Breeds
8 Wrinkly Dog Breeds
You've probably already come across some wrinkly-faced dog breeds while out on a walk, or ones with lots of wrinkles all over their body. This gives them a special charm and makes them even more handsome and appealing, thanks to this peculiar trait.
Dogs with wrinkles on their face or body have somewhat thicker skin than usual, due to their own genetics providing an extra dose of hyaluronic acid, which is responsible for skin thickness and wrinkle formation.
Let's go over the most interesting breeds known for this quirk, along with the special care we need to give these dogs to prevent those wrinkles or skin folds from causing irritation or sores.
Ranking of Wrinkly Dogs
Although there are many wrinkly dog breeds, these are the best known worldwide. If you're wondering what wrinkly dogs are called... "Wrinklies"? They actually don't have a specific name — we just refer to them by their breed, and that's how we know we're talking about wrinkly dogs.
The Shar Pei, Covered in Wrinkles
You surely already know what's possibly the wrinkly dog par excellence: the Shar Pei. This breed comes from ancient China, where it was used as a fighting dog, though today it's perfectly adapted as a medium-sized companion dog.
With a very calm, playful, affectionate temperament with its family, the Shar Pei has wrinkles on both its face and body. It's as a puppy that it's most wrinkled, and although it loses some wrinkles as an adult, it's rare to see another breed with more wrinkles than this one.
The Dogue de Bordeaux, Big and Wrinkly
This is a large dog breed with a lot of wrinkles on its face, though its body is more smooth/normal (no wrinkles). In the past it was used as a guard or defense dog, but today it's an excellent life companion.
With a calm, kind temperament, very intelligent and balanced. From puppyhood to adulthood, the Dogue de Bordeaux will show plenty of wrinkles on its face, giving it a sweet, friendly look. That said, don't be fooled — as friendly as it looks, if a stranger comes into the house... they'd better be able to run fast.
The English Bulldog, Homebody and Also Wrinkly
This dog breed was originally used to help herd livestock, as strange as that may seem seeing them today and knowing full well how lazy they are. This is a medium-to-small breed, ideal for any type of home.
With a very calm, peaceful temperament, it can become a whirlwind if something sets it off. Anyone who's lived with this breed already knows just how stubborn they can be.
The English Bulldog has wrinkles on both its face and body, more noticeable on the face. It's as a puppy that it's most wrinkled, though as an adult it keeps quite a few of its original wrinkles.
The Bloodhound, Sweet and Wrinkly
Also known as the Saint Hubert dog, this is a medium-sized hound breed with plenty of wrinkles on its face, though its body isn't very wrinkly.
With a calm, friendly temperament, it's an excellent tracker, often used for search-and-rescue or hunting work, locating prey by scent. Its huge drooping ears give it an endearing look.
The Bullmastiff, Powerful and Also Wrinkly
This dog breed has lots of wrinkles on its face but not on its body, though as a puppy it can show wrinkles from the muzzle to the tail. Medium-to-large in size, the Bullmastiff is an excellent guard dog.
Native to the United Kingdom, it was once used as a fighting dog or to handle large livestock, like bulls or deer. With a patient, watchful temperament, the Bullmastiff is a benchmark breed when it comes to guard duty.
Pug, Small, Affectionate, and Wrinkly
This small dog breed has wrinkles on its face but not on its body. Also known simply as the Pug, it's hugely popular worldwide thanks to its qualities and characteristics.
As a companion dog, it's a treasure — with a calm, cheerful, playful temperament, the Pug will make us laugh day after day with its antics. That said, it's not a dog for hiking through the mountains or intense exercise, since it prefers calm walks closer to home.
The Neapolitan Mastiff
This is a medium-to-large dog breed with wrinkles on both its face and body, both as a puppy and as an adult. The Neapolitan Mastiff was originally used as a guard or fighting dog.
With a friendly, calm, highly intelligent temperament, it's a dog that won't attack unless provoked. That said, if a stranger shows up at home, it'll drive them off without hesitation with its deep bark and imposing bulk.
The French Bulldog, Small and Wrinkly
This is a dog breed with a wrinkled head but no wrinkles on the body, though as puppies they can be completely wrinkled. Small in size, the French Bulldog is an excellent apartment companion that adapts to any lifestyle.
With a fun, cheerful, yet calm and playful temperament, it can be a bit of a provocateur with larger dog breeds — something that has often ended up costing it a scare or a bite.
Essential Care for Dogs With Lots of Wrinkles
Dogs with lots of wrinkles on their face, or face and body, need certain special care to prevent the skin folds themselves from causing irritation and/or sores.
This matters especially during warm months, when heat can speed up irritation, though in winter we shouldn't stop applying this care either. One of the most common tricks to prevent this irritation is applying a moisturizing cream (like Nivea, for example) into the folds, rubbing it in until fully absorbed by the skin, to prevent excess moisture buildup.
Checking the skin folds weekly is absolutely mandatory for these breeds, to try to catch any potential skin irritation. It's also highly recommended to use a soap specifically for dogs with skin issues during baths, which should happen at least every three weeks.
If applying moisturizing cream and daily hygiene isn't enough to prevent irritation, we should see a vet for a stronger treatment to protect their skin.
IMPORTANT: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary, nutritional or behavioural advice. Every dog is different, and only your trusted vet can advise you on its specific needs.