Dogs came in a multitude of shapes, sizes, personalities and quirks. To date, there are close to 200 recognized dog breeds in the world. Each breed has something unique that dog owners may or may not like.
There is one trait that not many dog owners think about when getting a dog.
The color of a dog’s nose.
And in this instance, dogs with brown noses.
Truth be told, 99% of dog owners wouldn’t cite a dog’s nose color as a criterion. But for the remaining 1% who are breeders, it might make a difference.
In this article, let’s take a look at the various breeds of dogs with brown noses and a couple of interesting facts about their cute noses.
Time to start getting nosey.
Labrador Retrievers
You can’t talk about dogs with brown noses without mentioning the Labrador or affectionately known as ‘Labs’.
Some labs have an amazing chocolate brown coat that makes them look like a chocolate bar on paws.
And of course, to complement its brown coat, a lab has a cute brown nose too.
Labradors are medium to large-sized dogs with a ton of love to give. They make great family pets and are also good with kids and other pets.
Despite their easy-going nature, labradors are playing and energetic dogs and require a lot of walks and playtime with their owners.
Would also be great if you have a pool at home as they have a strong love for being in the water.
Springer Spaniels
The English springer spaniels are sweet-faced and lovable dogs with brown noses. They have great energy and are intelligent too. Bred for sport hunting, this dog breed can spend many hours out in the field.
Springer spaniels are rather large dogs, standing almost 20 inches tall and weighing close to 50 lbs.
They are easily recognizable by their adorable, long and luscious ears.
Like labradors, they make awesome family dogs that have kids and other pets.
One thing to note about this dog breed is that they need constant companionship. A springer spaniel that is neglected will get depressed.
So make sure that you can give this dog a certain level of commitment if you do decide to get one.
Dachshund
No other dog is quite as peculiar as the dashshund or more comically known as the ‘sausage dog’.
This small-sized dog looks like it come out of a sausage factory and is filled to the brim with cuteness.
However, don’t let this strange dog fool you as it excels as a small game hunting dog.
The sausage dog comes in a variety of coat colors and with black and brown noses.
They make good pets and get along well with both humans and other animals.
Puli
If you have ever seen a dog that looks like a giant mop, you might have just seen a puli. These interesting-looking dogs have fur that resembles woolly dreadlocks.
They are medium-sized dogs that originate from Hungary and have an energetic and playful personality due to their herding heritage.
A puli can have a brown nose but they also come in other coat colors like black and white.
Despite their messy exterior, they are actually very agile and acrobatic dogs.
This dog breed also requires constant human companionship like the springer spaniels. Be prepared to spend a lot of time grooming this dog to prevent matting.
Lagotto Romagnolo
Pronouncing the name of this dog breed is quite a handful. It does sound like you are ordering an exotic pasta dish at an Italian restaurant, which is partly true.
The lagotto romagnolo hails from Italy and if you have ever seen one in the flesh, it resembles a puli who just had a haircut.
This dog breed looks like a plush toy with all the curly hair on its body and face. They too can come in a luscious chocolate brown color and a brown nose.
An interesting fact about this dog is that it is the only breed that is bred to hunt for truffles. Their keen sense of smell makes them experts at the task.
The energetic lagotto romagnolo makes good house pets and is also gentle with kids and other dogs.
Poodles
Poodles are an iconic breed in the doggie world due to their rather aristocratic and elegant demeanour. This dog breed is very commonly found in dog shows and competitions.
The poodle is athletic, smart and eager to please. However, they do require more training and grooming to keep them in good shape.
There are three types of poodles, standard, miniature and toy. The difference among them is the size when fully grown.
Poodles can come in a wide range of coat colors and of course, a brown nose.
What Determines The Color Of A Dog’s Nose?
The color of a dog’s nose depends greatly on its age and breed. There are some breeds that have nose colors that match the color tone of their fur.
Just like a chocolate lab having a chocolate-colored brown nose. A chocolate lab’s brown nose can also start to turn a light brown as it gets into its senior years.
Many puppies are born with pink noses which tend to darken as they age. Puppies are also born with paw pads that are pink in color. But they tend to darken and form a protective lawyer for their paws.
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, the sun can cause discoloration and bleaching to your dog’s nose. Black noses can start to turn lighter brown or even experience pigmentation.
This is more evident in dogs that have a light-colored noses. For such dogs, it would be safer for the dog owner to use a pet-safe sunscreen to protect the dog’s nose.
Excessive sun on your dog’s nose can lead to skin cancer so make sure to protect it.
The same thing can also happen to the color of your dog’s lips which can be affected by the sun and age.
Are Brown Noses Common For Dogs?
Dog noses do come in a variety of colors and brown is quite a common color in many dog breeds.
The most common dog nose color is actually a black nose. That being said, you’ll be surprised to know that a dog’s nose can also come in the following colors:
- Blue noses
- Butterfly nose
- Dudley nose
- Snow nose
What Dog Breeds Get Snow Nose?
If you noticed that your dog has gone from a black nose to shades of pink, do not worry. This change is usually seasonal due to the change in weather from summer to winter.
Hence the term for it is appropriately named winter nose or snow nose.
This is common in dogs that live or work in very cold climates like the drama queen huskies or sled dogs. Other dog breeds like golden retrievers, labradors and st bernards tend to have a winter nose too.
The cause for this change from black to pink noses hasn’t been thoroughly ascertained. But scientists believe that this pigment loss is more likely due to the enzyme which produces melanin or pigmentation in living things.
This particular enzyme called Tyrosinase tends to break down in cold water and in older dogs.
Should I Worry About My Dog’s Snow Nose?
There’s no reason to panic or worry if your dog’s nose is turning pink during the winter months.
There’s not much we can do to prevent it from happening or reverse the change. Think of it as us getting a couple of gray or white hairs on our heads. At least we have the option of dyeing our hair back to its original color.
But please do not attempt to do that to your dog’s nose leather. It is just a cosmetic issue and benign.
Is Discoloration In My Dog’s Nose Safe?
Most of the time, discoloration of your dog’s nose is purely cosmetic. What you need to be concerned about is if there are signs of bleeding or infection on the dog’s nose as well.
It could be that your dog has gotten a cut or an injury to the nose.
Under such circumstances, it would be best to take your dog to the vet immediately for treatment.
Conclusion
The nose of a dog isn’t something that many of us really pay that much attention to unless we want to ‘boop’ it.
But it is definitely interesting to understand how a dog’s nose color can be influenced by its breed, weather, age and sun.
Regardless of nose color, make sure to give your dog all the love that it deserves and more.
Iggy Thorne, also known as ‘Iggy the Explorer,’ is a seasoned writer with a flair for adventure and a deep love for animals.
Not only does he craft captivating stories often set in the great outdoors, but he’s also a dedicated pet owner who has owned and fostered both dogs and cats.
His expertise in animal care extends to volunteering at local shelters, making him a credible voice in pet ownership.
With a unique blend of humor and adventure, Iggy’s writing is as engaging as it is informative.