The first two things we notice about any dog are its coat color and size. While some dog lovers dream of golden angels, white furballs, and fierce black canines, others have their hearts claimed by the chocolate beauties.
Heart-warming cocoa colored paired with a large stature is an image that makes us feel at home. The cozy feelings of having a huge and gentle canine by your side, boasting its beautiful chocolate brown coat, are priceless.
Now let’s get into the nerdy side of dog coat colors. What makes a dog breed’s coat a certain way in color and texture is how the genes are passed. A pigment melanin is what determines a dog’s hair color, and has two types: eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Since we’re talking chocolate brown dog breeds, eumelanin is the type we should be thankful for.
Here are 7 gorgeous dog breeds that are large in size and come in chocolate brown coats:
7 Beautiful Chocolate Large Dog Breeds
1. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds, originally bred to retrieve hunting game, mostly waterfowl. Known for their loyal nature and sweet temperament, these gentle giants come in a stunning cocoa coat as well as other colors.
Labs are known for their impeccable talent as search and rescue dogs due to their intelligence and resilience. These highly trainable pups are medium to large dogs with a height ranging from 21.5 to 24.5 inches. These vigorous pups are well-suited for active families and might not do well with lazy owners.
Labs’ smooth coats come in the following standard colors: black, yellow, and a charming chocolate brown. Their solid coat colors add to the regal look of their dense but short coats. These sweet pets get along pretty well with other dogs, especially if given early socialization training.
2. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is one of the most popular brown dog breeds, famous for its robust and spirited nature. Chessies were originally bred to help their hunter companions hunt and retrieve waterfowl.
Chessies are generally friendly dogs with a very unique appearance. With a height of 21-26 inches and a weight range of 55-80 pounds, these big and energetic dogs thrive with energetic families who own homes with big yards.
Before we get to the coat colors, it’s impossible not to talk about the impressive curly and dense double coat. These wire-haired canines are blessed with solid coat colors: sedge, deadgrass, and chocolate brown.
They have a coarse outer coat and a soft undercoat that sheds. The American Kennel Club recommends regular brushing if you don’t want your floor looking like fur has rained over it.
3. Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinschers are fantastic protection dogs with an awe-inspiring physique. When you look at this dog’s face, you see intelligent and understanding eyes solemn expression, making them look even more worthy of trust.
With a sleek stature and agile body, Dobies are one of the most elegant dogs. These pups stand 24-28 inches tall and weigh from 60-80 pounds. They’re affectionate dogs once they’ve bonded with their families, but territorial is the first word we’d use to describe their nature.
Dobies come in gorgeous coat colors like red, fawn, black, blue… and yes, brown. They have short coats, which makes them quite easy to groom. Make sure your Dobie gets enough exercise, or it’ll resort to destructive behavior, which we don’t want from a dog this size and energy level.
4. Dogue de Bordeaux
If your friend ever saw a Dogue de Bordeaux and went “Look at that dog!”, we totally get them. These dogs are a powerful French mastiff-type breed and have a very interesting appearance.
These large dogs (23.5-27 inches in height, up to 110 pounds in weight) are super muscled-up. The most common coat color they come in is fawn, but you’ll find them in chocolate brown as well. What makes them even more fascinating is a brown or black mask on their droopy, wrinkled faces.
Dogue De Bordeaux isn’t just a breed with impressive guarding instinct; it’s also something of a celebrity. Don’t believe us: look up the 1989 movie “Turner and Hooch”, where this dog played the character of Hooch.
5. Newfoundland
Newfoundland dog breed originated in Canada as a working dog. While their thick, fluffy double coat captures our attention, their gentle nature makes us want to make them our forever pets.
Do you know that a Newfoundland was a survivor of the Titanic? William McMaster Murdoch, the first officer at the Titanic, owned a Newf that was able to swim to a lifeboat even though its owner died.
Newfies are very cuddle-worthy, docile, and loyal dogs that love the company of their humans. These big dogs have an impressive height of 26-28 inches, with a weight of 100-150 pounds. They have a short life expectancy of 9-10 years, which tends to be a problem in large dogs.
Apart from their gentle eyes and sweet nature, what makes them stand out is their medium-length double coat with its gorgeous colors. Newfies’ wavy coats come in varying shades of solid black and brown. Brown Newfs can be chestnut brown and even grow darker towards a chocolate shade.
6. Vizsla
Vizsla is a name associated with power and agility, as this breed was developed by Magyar warriors and was intended to be enduring. Their tall and lean build makes them look impressively alert and energetic.
Vizslas can be 22-24 inches tall and up to 60 pounds in weight. Their reddish brown color is the American Kennel Club standard, and tends to be smooth and short. These pups are quite loving in nature and adore the company of owners, especially those who can stay active with them.
Running is their jam; at least let them run daily for 30 minutes, otherwise long walks will also do. They’re eager to please canines and, if given early training, live fantastically with other pets like cats and dogs.
7. German Shorthaired Pointer
These speckled dogs have an impressively muscular and athletic build, which reflects their history as a Pointer dog. German Shorthaired Pointers are regal-looking gundogs that thrive in a super active household.
These beautiful canines can be 23-25 inches in height and 55 to 70 pounds in weight. Although they don’t have a long coat, they tend to shed and will need occasional brushing to stay at their best. Their short hair can easily camouflage them on carpets and clothes, and become hard to get out later.
Apart from the spotted texture, GPS have come in beautiful coat colors, which include a solid brown that can lean towards chocolate or liver shades.
They’re very trainable dogs and can grow to be even more fabulous if they’re given proper training and socialized as puppies.
Conclusion
From breeds with long and curly coats to short-coated canines, brown dogs are one of the most loved varieties. Many breeds come in fabulous shades of brown; in this article, we’ve reviewed a few of them.
Some other large breeds that can have chocolate coats are Australian Shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Great Dane, Collies, and Saint Bernards.
