Whether you’re browsing shelters, visiting dog shows, or choosing a companion for city walks and country trails, coat color often shapes first impressions and sparks curiosity about breeds and care.
There are 30 orange dog breeds, ranging from the long, flowing Afghan Hound to the sleek Vizsla. For each breed you’ll find below entries organized as Scientific name,Typical coat (color),Size (height cm / weight kg) to make comparisons easy — from appearance to expected size — and help you narrow choices you’ll find below.
How can I tell if an orange coat is natural or has been dyed?
Natural pigmentation shows at the skin and roots and typically wears evenly as the coat grows; dyed coats often have color at the tips, staining on paws or mouth, or uneven fading. Ask the shelter or breeder for history, check photos over time, and a vet can often spot dye versus natural color.
Do orange-coated breeds have specific health concerns?
Coat color itself rarely dictates major health issues; breed genetics matter more. Some color-linked genes can correlate with conditions in specific breeds, so research the breed’s health tests, consult breeders’ health clearances, and talk with your vet about any concerns.
Orange Dog Breeds
| Breed | Scientific name | Typical coat (color) | Size (height cm / weight kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Setter | Canis lupus familiaris | Rich chestnut red, glossy and silky | 61-69 cm / 25-32 kg |
| Redbone Coonhound | Canis lupus familiaris | Solid deep red to mahogany (bright red typical) | 56-69 cm / 25-34 kg |
| Vizsla | Canis lupus familiaris | Golden-rust, warm coppery red | 53-64 cm / 20-30 kg |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | Canis lupus familiaris | Light wheaten to red wheaten, often golden-rust | 61-69 cm / 36-41 kg |
| Shiba Inu | Canis lupus familiaris | Red (fox-red), sesame or red-and-white | 33-41 cm / 8-10 kg |
| Akita | Canis lupus familiaris | Red-and-white, deep red shades common | 61-71 cm / 32-54 kg |
| Basenji | Canis lupus familiaris | Chestnut to red with white markings common | 40-43 cm / 9-11 kg |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Canis lupus familiaris | Coppery red to golden-red, often with white markings | 43-51 cm / 17-23 kg |
| Golden Retriever | Canis lupus familiaris | Golden to deep golden (sometimes reddish-golden) | 51-61 cm / 25-34 kg |
| Afghan Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Rich golden to red shades in flowing long coat | 61-74 cm / 20-27 kg |
| Saluki | Canis lupus familiaris | Wheaten to rich red fawns, sometimes golden | 56-71 cm / 18-27 kg |
| Pomeranian | Canis lupus familiaris | Orange-red to deep red sable common | 18-30 cm / 1.8-3.5 kg |
| Chow Chow | Canis lupus familiaris | Red (golden-red) thick double coat common | 46-56 cm / 20-32 kg |
| Siberian Husky | Canis lupus familiaris | Red sable or red-and-white varieties common | 50-60 cm / 16-27 kg |
| Dachshund | Canis lupus familiaris | Red (solid or with small white markings) common | 13-23 cm / 4-14 kg |
| Basset Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Chestnut/red and white or tricolor with strong red patches | 30-38 cm / 18-29 kg |
| Australian Cattle Dog | Canis lupus familiaris | Red speckle/roan (red healer) commonly seen | 43-51 cm / 16-22 kg |
| Pharaoh Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Glossy tan to chestnut red, often with white markings | 53-63 cm / 18-27 kg |
| Ibizan Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Red or red-and-white, bright tan shades common | 56-74 cm / 18-27 kg |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Canis lupus familiaris | Ruby (solid rich chestnut/red) recognized color | 30-33 cm / 5-8 kg |
| English Cocker Spaniel | Canis lupus familiaris | Rich golden-red or liver-red color variants common | 38-41 cm / 13-16 kg |
| American Cocker Spaniel | Canis lupus familiaris | Golden-red or solid red varieties commonly shown | 36-39 cm / 11-14 kg |
| Finnish Spitz | Canis lupus familiaris | Reddish-gold, fox-like coloring typical | 38-48 cm / 10-14 kg |
| Icelandic Sheepdog | Canis lupus familiaris | Golden-red to sandy red shades common | 42-50 cm / 13-18 kg |
| Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | Warm wheaten to golden-sand, often reddish when young | 43-51 cm / 14-20 kg |
| Irish Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | Fiery red or golden-red coat typical | 45-48 cm / 11-12.5 kg |
| Tibetan Mastiff | Canis lupus familiaris | Red-gold and mahogany-red varieties common | 61-76 cm / 45-72 kg |
| Labrador Retriever | Canis lupus familiaris | Yellow to fox-red (deep yellow) commonly called fox-red | 55-62 cm / 25-36 kg |
| Belgian Tervuren | Canis lupus familiaris | Fawn to rich mahogany with black overlay (often warm orange tones) | 56-66 cm / 20-28 kg |
| Portuguese Podengo (Pequeno) | Canis lupus familiaris | Warm golden-red to orange tan in smooth or wire coats | 20-30 cm / 4-6 kg |
Images and Descriptions
Irish Setter
Elegant, energetic gundog famous for its deep red coat and friendly nature. Needs lots of exercise and weekly brushing to keep silky feathering tidy. Originates in Ireland; affectionate, good with families, and thrives with active owners.
Redbone Coonhound
American scent hound with a striking solid red coat and calm, determined hunting drive. Requires regular exercise and minimal grooming. Loyal and good-natured; bred in the U.S. for trailing raccoons and working outdoors.
Vizsla
Hungarian pointing dog with a sleek, rust-colored coat and affectionate, high-energy temperament. Very trainable but needs daily activity. Low grooming; short coat. Great for active homes and hunting families.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Large African breed noted for the ridge of hair along its back and warm wheaten coat. Independent, protective and dignified. Moderate grooming; needs consistent training and plenty of exercise. Originated in southern Africa for hunting big game.
Shiba Inu
Compact Japanese spitz with a vivid red coat and fox-like expression. Clean, independent and sometimes stubborn; sheds heavily seasonally. Loyal to family, alert and best suited to experienced owners who value strong temperament.
Akita
Powerful Japanese breed with a plush double coat often in rich red-and-white. Loyal and protective with reserved nature toward strangers. Grooming requires regular brushing and heavy seasonal shedding management. Best with firm, consistent leadership.
Basenji
Small-to-medium African hunting breed with a fine red coat and graceful, cat-like grooming habits. Alert, independent and not overly vocal (yodel-like sounds). Low grooming but needs exercise and secure fencing due to high prey drive.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Energetic Canadian gundog with a glowing red coat made for retrieving waterfowl. Intelligent, playful, and affectionate; needs frequent exercise and grooming to manage moderate shedding. Great for active families who enjoy water activities.
Golden Retriever
Iconic family dog with a dense golden coat and friendly temperament. Intelligent, eager to please and excellent with children. Regular brushing required to control shedding; thrives on activity, training and social interaction. Originated in Scotland.
Afghan Hound
Regal sighthound with a silky, flowing red or golden coat and aloof, dignified manner. Needs regular grooming and coat care. Independent and reserved but affectionate with family; bred for speed and hunting on open terrain.
Saluki
Ancient sighthound from the Middle East with a smooth or feathered red coat. Graceful, reserved and very athletic; requires secure exercise space. Low grooming for smooth types, more for feathered variety. Independent but loyal.
Pomeranian
Tiny spitz with a big personality and often vivid orange or red sable coat. Very fluffy double coat needs frequent brushing to prevent matting. Lively, alert and good as companion dogs in many living situations.
Chow Chow
Sturdy northern breed with a dense red coat and distinctive lion-like mane. Independent, sometimes aloof; needs thorough grooming to manage heavy coat and seasonal blowouts. Loyal guardianship, originating in China.
Siberian Husky
Medium working sled dog with striking red sable or red-and-white coats among color options. Energetic, sociable and escape-prone; needs lots of exercise and firm training. Moderate grooming with heavy seasonal shedding.
Dachshund
Long-bodied German hound often seen in a bright red coat. Playful, curious and can be stubborn; needs careful handling to protect the back. Low grooming for smooth coat; enjoys walks but limited jumping.
Basset Hound
Short, long-eared scent hound with distinctive droopy face and frequent red-and-white colorations. Laid-back, friendly and scent-driven; needs regular ear care and moderate grooming. Good family dog that enjoys relaxed activity.
Australian Cattle Dog
Hardworking Australian herding breed with red speckling or mottled coat called “red heeler.” Energetic, intelligent and needs job-like exercise. Low grooming but high mental stimulation requirements; loyal and protective of livestock and family.
Pharaoh Hound
Maltese-origin sighthound with a sleek reddish-tan coat and elegant profile. Affectionate and playful, good with active families. Low grooming and high exercise needs; notable for blushing nose and alert expression.
Ibizan Hound
Tall, graceful Spanish sighthound often seen in solid red or red-and-white. Independent, agile and needs secure space to run. Low grooming and strong prey drive; affectionate with family but reserved with strangers.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Affectionate toy spaniel with a solid ruby red coat variety. Gentle, friendly and great as a companion; moderate grooming for feathering and regular ear checks. Originates from British toy spaniels, loves lap time and social homes.
English Cocker Spaniel
Affectionate, merry gundog with a warm red or golden coat. Active and trainable; needs regular exercise and brushing to manage feathering. Originated in England; great family pet and working dog.
American Cocker Spaniel
Smaller spaniel with a soft, often red or golden coat and gentle temperament. Requires frequent grooming and trimming for show coats. Friendly and eager to please; enjoys family life and moderate activity.
Finnish Spitz
Finland’s national dog with a bright red-golden coat and lively, vocal nature. Barking is part of breed function. Alert, friendly and requires regular exercise and seasonal grooming to manage shedding.
Icelandic Sheepdog
Nordic herding breed with a thick red or golden coat and a cheerful, friendly temperament. Active and social, needs regular exercise and brushing. Hardy origin in Iceland; good with families and outdoor life.
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Irish terrier type with a single soft wheaten coat that can appear golden or reddish when young. Spirited, friendly and good for allergy-sensitive owners. Regular grooming and trimming needed to prevent matting.
Irish Terrier
Compact, wiry-coated terrier with a distinctive red coat and bold, spirited temperament. Loyal and courageous; moderate grooming with hand-stripping or clipping recommended. Originates from Ireland and suits active owners.
Tibetan Mastiff
Huge, ancient guardian dog with a thick red or golden coat and independent nature. Requires heavy grooming to manage dense mane and seasonal molts. Protective and aloof with strangers; needs early socialization and experienced owners.
Labrador Retriever
Versatile family and working dog with a yellow coat range that can be pale to fox-red. Friendly, trainable and energetic; regular exercise and brushing needed. Excellent retriever and companion with a steady temperament.
Belgian Tervuren
Elegant Belgian sheepdog with a fawn-to-reddish coat and black overlay creating warm orange hues. Intelligent, high-drive and needs frequent mental and physical work. Regular brushing required for long double coat.
Portuguese Podengo (Pequeno)
Small Iberian hunting breed with a lively orange-gold coat in both smooth and rough varieties. Energetic and alert with a strong prey drive; low-to-moderate grooming. Good for active owners who can provide play and mental stimulation.
