A dog’s coat is one of its most striking features. There are solid-colored white dogs and black dogs, multi-colored breeds, including these black and white dogs, and, perhaps somewhat less well-known, brindle dogs. Sometimes described as tiger-striped dogs, brindle pups have a subtly striped pattern that can come in a range of colors such as red, fawn, brown, silver, and black. Unlike more distinct stripes—such as the ones you might see on a zebra—brindle stripes are more blended and sometimes blotchy.
A brindle color dog’s stripes and base color don’t vary much in hue. Usually, they have dark stripes and a base color that is only somewhat lighter. When there are light-colored stripes on a darker coat, it’s called a reverse brindle. These striped dogs can have the brindle pattern all over their bodies or just in certain spots. Interestingly, brindle coats can appear on other types of animals as well, including cats, guinea pigs, cattle, and horses.
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Why are some dogs brindle?
A dog’s genetics determine if it will have a brindle coat. To be brindle, a dog must carry the brindle gene—and only certain breeds do. However, the brindle gene is recessive to the black-colored gene, which means that many dogs that carry the gene will be black or multicolored.
Similar to blue-eyed dogs and dogs with green eyes, simply choosing a dog breed that carries the brindle gene doesn’t guarantee that your dog will have a brindle coat; it just means that there’s a possibility it will. Additionally, mixed breeds and mutts can also carry the brindle gene. A brindle coat can develop as your dog ages, and so a solid-colored pup could develop stripes as it gets older.
While a brindle coat can certainly make your pup stand out from the crowd, it won’t change his personality. Before adopting a pup, you’ll want to make sure that the breed’s general character and temperament suit your lifestyle. Ahead, find the cutest dog breeds that carry the brindle gene. Looking to adopt a new pet? These are the best dog breeds for families.
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