There is something wonderfully expressive about a wrinkly dog. A few folds across the forehead can make a puppy look deeply thoughtful, while loose cheeks can give a large dog the appearance of a wise old friend.
If you're exploring the different types of wrinkled dogs, you'll find them in an impressive range of sizes and personalities.
Jump to:
- Small Types of Dogs With Wrinkles
- Medium-Sized Wrinkly Dog Breeds
- Large Dogs With Wrinkly Faces
- Giant Wrinkly Dog Breeds
- Which Is the Most Wrinkly Dog Breed?
- Why Do Some Dogs Have Wrinkled Skin?
- Caring for Dogs With Folded Skin
- Choosing the Right Wrinkly Dog for Your Family
- Final Thoughts
- FAQ
- You May Also Like
Some wrinkly dog breeds, such as the Shar Pei, are famous for their abundant folds. Others have more subtle wrinkles concentrated around the forehead, muzzle, or neck. Those adorable folds aren't purely about appearance, though. Depending on the breed, wrinkled and folded skin may require a little extra attention to keep it comfortable and healthy.
I've always loved how wrinkles can give dogs such distinctive expressions. Before choosing a new pet based on looks alone, however, it's worth learning about the dog's temperament, exercise needs, grooming requirements, and general care too.
Small Types of Dogs With Wrinkles
If you're looking for a smaller dog with wrinkles, several familiar breeds have delightfully expressive faces.
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is one of the best-known small dogs, known for its wrinkly, flat face. Those wrinkles tend to be especially noticeable around their forehead and short muzzle, giving Frenchies their unmistakable expression.
French Bulldogs are compact companion dogs and often enjoy being close to their families. Their short coat is relatively straightforward to groom, but their facial folds need appropriate care.
Because French Bulldogs have a flat-faced, or brachycephalic, build, prospective owners should learn about the additional health and heat-related considerations associated with this body type. A veterinarian can provide guidance about maintaining a Frenchie's comfort and health.
Pug
It's difficult to talk about dogs with wrinkly faces without mentioning the Pug.
Pugs have prominent forehead wrinkles, large eyes, and a short muzzle that creates an incredibly expressive face. They're small dogs with plenty of personality and have a long history as companion dogs.
Those charming facial folds deserve regular attention because moisture and debris can collect between them. Pugs are also a flat-faced breed, so care should be taken during exercise and warm weather.
English Bulldog
Although sturdier and heavier than many small companion dogs, the English Bulldog still fits comfortably toward the smaller end of our wrinkly lineup.
The breed is known for a broad head, short muzzle, loose skin, and deep facial folds. Many Bulldogs also have wrinkles around the neck and shoulders.
Their distinctive body shape and flat face mean prospective owners should understand the breed's specific care requirements rather than choose it solely for its appearance. Regular veterinary guidance can be especially valuable.
Medium-Sized Wrinkly Dog Breeds
Move up in size, and you'll meet one of the most recognizable wrinkly breeds in the world.
Chinese Shar Pei
If someone asks you to picture a super wrinkly dog, there's a good chance the Chinese Shar Pei is the first breed that comes to mind.
Shar Pei puppies are famous for their abundant loose skin and deep folds. Adult dogs often retain noticeable wrinkles around the head, neck, and shoulders, although the amount varies between individuals.
The Shar Pei's wrinkly appearance is certainly memorable, but there's much more to the breed than folds. Shar Peis can be independent, calm, and devoted to their families. Early positive socialization and thoughtful training are helpful for developing a confident companion.
The dog breed comes with specific grooming and health considerations as well. Owners should learn how to monitor the skin and ears and work with their veterinarian if they notice persistent irritation, odor, redness, discomfort, or any other concerning issues.
Chow Chow
The Chow Chow may not have folds covering its entire body, but it's still worth including among dog breeds with forehead wrinkles.
A Chow's thick coat can make some wrinkles less obvious, while folds around the head and face contribute to the breed's distinctive expression. Under all that fur is a sturdy, powerful dog with a famously independent personality.
Chows aren't simply extra-fluffy wrinkly dogs. Their temperament, grooming needs, training, and socialization deserve careful consideration before bringing one into the family.
Large Dogs With Wrinkly Faces
Some wrinkles come in very large packages. Several big breeds combine loose skin, droopy expressions, and impressive size.
Basset Hound
The Basset Hound isn't particularly tall, but its substantial body and extraordinary amount of loose skin earn it a place here.
Bassets have one of the most recognizable appearances in the dog world: long ears, short legs, drooping eyes, and folds around the face and neck. If you're picturing dogs with droopy faces, this may be exactly the breed you have in mind.
Basset Hounds were developed as scent hounds, and that powerful nose still influences their behavior today. A fascinating smell can become far more interesting than whatever their person was planning to do.
Their ears and skin folds also deserve routine attention as part of normal grooming and care.
Bloodhound
The Bloodhound takes the droopy look to another level.
These large scent hounds have substantial loose skin, particularly around the head and neck. Their long ears, hanging lips, and deeply expressive face create the classic Bloodhound appearance.
Bloodhounds can be affectionate family pets in suitable homes, but their size, strength, scenting instincts, and exercise needs shouldn't be underestimated. They're a good reminder that choosing a breed should always involve looking beyond appearance.
Giant Wrinkly Dog Breeds
For people fascinated by big wrinkly dog breeds, few dogs make a stronger impression than the Neapolitan Mastiff.
Neapolitan Mastiff
The Neapolitan Mastiff is enormous, powerful, and unmistakably wrinkled.
Adults have abundant loose skin, especially around the head and neck, with heavy folds that create a wonderfully serious expression. If you're searching for a dog with a lot of wrinkles, the Neapolitan Mastiff is certainly one of the standout examples.
Their dramatic appearance comes with equally significant responsibilities. These dogs require appropriate training, socialization, space, and an owner prepared for a very large, strong breed.
In my experience, this is an important distinction whenever people fall in love with a dog's appearance. A giant wrinkly face might be irresistible, but lifestyle compatibility matters far more once that dog is sharing your home.
Which Is the Most Wrinkly Dog Breed?
The Shar Pei is probably the breed most strongly associated with wrinkles, particularly during puppyhood.
Shar Pei puppies can have extensive folds across their bodies, creating the almost oversized-skin appearance that made the breed famous. As they grow, their proportions change, and some of those puppy wrinkles may become less prominent.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is another strong contender for the title of most wrinkly dog breed, particularly among adults. Their loose facial and neck skin create deep, heavy folds.
Rather than crowning a single official winner, it's fair to say that these two breeds represent very different versions of the classic wrinkly look.
Why Do Some Dogs Have Wrinkled Skin?
Wrinkles largely come down to genetics and breed characteristics.
Some dogs naturally have more skin relative to their underlying body structure, producing folds and wrinkles. Selective breeding has also emphasized these features in certain breeds over generations.
The amount and location of wrinkling can vary. One dog with wrinkled skin might have deep folds around its entire head and neck, while another simply develops a charming line or two across the forehead when curious.
Puppies can also look more wrinkled than adults because their bodies are still developing. This is particularly noticeable with breeds such as the Shar Pei.
Caring for Dogs With Folded Skin
A dog's wrinkles may require additional grooming attention because the areas between skin folds can trap moisture and debris.
The exact routine depends on the breed, the depth of the folds, and the individual dog's skin. Keeping folds clean and dry is important for skin comfort, but owners should follow their veterinarian's guidance rather than applying any products at random to sensitive areas.
Check wrinkles regularly so you know what's normal for your dog. Changes such as persistent redness, unusual odor, discharge, swelling, excessive scratching, or obvious discomfort deserve veterinary attention.
Some wrinkly breeds can be prone to skin infections or other skin concerns, but that doesn't mean every wrinkled dog will experience them. Good routine care and veterinary guidance can help owners manage their individual dog's needs.
Choosing the Right Wrinkly Dog for Your Family
Whether you prefer small wrinkly dog breeds or a giant Mastiff, wrinkles shouldn't be the deciding factor when choosing your next dog.
Think about their energy level, temperament, adult size, grooming, training, living space, exercise, and potential health issues associated with the breed.
A Pug and a Neapolitan Mastiff both have wrinkles, for example, but living with them can be dramatically different.
The right dog breed is the one whose overall needs fit comfortably into your household. The adorable wrinkled face should be a bonus rather than the entire reason for bringing the dog home.
Final Thoughts
There are many wonderful wrinkled dog breeds, from compact Pugs and French Bulldogs to the unmistakable Shar Pei and enormous Neapolitan Mastiff. Basset Hounds, Bloodhounds, English Bulldogs, and Chow Chows add even more variety to the wrinkly dog world.
Their folds can make these dogs look wise, worried, sleepy, or wonderfully grumpy even when they're perfectly content.
But those wrinkles deserve care as well as admiration. Learn about the breed's needs, pay attention to your dog's skin and folds, and speak with your veterinarian whenever you notice persistent or concerning changes.
After all, the best part of sharing your home with a wrinkly dog isn't really the wrinkles. It's the personality underneath them.
FAQ
The Shar Pei is one of the breeds most famous for its wrinkles, especially in puppies. Neapolitan Mastiffs are also known for extensive loose skin and deep folds as adults.
Pugs and French Bulldogs are two familiar small dogs with wrinkled faces. English Bulldogs are larger and heavier but also have distinctive facial wrinkles and loose skin.
You may be thinking of the Neapolitan Mastiff. This giant breed is known for abundant loose skin and heavy wrinkles around the face, head, and neck. Bloodhounds also have considerable loose, folded skin.
Some dogs need routine care around their skin folds because moisture and debris can collect there. The appropriate routine varies by dog, so ask your veterinarian how they recommend caring for your dog's folds.
Deep skin folds can create areas where moisture and debris collect, so certain wrinkly dogs may require additional skin care. If you notice persistent redness, odor, discharge, itching, swelling, or discomfort around your dog's folds, contact your veterinarian for advice.
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