Captivated by the fox’s cunning charm? Certain dog breeds echo that striking look with their pointy ears, intelligent eyes, and sometimes even a reddish coat. From the spitz family’s Shiba Inu to the surprisingly fox-like Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a world of canine companions awaits those drawn to vulpine aesthetics. Discover 13 breeds that embody that captivating fox-like appearance, each with their unique personality and history, proving that sometimes, man’s best friend channels a touch of the wild.
Dogs come in all sizes and with unique looks that draw us in. Some look like other animals, such as wolves or foxes. Foxes are gorgeous wild animals that deserve a lot of respect.
Many people would love to keep foxes as pets, especially with videos of people rehabbing them going wild. However, it’s necessary to state that they are, in fact, very wild and don’t make the best pets. The next best thing? A dog that looks like a fox!
There are actually several dog breeds that fit this category. Most of them are spitz dogs, a category of pups that tend to resemble wolves or foxes in appearance. Spitz dog breeds have a bushy curled tail, narrower snouts that create a fox-like face, and perky ears.
Did we mention they’re cute as all get out?
Dog Breeds That Look Like Foxes
There are many dogs that look like foxes, but we’ve narrowed our list down to the top 13, which include other spitz breeds. Let’s check them out!
1. Finnish Spitz
Finland’s barking bird dog, the Finnish Spitz, is one of the most popular dogs in the country. They are typically hunting dogs with a specialty in birds. The Finnish Spitz draws in its prey with its special yodeling technique and a slow-wagging tail.
The Finnish Spitz is far from a shy dog that looks like a fox, and it makes a great family companion if you’re active. Word to the wise, though, make sure your Finnish Spitz has a lot of exercise as it is very high-energy. If it gets bored, the Finnish Spitz gets destructive and loud — it will bark and bark and bark.
| GROUP | Non-Sporting (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 16″ to 20″ |
| WEIGHT | 20 to 35 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Double coat; reddish-gold in color |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 14 years |
2. Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is one of those Japanese dog breeds that you can’t help but love. These mischievous creatures look so much like a fox but have extremely playful personalities. One of the things Shiba Inu is known for is being aloof and, oftentimes, stubborn.
It has its own idea about what it wants to do and when. However, this ancient breed has a lot of good traits that make it the most popular companion dog in Japan.
The Shiba Inu is prone to suffering from separation anxiety, so if you travel a lot or are outside the home for extended periods of time, this might not be the right pup for you.
| GROUP | Non-Sporting (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 14″ to 17″ |
| WEIGHT | 17 to 23 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Thick double coat; cream, red, black and tan colors |
| LIFE SPAN | 13 to 16 years |
3. Norwegian Elkhound
If you’re looking for the perfect combination of playful and protective, you’ll find it right here in the Norwegian Elkhound. The Norwegian Elkhound is one of those dogs that bond very closely to its owners. It loves people and will suffer from separation anxiety if left alone too much.
If you own a Norwegian Elkhound, you’ll learn quickly that it’s not a dog for the faint of heart. It has high exercise needs and requires a lot of mental stimulation. The Norwegian Elkhound fits well in homes with children and other dogs.
| GROUP | Hound (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 19.5″ to 20.5″ |
| WEIGHT | 48 to 55 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Medium-length double coat: a combination of colors, including silver, gray, black, and white. |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 15 years |
4. Icelandic Sheepdog
If you want to see happiness, just look at the face of an Icelandic Sheepdog. The Icelandic Sheepdog, which is said to have arrived in Iceland on the ships of Vikings, is very intelligent and devoted to its people. Plus, they just always look like they’re happy to see you (and they probably are!).
Icelandic Sheepdogs were originally bred to herd sheep but have since found their way into homes as excellent family companions. They are affable dogs that look like foxes since they get along with children, other dogs, and even cats!
| GROUP | Herding (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 16.5″ to 18″ |
| WEIGHT | 25 to 30 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Medium-length double coat; many color combinations, plus white markings |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 14 years |
5. Schipperke
If you’ve ever wondered what a small black fox would look like, here you are! The Schipperke is just as ornery, too, bred specifically in Belgium to hunt rats and act as watchdogs looking over cargo.
Today, the Schipperke is a companion dog that loves to travel with its owner. Wherever you go, expect your Schipperke to be underfoot. And one more cute fact about the spunky Schipperke, in Flemish, its name translates to “little captain,” a nod to its history on ships.
| GROUP | Non-Sporting (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 10″ to 13″ |
| WEIGHT | 10 to 16 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Straight, coarse coat; black, some have white markings |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 14 years |
6. American Eskimo
Have you ever seen an Arctic fox? It wouldn’t be impossible to confuse the American Eskimo dog, one of the American dog breeds, with this magnificent creature. These pups are incredibly loyal and affectionate, and as their name may indicate, they love to play in the cold snow.
The American Eskimo is one of those dogs that look like foxes and make great companions for your children and get along with other dogs.
You can find the American Eskimo in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard, each with the same amazing personality traits in different-sized packages.
| GROUP | Non-Sporting (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 9″ to 12″ (Toy)12″ to 15″ (Miniature)15″ to 19″ (Standard) |
| WEIGHT | 6 to 10 pounds (Toy)10 to 20 pounds (Miniature) 25 to 35 pounds (Standard) |
| COAT AND COLOR | Double, medium-length coat; white or white and biscuit |
| LIFE SPAN | 13 to 15 years |
7. Korean Jindo
The Korean Jindo gets its name from the place it originated: an island near Korea. It’s a hunting dog breed that has lived for thousands of years as a companion dog to island dwellers. The Korean Jindo is incredibly intelligent and needs quite a bit of mental stimulation, which can be a catch-22.
They learn tricks easily but are also mischievous and can find their way into quite a spot of trouble.
Make sure you have a high fence and a secure backyard, as these dogs that look like foxes tend to be escape artists. You might even consider naming yours Houdini!
| GROUP | Foundation Stock Service (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 17″ to 22″ |
| WEIGHT | 30 to 50 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Medium-length double coat; many colors, including black, gray, fawn, white, brindle, and black & tan |
| LIFE SPAN | 14 to 15 years |
8. Alaskan Klee Kai
A pint-sized husky-looking pup, the Alaskan Klee Kai is a highly energetic pup that loves its family but is reserved around those it doesn’t know. However, despite that, this type of Alaskan dog breed doesn’t need too much exercise; a daily walk or indoor playtime is enough to satisfy the Alaskan Klee Kai.
The Alaskan Klee Kai has a foxy face, but if you really want to see these dogs that look like a fox, you’ll appreciate the red and white colored variety with their bushy tails.
| GROUP | Not recognized by the American Kennel Club, UKC classifies breed in its Northern Breed Group |
| HEIGHT | 13″ to 17″ |
| WEIGHT | 10 to 15 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Thick double coat; red and white, gray and white, black and white |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 16 years |
9. German Spitz
The German Spitz is also commonly called the Eskimo Spitz. This pup is completely devoted to its humans and expresses it through affection and attention.
They are smart dogs that are easy to train and are often high-energy, which means they need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy. That said, this dog breed probably won’t cuddle too much with you, preferring to run around and play.
The German Spitz has the natural inclination to bark at everything and anything, and in an apartment environment, this could prove problematic. Early training and socialization will help with this.
| GROUP | Non-Sporting (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 8″ to 12″ (Toy)12″ to 16″ (Medium)16″ to 20″ (Large) |
| WEIGHT | 10 to 11 pounds (Toy)15 to 25 pounds (Medium)30 to 50 pounds (Large) |
| COAT AND COLOR | Straight outercoat that stands off due to undercoat; many color combinations, including black, brown, cream, red, white, wolf gray, and orange. |
| LIFE SPAN | 13 to 15 years |
10. Akita
The Akita is another Japanese dog breed, one that rose to fame in Japanese Culture with the heart-rending story of Hachi, the Akita Inu who went to the train station daily waiting for his owner, even after he passed.
The Akita Inu can be a bit of a stubborn dog that’s hard to train, but it’s fiercely loyal, as anyone who saw the movie could attest to.
The Akita is a funny dog that has silly tendencies with its family, though it is often reserved around strangers. While most Akitas have short coats, some may carry the recessive gene that makes their coats longer.
| GROUP | Working |
| HEIGHT | 24″ to 28″ |
| WEIGHT | 70 to 130 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Short, thick double coat; red, black, fawn, and others |
| LIFE SPAN | 10 to 13 years |
11. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is one of America’s most popular dogs, and for good reason. They’re amazing family dogs. Their narrow faces lend them to be dogs that look like foxes, the fennec fox in particular, one known to be petite but with huge pointy ears.
The Chihuahua is small but mighty, with a big bark and robust exercise needs. The good thing is the Chihuahua is on the smaller side, so you can do that exercise with a daily walk or by playing inside.
The Long-haired Chihuahua has fluffy fur that will need more grooming than its short-haired counterpart to avoid tangles and knots. And did you know there are different types of Chihuahuas?
| GROUP | Toy (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 5″ to 8″ |
| WEIGHT | 6 pounds or less |
| COAT AND COLOR | Short or long coat; fawn, tan, black, chocolate, cream, and other colors |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 20 years |
12. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is another small but mighty breed that can often resemble a fox with its teeny face and narrow snout. Their fluffy fur gives them a slightly larger appearance but also means they need more grooming than most short-haired dogs.
Pomeranians are naturally inquisitive by nature and they are friendly, but some can be territorial or reserved around strangers. One good thing about these dogs that look like foxes is that they don’t shed an awful lot, so you won’t be best friends with your vacuum.
| GROUP | Toy (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 6″ to 7″ |
| WEIGHT | 7 pounds or less |
| COAT AND COLOR | Double coat, long fur; red and orange are prominent, but other colors available |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 16 years |
13. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi embodies happiness. Its short stature and long body, along with its upright ears, make it one of those dogs that look like foxes. A herding dog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is high-energy and extremely intelligent and is also a very hard worker.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi gained some popularity as Queen Elizabeth II owned quite a few.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a good nature and bonds with its owner and is happy to accompany it on long walks, which will wear out its energy reserves and doesn’t need a ton of grooming.
| GROUP | Herding (AKC) |
| HEIGHT | 10″ to 12″ |
| WEIGHT | 28 to 30 pounds |
| COAT AND COLOR | Short double coat; red, sable, fawn, or black and tan |
| LIFE SPAN | 12 to 13 years |
Can Foxes Be Kept as Pets?
As I mentioned before, there are many videos of people rehabbing foxes or finding them as babies and raising them as their own.
But, a word of caution. While it may seem like a good idea at the time, foxes are truly wild animals. They bite, they lack the centuries of domestication dogs have undergone, and they’re exceedingly hard to train.
Foxes also have a strong odor about them, and you’re not likely to rid them of it.
FAQs
What Wild Dog Looks Like a Fox?
The Indian wild dog, known as the Dhole, is a wild dog that looks like a fox. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the two apart from a distance! You won’t find the Dhole in many places. It’s native to Southeast, Central, and South Asia.
What Japanese Dog Is Like a Fox?
There are a few Japanese spitz dogs that look like a fox. The most common one, though, is the Shiba Inu. The Akita Inu is another Japanese dog that fits this category.
Can a Dog and Fox Breed?
Absolutely not. The animals vary in such a way, namely in the number of chromosomes that each has, that breeding is biologically impossible.
Conclusion
If you love the look of a fox — and let’s be honest, who doesn’t, they’re truly magnificent animals — you will find many dog breeds that have foxy appearance.
When you go out on the town with your dogs that look like foxes, they’ll likely turn heads, and people will be clamoring to know more about your pet.
Just do your research and make sure the dog you choose fits in with your lifestyle so you’re both as happy as can be.
The resemblance of certain dog breeds to foxes is a testament to the diversity within the canine world. While genetically distinct, these breeds share visual similarities, captivating those drawn to the fox’s wild beauty. From the Shiba Inu’s prick ears and curled tail to the Finnish Spitz’s fiery coat, these dogs offer a domesticated echo of their vulpine counterparts. Whether driven by aesthetics or a desire for a unique companion, exploring these breeds allows individuals to appreciate the fascinating spectrum of canine appearances and find the perfect fox-like friend.