body that's also well-balanced and incredibly powerful. In addition to the sable color, they have a lot more hues and different colored coats too. You can usually spot them from their warm oval-shaped eyes.
For countless years, people have marveled at the beauty of Salukis. Like superb athletes or dancers, they are lean and thin, yet they are also powerful and well-balanced. They come in a variety of hues and designs. These breeds have warm, wise eyes with an oval shape.
French Bulldog
A distinctive color variation of the French Bulldog is the Sable French Bulldog or Sable Frenchie.
This dog initially appears to be a typical fawn French Bulldog, but upon closer inspection, you'll notice more going on. Black hair or black tips are sporadically present on the heads and bodies of sable Frenchies.
In addition, these Frenchies have black hair that is equally spread and intermingled with fawn fur, as opposed to spots or patches, giving them a distinctive appearance.
Fawn and multicolored Frenchies share color DNA with sable Frenchies. Even though the Sable or Fawn gene is not uncommon, it is still challenging to find Sable Frenchies.
English Shepherd
English shepherds are mid-sized dogs with muscular and agile frames.
English shepherds have a mane that can be straight, wavy, or even curly, and they have a medium-length coat. These pups were the first all-purpose farm dogs because of their tireless work ethic and keen senses.
They are particularly willing to assist with tasks around the farm, such as scavenging for pests, watching over animals, and moving sheep between pastures. But unfortunately, these obedient dogs are becoming an uncommon breed due to the collapse of small family farms over the years.
Chihuahua
If you’re interested with dogs that are lightweight, have a big personality and lots of coat variations, then you might like the Chihuahua dog breed. These are among the best watchdogs capable of participating in dog activities like gymnastics and training.
Chihuahuas are incredibly devoted to their owners and need the barest care and exercise. Chihuahuas are loving housemates and are clever, quick study partners. They may participate in agility and obedience competitions with the same zeal and success as bigger dogs. They are, however, stubborn little canines.
They are adventurous, curious dogs. They can squeak into spaces where other pups and dogs can't because they have managed to escape from yards through tiny cracks in the fence.
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois used to serve as a hunting dog originally, but today, they're seen as devoted family members, guard dogs, and military and police dogs. These dogs make intense, wise, and athletic friends in the hands of an expert dog person.
Malinois are eager to help their people and are quick learners. They excel in search and rescue, law enforcement, obedience, monitoring, quickness, flyball, herding, exhibiting, Schutzhund, and other protection sports.
A novice dog owner is unlikely to like this breed. But with strict, persistent training and lots of mental and physical exercise, these puppies will be devoted and affectionate for the rest of their lives.
Collie
Originally, the Collie originated from the Highlands of Scotland. However, it was also bred in northern England and the Scottish Lowlands, primarily used as a herding dog. They make excellent family pets and are still competent herding dogs.
Collies are compassionate and wise canines renowned for their unquestioning loyalty and extraordinary ability to anticipate their masters' needs. They are quite affectionate with their family, yet they don't like spending much time alone because of their sensitivity.
The Collie is amiable and good-natured, but they can be wary of strangers, particularly if they approach the kids in her household. Although she is a beautiful watchdog and often barks, she is not aggressive.
Pomeranian
Do you fancy owning a dog with an interesting history? The Pomeranian is a tiny sable-coated dog breed with a rich history. This foxy-faced dog is often known as “the tiny dog who believes he can” due to its positive attitude. It's also highly energetic, and a regular participant in obedience and agility dog shows.
Although poms are little, they don't always behave that way and may even engage in combat with larger dogs. Pomeranians are good watchdogs owing to their small size and their loud bark. However, because they don't always know when to stop, it's a great way to teach them to do so upon demand.
They are excellent apartment dogs but can also bark a lot, which your neighbors might not appreciate.
But if you give your dog enough playtime and exercise, keep them out of the sun, and shower them with affection, you'll have a devoted, cute, furry family member!
Sable Siberian Husky
A Siberian husky is a playful and mischievous dog that requires an active owner to keep them in shape.
Huskies are resourceful, independent and hospitable to guests. Expect to schedule a lot of playdates at the dog park since as natural pack animals. They need to include their human friends and medium-sized dogs like them.
Although they don't bark frequently, Siberian husky dogs are communicative. If they believe they deserve credit for not bolting for an open door, they may groan and complain to obtain your attention.
Yorkshire Terrier
If you’re wanting to bring a devoted dog into your life, The Yorkshire Terrier is small with a huge personality and makes a loving but fierce companion. They're also well-liked due to their devotion, exquisite appearance, and adaptability to apartment living.
Yorkshire Terriers dislike the cold and are susceptible to chills, mainly if they are moist or in damp environments. Yorkshire Terriers are typically not advised for homes with toddlers or young children because of their small size, fragile structure, and terrier disposition.
Hold your Yorkie under control at all times. The “yappy” trait in some Yorkshire Terriers causes them to bark constantly. Therefore, early and regular training can be beneficial.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a wise and energetic dog breed originally designed to herd cattle, sheep, and ponies. Pembrokes come in four distinct coat colors and markings, are simple to teach, and are eager to learn. Corgi gets along well with babies and other animals.
The United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club recognize Pembroke Welsh Corgis, commonly known as Pembrokes, PWCs, or Poems, as the smallest breed in the herding group.
Pembrokes are loud canines who frequently bark at everyone and everything. They are bright dogs, yet they can also be tiring. Pembrokes tend to overeat. Therefore, it is essential to monitor their dietary consumption regularly.
Sable Coat Brown Dalmatian
The sable-coated dalmatian is quite rare. But don't just get a dalmatian for their coat; they equally have an amazing personality too. In addition to their sable coat color, they come in a range of others, such as tri-color, black spots, or brown.
Conclusion
Overall, sable dogs are pretty amazing breeds to own. To recap what a sable breed is, it's a coat pattern that has a specific color instead of a hue. Sable patterns can vary greatly across breeds. To look out for this pattern, you can usually tell as the hair on a dog's body is lighter at the base at the tip.
Finally, sable coat dog breeds come in a variety of hues and coat lengths. The sable pattern is available in fawn, black, brown, or red. The possibilities are nearly limitless! But, when picking a dog, always remember to look at their temperament and energy level in addition to their sable coat pattern.
Alex Wrigley is a professional writer and blogger who loves travel, technology and dogs. She is originally from the UK but currently lives in Nepal with her three dogs: two pugs and a golden retriever.
