Is there anything cuter than a smooshy-faced pooch to snuggle? Wrinkly-faced dog breeds have boomed in popularity, including the likes of the Frenchie. So, while we humans try every lotion and potion to stop getting wrinkles, we are besotted with wrinkles and rolls on our furry friends!
Wrinkly dog breeds aren’t just small, lazy lapdogs though, they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Here are ten of the wrinkliest dog breeds for you to coo over!
Wrinkly dog breeds need extra skincare
As loveable as they may be, those wrinkles need a bit more TLC, and wrinkly dog breeds are a little more prone to skin problems.
You will need to clean your dog’s wrinkles and rolls every day to stop dirt getting trapped in them, and to prevent infection. They also need thorough drying after washing, so they don’t get sore or infected.
10 wonderfully wrinkly dog breeds
Shar Pei
We’re starting with the most wrinkly dog breed in the world! The Chinese Shar Pei is famous for their wrinkles and rolls which cover their whole body. They’re an ancient breed with over 2000 years of history, and these dogs have been used for almost every doggy job there is, including fighting, herding, and guarding, and now a canine companion!
Don’t be fooled by all those wrinkles, Shar Peis are no lazybones. These pups are powerful and they can be strong-willed, so they suit experienced pet parents. But even with their independent streak, these noble pups are incredibly loyal and naturally protective of their humans.
Breed stats
Height: 45-51cm
Weight: 20-27kg
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Temperament: Independent, calm, loyal
Bloodhound
Bloodhounds are famous for two things. The first is their super-powered nose, the second is their floppy face. They’re the creators of the hangdog look with their sunken eyes, wrinkly face, and floppy jowls, complete with a string of drool…
The Bloodhounds incredible sense of smell has been used to find and follow human scents since the Roman era. Their nose is so good it can actually be used as evidence in court! But, it does mean that these dogs can be stubborn if they catch a whiff of anything interesting.
However, these determined dogs are like an entirely different animal at home. They’ll laze around and put up with almost anything with the patience of a saint. They’re docile doggies, and especially calm with kids.
Breed stats
Height: 58-69cm
Weight: 36-50kg
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Temperament: Curious, independent, calm
Basset Hound
If there’s any dog to compete with the Bloodhound for the floppiest face, it’s the Basset Hound. Bassets look completely unique, with wrinkles galore, a long sausage body, huge paws, and tiny legs that can barely lift their belly off the ground!
This wrinkly dog breed has super-elastic skin that’s meant to protect them from thorns and bracken whilst out hunting. But it also means they have plenty of wrinkles and rolls to scrunch! And despite the Basset's sorrowful eyes and furrowed brow, they’re actually sweet and cheerful pups.
Although notoriously lazy, Basset’s perk up when they’re outside and can follow an interesting smell for miles and miles. They also tend to go a bit deaf to anything once they’re sniffing, including your protests to go home!
Breed stats
Height: 33-38cm
Weight: 18-30kg
Lifespan: 12-13 years
Temperament: Laid-back, social, patient
Neapolitan Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiffs are powerful dogs whose imposing looks are mellowed out by their masses of wrinkles. They’re probably the most wrinkly dog breed after the Shar Pei!
This Italian breed was used by ancient civilisations like the Romans as war dogs, guards, and even gladiators. Although these muscular Mastiffs look formidable, they’re really gentle giants.
These pooches are protective and fearless though, wary of strangers and willing to try and scare off any “intruder” with their big bark and huge presence. Despite this, these Neapolitans are placid and sweet-natured at home, and very affectionate with their family.
It’s also hard to find this gentle giant too scary, since this wonderfully wrinkly dog breed has wrinkles and rolls all over, loads of drool, and a perpetual puzzled expression!
Breed stats
Height: 61-78cm
Weight: 49-64kg
Lifespan: 7-9 years
Temperament: Quiet, brave, watchful
Pug
If you asked someone to think of a wrinkly dog, they’ll probably pick a Pug. Although they don’t have wrinkles all over their body like a Shar Pei, this fellow Chinese breed has become famous for their squashed, wrinkly faces. In fact, legend has it that these dogs were originally bred to try and get those wrinkles on their head to look like the Chinese character for “Prince”.
Pugs have been a popular pet since 400BC, since they’re small, charming, loving, and a little bit lazy! They are prone to being a bit podgy though, so make sure you take your Pug on plenty of walks and control their greedy nature so they don’t start getting too many rolls.
Their long-haired cousin the Pekingese also has a really wrinkly face, but you can’t see their wrinkles under all that fur!
Breed stats
Height: 25-33cm
Weight: 6-8kg
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Sociable, loving, mischievous
Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux, or the “French Mastiff”, is a massive dog with a big head and an even bigger heart. They actually have the biggest head to body ratio in the doggy world, and their massive noggin looks a bit like a Bulldog’s, with an undershot jaw and plenty of wobbly wrinkles!
If you’ve ever seen the Tom Hanks film “Turner & Hooch”, you’ll recognise that Hooch is a prime example of this dribbly, wrinkly dog breed. And just like Hooch, the Dogue de Bordeaux is loving, a little goofy, but also courageous and deeply devoted to their humans.
Despite their beefcake appearance, Bordeauxs are sweet and sensitive dogs. But although they’re gentle giants, they don’t realise their own size and strength sometimes! Which means you’ll need to take care if you have kids. Also, expect this huge hound to act like a lapdog despite being as big as you!
Breed stats
Height: 58-70cm
Weight: 45kg-50kg+
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Temperament: Brave, loving, loyal
English Mastiff
Just like their French cousins, the English Mastiff is another bruiser with a heart of gold and a floppy face!
Looking at them, it’s easy to see why they make our list of wrinkly dog breeds, with their wrinkly face and rolls of skin on their shoulders and neck. In fact, their fawn colour, black muzzle, and smooshy face means they look like a super-sized Pug!
Despite their giant size and muscularity, Mastiffs don’t need much exercise. They’re also quiet and calm at home and get on surprisingly well with children. You do still need to be careful though, since these massive dogs can outweigh an adult!
These noble pooches are British born and bred, and the Romans were so impressed with their bravery and strength that they sent them back to Rome to fight in the Coliseum. The breed almost went extinct after WW2, with only a single female dog left in the UK, and they remain a rare but rewarding companion to this day.
Breed stats
Height: 70-91cm
Weight: 54-100kg
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Temperament: Brave, steady, loyal
French Bulldog
The most famous wrinkly dog breed is the French Bulldog, whose squishy face has made them the most followed dog breed on Instagram and one of the most popular breeds in the UK!
The Frenchie traces its ancestry back to English Bulldogs, but the breed was refined in France and became a popular companion with artists and aristocrats alike. They’re beloved for their cheeky attitude and cute appearance, and even the most mischievous Frenchie will get out of trouble by showing off their puppy eyes and bat ears.
These little dogs suit small homes and can live almost anywhere, making them the epitome of a chic city canine. But it’s those big ears and heavy wrinkles that make them utterly irresistible!
Breed stats
Height: 28-33cm
Weight: 7-13kg
Lifespan: 10-13 years
Temperament: Playful, independent, affectionate
Bulldog
The Bulldog is the bigger, beefier cousin of the Frenchie, but they’re an equally wrinkly dog breed! English Bulldogs are brawny pooches whose face and body are famously covered in rolls and heavy wrinkles.
These bruisers were once bred to fight bulls, but now they make calm family pets that are more likely to be scoring some zzzs than showing off their strength.
Few dogs are as iconic as the Bulldog, which has become a symbol of Britain. They also look like they’re practising their best “stiff upper lip” expression, with that sourmug face! Although they can look grumpy, these dogs are big butterballs and quite happy to curl up for a cuddle and make lazy but loyal companions.
Breed stats
Height: 30-40cm
Weight: 18-25kg
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Temperament: Quiet, lazy, dependable
Bullmastiff
Given how many Mastiffs made it onto the list of wrinkly dog breeds, it feels right to finish with another! The Bullmastiff looks like an English Mastiff, but they have a flatter face because they share some ancestry with the Bulldog. With two wrinkly dog breeds in their family, it’s no surprise that the Bullmastiff is also famous for its wrinkles and rolls!
Like many Mastiffs, they were used as guard dogs and their impressive size and strength acted as a deterrent for would-be poachers and burglars. Their fearless nature also made them well-suited for protecting their homes and loved ones.
Bullmastiffs are a dog with two sides though. With their family, they’re quiet, calm, and affectionate. But they’re wary of strangers and have a strong guarding nature, which makes early socialisation essential to bring out the best in these strongly-built softies.
Breed stats
Height: 61-68cm
Weight: 45-60kg
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Temperament: Brave, affectionate, reliable