A black nose is one of the most common features you may associate with dogs. So a pink or brown-colored nose in a dog may seem odd if you have not seen it before.
For example, puppies can be born with pink noses. But as they grow, their noses become pigmented and finally turn black.
Then there could be conditions like snow nose, infection, or an injury that can cause your dog’s black nose to turn pink or brown.
But today, we will explore dog breeds that naturally have brown noses. Dogs that are genetically red or liver-colored will be born with pink or brown noses. And their noses will stay the same color unless an external cause like an injury is affected.
The liver gene is responsible for the dog’s coat, eye, and nose color, ranging from pink to brown. The article will take you through different dogs with brown noses.
12 Dogs with Brown Noses
Here is a list of adorable brown-nose dogs that will be a perfect addition to your family.
1. Labrador Retrievers
Labrador Retrievers are undoubtedly one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Sweet, adorable, and lovable are standard terms to describe these dogs.
The black and yellow colored Retrievers typically have black noses. But it is the Chocolate Labrador Retrievers that have brown noses.
According to AKC standards, the nose color fading to a lighter shade is acceptable. However, the dog may be disqualified if the nose is pink or lacks any pigment.
Personality
Regardless of the dog’s color, Labrador Retrievers are famous for being affectionate with family members and good with children.
They are eager to please and playful at best. So they make an excellent addition to a family with children.
They are highly energetic; thus, you will have to take time out for exercise, playtime, and other engaging activities. This dog breed also likes to spend time with its human family.
So, ensure the dog gets enough exercise every day. Switch up the routine with swimming, agility training, or field trials to keep things interesting. Without such an energetic routine, the dog may develop destructive behaviors.
Interesting Fact
Labrador Retrievers have water-resistant double coats. This makes them excellent swimming partners.
2. Border Collie
AKC describes Border Collies as energetic, affectionate, and intelligent. The dog breed originates from the Border country located between Scotland and England. As a result of selective breeding, these dogs learned a unique style of gathering and fetching stock.
AKC recognizes a total of 21 standard colors. Some of these colors are black, blue, seal, slate, sable, gold, and brindle. It is the red and red merle dogs that will have brown-colored noses.
Personality
This is another dog breed that loves being in the company of its human family. If you have children, it would be best to supervise their interactions with the pet.
Border Collies are highly energetic and trainable. Like Retrievers, these dogs also need to be engaged in physical and mental activities if you want them to behave.
These dogs are adaptable and always ready to play. So, if you are looking to take your pet on a traveling adventure, Border Collies would make great partners.
They do have the capability of barking the rough off of the house, so engage them in training activities.
Interesting Fact
A Border Collie named Chaser is known as the most intelligent, as she remembers the names of over 1,000 objects. Another Collie named Jumpy, holds the record for 100 m dog skateboarding in less than 20 seconds. How cool is that!
3. Lagotto Romagnolo
Wooly curls covering the dog from head to toe are one of the distinguishing features of Lagotti Romagnoli. These teddy bear-looking dogs also have thick beards, eyebrows, and whiskers.
They may look like a furry plushie toy, but these dogs can work for long periods in challenging terrains. Also known as the ‘truffle dog,’ they can put their noses to good use and find the very in-demand delicacy, truffles.
AKC recognizes seven colors of this breed. It is the brown and brown roan-colored dogs that can have brown noses.
Personality
Like every other dog on this list, a Lagotto Romagnolo requires a healthy dose of physical exercise and mentally stimulating activities.
These dogs love spending time with their human family. It is more like a necessity for them. The absence of family interaction can lead to adjustment issues.
As these dogs are people pleasers, they take well to training. Their capability shines through in agility and obedience activities.
They are also good with other dogs. So you do not have to worry about other pet dogs in the house.
Interesting Fact
Lagotto Romagnolo may have gone extinct when the Italian marshes were drained in the 1800s and reclaimed for farming. Truffle hunters gave these dogs a new career and saved them from possible extinction.
4. Poodles
Poodles may seem like symbols of elegance because of how adorable they look. But do not be fooled by their looks and size. These dogs are active, intelligent, and athletic.
They come in three sizes:
- Toy poodles are no taller than 10 inches.
- Miniature ones are under 15 inches.
- Standard poodles are over 15 inches tall.
AKC recognizes over 25 colors of this dog breed. The standard colors include black, apricot, blue, brown, cream, white, silver, and red.
The dogs with brown and red color shades have brown noses.
Personality
If all you know about Poodles comes from movies and television, you are in for a surprise. Poodles are highly energetic, playful, adaptive, intelligent, and eager to please.
These traits make it possible to train the dog in various activities. For example, they can excel in agility, obedience, dock diving, tracking, and retriever hunt tests.
Poodles do not just sit pretty on the couch. Their energy levels require a good amount of exercise daily. So you also need to give them toys and interactive puzzles to keep them engaged.
They make excellent family pets as they are suitable for adults and children.
Interesting Fact
You may not expect this, but Poodles are protective and make good watchdogs. They are susceptible to their surroundings and will sound the alarm with their barking in case of any suspicious being or activity.
5. Dachshund
Dachshund is a dog breed that the AKC recognized in 1885. It has a spot in the top 10 AKC breed popularity rankings.
The low and long frame, short legs, and muscles are the distinguishing features of the dog breed. Its build may give you the impression it may have difficulty moving around. But that is not the case. These dogs were bred to be hunters.
Some standard colors of the Dachshund are black and cream, wheaten, red, chocolate and tan, wild boar, and blue and cream. And as you can tell by now, it is the red and chocolate-colored dogs with brown noses.
Personality
Dachshunds are playful dogs that enjoy the company of their human family. They are also good with other pets.
They are easy to maintain as their shedding and drooling level is on the lower end. They do need moderate levels of exercise to maintain their health. They may not be suitable for long-distance running or swimming, but do take them for walks.
These dogs are intelligent, but they can also be stubborn. They are sensitive and do not respond to scolding or punishment. So, training can be a challenge, but it is nothing you can achieve with a bit of care and patience.
They make for good watchdogs as they are protective by nature and can bark loud enough to wake up everyone.
Interesting Fact
A Dachshund named Waldi was the first official mascot of the Olympic Summer Games in 1972. The authorities chose the dog breed, as it was famous for its endurance, agility, and tenacity.
6. Chihuahua
When you think about a Chihuahua, you may imagine a tiny dog sitting pretty in a purse. These dogs can surely be graceful, elegant, and charming. Still, they also have prominent personalities that you might not expect.
This is a dog breed that is rooted in history. The Aztecs sacrificed a Chihuahua when Aztec nobles died. They believed the dog’s spirit would guide the person’s soul in the afterlife.
AKC recognized the breed in 1904. These dogs are available in various colors like black, blue, chocolate, cream, fawn, red, white, gold, and many others. It is the chocolate-colored Chihuahuas that have matching brown noses.
Personality
One word that AKC uses to define this breed is sassy. That tells us there is more to the dog’s personality.
Chihuahuas are loyal, charming, and affectionate with their family. But they are also proud, confident, and self-reliant. If you do not train or spend time with them, they will assume the family’s alpha member role.
The dog is intelligent and eager to please its human family. But they can get unruly if you let them be. So, train them using positive reinforcements. Be firm with your commands, and do not let them walk over you.
Running around the house or taking short walks is enough exercise for the Chihuahua. However, these dogs are not good around children. The children risk hurting the tiny dog or vice versa, so you need to be careful.
Interesting Fact
Currently, the shortest living dog in the world is a Chihuahua named Milly. The dog is only 3.8 inches tall.
7. Puli
Puli is a dog breed that can never be misidentified from another breed. The dog is covered head to toe with shaggy cords. The wooly and dense coats require a lot of attention.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1936. Black, white, and silver are the standard colors it is available in. They also come in brown and rust colors, and these are the ones that have brown noses.
The dark-colored dogs were bred to drive and direct the herd during the day. In comparison, the light-colored dogs were bred to protect the herd from wild animals and thieves at night.
Personality
By temperament, a Puli is affectionate and loves spending time with its human family inside the home. In addition, they are intelligent, sensitive, and aware of their surroundings. Thus they make for good guard dogs.
The dog needs a moderate level of exercise. You need to pay special attention to its mental stimulation needs. They are loyal and eager to please, but they, as herding animals, do not give up control easily.
So, you need to start training with positive associations at the earliest. If not socialized well, they can get stubborn and do things their way.
As the dog is athletic and intelligent, it will excel in canine sports that involve jogging, running, obedience, and agility.
Interesting Fact
The Puli dog is agile, light on its feet, and can quickly change its direction. This has earned the dog breed the reputation of being the ‘acrobat’ of the canine world.
8. English Springer Spaniel
These dogs were bred to work closely with humans. They are capable of being out in the field for long hours.
They are a popular breed among sport hunters. The dogs would chase and cause the birds to fly, which the hunters would shoot.
AKC recognized the breed in 1910. The six standard colors of the breed are black and white, black white and tan, liver and white, liver white and tan, white and black, and white and liver.
The ones that have liver-colored coats will have brown-colored noses.
Personality
English Springer Spaniels are loveable dogs who are highly affectionate with their family members. They are decent around young children, so it would be best to supervise their interactions.
It is not a good idea to leave them alone as they can get miserable without company.
These dogs like to spend their time indoors and outdoors equally. You can engage them in play sessions inside the house, take them for long hikes, and swim outdoors. Training activities where you both can participate would be ideal.
These Spaniels are intelligent and eager to please, traits that make training fun. You should be in control, though, as their curious nature can lead them on an adventure of their own.
Interesting Fact
Springer and Cocker Spaniels used to be the same breed. The smaller dogs would be assigned to the Cocker Spaniel category in a litter. In comparison, the larger dogs would be assigned to the Springer Spaniels category. Only in the 20th century, these dogs were recognized as separate breeds.
9. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
These dogs are strong and powerful looking. But they also embody the classic traits of a Retriever. They are affectionate, loyal, and protective.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a breed that can perform well on land and water. They were bred to hunt waterfowl under severe weather conditions. They were capable of facing long cold swims with ease.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1878. These dogs come in 8 standard colors, with brown, dark brown, sedge, light brown, and tan being a few of them.
Personality
Also called Chessies, these dogs are affectionate to their family but keep a distance from strangers. Their protective and sensitive nature makes them good candidates for watchdogs. They can be a bright and happy addition to your family.
These dogs are smart and athletic. So you need to keep them busy with activities. Running, hiking and swimming are what they enjoy the most.
They are obedient, but early socialization and training can help shape them into well-behaved adults. They also tend to follow their mind, so you must be gentle but firm in your training.
Interesting Fact
Chesapeake Bay Retriever was declared the official mascot of UMBC. You can find a statue of the Chessie on the campus called True Grit. It is a tradition for students to rub on the statue’s nose for good luck.
10. Australian Shepherd
Dogs are often named after the place they originated from. But surprisingly, that is not the case with Australian Shepherds. They were developed in the Western states of the US, like California and Idaho.
These dogs were bred to be herding dogs. They have the stamina to work long hours.
The AKC recognized the Australian Shepherd in 1991. They come in four standard colors – black, black merle, red, and red merle.
Personality
These dogs are pretty popular if we take into account AKC’s breed ranking. The dog is good-natured and loyal. It may take time to warm up to its human family, but it will be a good companion once it gets comfortable.
The dog is athletic and has a high volume of energy to spend. So an hour or two of exercise is a must for them. They also have high mental stimulation needs, so it would be best to keep them engaged with activities and toys.
These dogs can get overprotective and territorial, so make it a point to spend quality time with them and not leave them alone for longer periods.
Australian Shepherds have boundless energy; they are best suited for homes where dogs can run free and be themselves.
Interesting Fact
Australian Shepherds are one of the rare dog breeds that can have two different colored eyes. They can have a combination of blue, hazel, green, brown, and amber eyes.
11. Basset Hound
Basset Hound is one of the most popular breeds worldwide that the AKC recognized in 1885. These dogs are short-legged and low-slung. One of their distinguishing features is their long, low-set, droopy, velvety ears that can fold well over their nose.
The dog shows good endurance that helps it persevere on rugged terrains for long periods.
Basset Hounds come in different colors like black, brown, and white, red and white, lemon and white, and black and brown, among others. Again, it is the brown-colored dogs that come with brown noses.
Personality
Basset Hounds are mild-natured. They are charming, loyal, and affectionate. But do not expect them to fawn over you like retrievers.
They can moderately tolerate physical activities. So, daily walks at a moderate pace are good enough exercise for them.
These dogs are independent. So, you must be patient and consistent with your training approach. Early socialization can help Basset Hounds stay obedient as they grow into adults.
Interesting Fact
A Basset Hound’s sense of smell is one of its most vital points. It is said that only the Bloodhound’s nose is more accurate among canines than a Basset Hound’s.
12. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a highly intelligent, affectionate, and outgoing dog breed. These dogs were developed in the early 19th century.
The Toller would happily run and fetch a stick or a ball along the shoreline. The dog’s playful prance would attract the attention of the waterfowl and lure them toward the coastline, and the hunters would then shoot them down.
The AKC recognized the Toller in 2003. It can be found in colors like buff, red and red gold. In addition, it can have a white marking on the tip of its tail, feet, chest, and blaze.
Personality
Tollers are affectionate towards their human family and especially good with children. They also are well behaved in the company of other dogs. So, they could make an excellent addition to your family if you have children and other pets.
They have boundless levels of energy. So a simple walk will not be enough of an outlet. You will have to keep them engaged with activities like hiking, swimming, camping, and other canine sports like fly ball or obstacle courses.
They are playful by nature and would not tire of playing and spending time with you. Keep their training session short and give them rewards for the lessons to stick.
Tollers are well suited for families with time to exercise, train, and play with the dog. However, they will not do well if left to their own accord.
Interesting Fact
Considering the AKC-recognized breeds, Tollers have the longest breed name. They also have a unique bark that almost sounds like a high-pitched scream.
Summary
We hope the above list gave you an insight into the world of dogs with brown noses. Dogs with the liver gene will have coats, eyes, and noses in varying shades of red to brown. And this is normal. The dogs will be healthy, playful, and adorable like their counterparts.
Ensure you go through what the dog needs regarding exercise, training, grooming, and nutrition. Bringing home a dog is a responsibility that you should be willing for.
Also, consider the situation at home. Labrador Retrievers or Poodles will be a great choice if you are a family with children. If you are looking for a companion, then adopt a Chihuahua. Or if you want a travel-friendly dog, then bring home a Dachshund.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.