It is not uncommon to see wrinkled dogs like bulldogs or pugs with droopy faces. We humans don’t like wrinkles on us but the cuteness quotient increases with the wrinkles on the dogs. But who are the Wrinkle dogs?
Popular wrinkly dogs that amaze us by increasing the cuteness quotient with their wrinkles are Shar-Pei, French Bulldog, Pug, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Dogue De Bordeaux, Bloodhound, Basset Hound, Neapolitan Mastiff, and Pekingese.
Let us first look at the most popular wrinkle dogs and later we will look at the reasons they have wrinkle skin and ways to take care of the same.
10 Most Popular wrinkle dogs
1. Shar-Pei – Dog with most wrinkles
Shar-pei is a Chinese wrinkle dog whose name in mandarin means “sandy skin”. They are known for their wrinkly skin and the blue-black color of their tongue. Shar-Pei puppies have numerous wrinkles but as they mature, they are reduced.
Shar-Pei was originally bred in southern china as a hunter and working dog. Though, nowadays, he is bred as a companion dog.
They are still independent dogs who would do well with a dominant owner. Shar-Pei dogs were brought to the USA in 1974 and they slowly became popular due to their unique wriggly skin.
They sport their wrinkles like they are wearing an oversized coat. With his broad head, tiny ears, short muzzle, and bulky wrinkly looks, Shar Pei does get noticed.
Shar-Pei can grow to a height of 20 inches and weigh approx 40 to 55 pounds. The average lifespan of Shar Pei is 8 to 12 years.
2. French Bulldog
French bulldogs are the miniature version of the bulldogs except for the bat-like ears for which they are quite popular. These dogs have wrinkles on their droopy face and are one of the most popular wrinkle dogs.
Frenchies are descendants of the English bulldogs and are believed to have been bred by mixing of the English bulldog brought by English settlers from Nottingham and the local french dogs.
They are very popular in the USA for their small size and wittiness as a companion dogs. This makes them great for apartment living.
French bulldogs can grow to a height of 12 inches and weigh 18 to 28 pounds. The average lifespan of Frenchie is 11 to 14 years.
3. Pug
Pugs are humorous little wrinkle dogs that are known as Clowns of the canine world. They are small dogs part of the toy category. They originated in China during the Han dynasty (200 BC) when they were loved by the nobility.
Pugs are dogs with wrinkles on their comical face. They are small dogs with round heads and large bulgy eyes. They love to be in the company of humans and are prone to suffer from separation anxiety. Pugs are good for apartment living.
Pugs have a flat face with a short muzzle and can’t tolerate a hot climate. They should be kept inside or under the shade and should be observed while outside in hot weather.
They can grow to a height of 14 inches and weigh an average of 14 to 18 pounds. The average life span of a Pug is around 12 to 15 years.
4. Bulldog
Bulldogs are medium-sized wrinkle dogs known to be descended from Mastiffs. They were originally bred in England for driving cattle to market and competing in the deadly bullbaiting games.
Dogfighting has been outlawed in England since 1835. Though Bulldogs still retain their tough courageous character and make an excellent watchdog. These days they are popular as family dogs who do great with kids as well.
Bulldogs have square-shaped wide heads and a short muzzle. They have a muscular and strong body that is lower to the ground. They have short legs and a distinct gait for which they are quite popular.
Bulldogs are lazy and a short walk is good for them. This makes them suitable for apartment living.
Bulldogs can grow to a height of 15 inches and weigh approximately 40 to 50 pounds. The average life span of the bulldog is 8 to 12 years.
5. Bullmastiff
Bullmastiff is relatively a recent dog breed, bred in England by crossbreeding of English Mastiff and the Old English bulldog to have an excellent watchdog. They are wrinkle dogs with droopy faces and necks.
Bullmastiffs are large, powerful, agile, and courageous dogs who make an excellent watchdog. They do not bark much and are also called “Silent Watchdogs”. They also do not need much exercise. Thus Bullmastiffs are one of the few large dogs who are good for apartment living.
Bullmastiffs do not shed much and are easier to groom but they drool a lot. So if you can overcome this then this is a great choice of a large dog for apartment living provided he has early training and socialization.
Bullmastiffs can grow to a height of 27 inches and weigh approximately 110 to 130 pounds. Their average life span is 7 to 10 years.
6. Dogue De Bordeaux
DDB as they are popularly known originated in the Bordeaux region of France 600 years ago. They are loyal and territorial wrinkle dogs who have wrinkly skin on their face. They are known for their large size and massive head and make excellent guard dogs.
Dogue De Bordeaux is sweet-tempered and docile but can be aggressive with strangers and other pets. Early training and socialization are required for them. DDBs became very popular after the Tom Hanks movie Turner and Hooch.
They can grow to a height of 27 inches and weigh approximately 120 to 150 pounds. The average life span of DDB is 8 to 12 years.
7. Bloodhound
Bloodhounds are large dogs originally bred as scent hounds. Scent hounds are those dogs that were used to hunt by smelling the scent of the prey and not by sight.
These dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell and tracking abilities. This makes them a popular dog for policing.
Bloodhound dogs have loose wrinkles around the face and the neck. They are energetic dogs who would need lots of play tie and exercise.
They are not suitable for apartment living and would be best where they can have a large fenced yard. These wrinkle dogs do shed and are not for allergic folks.
Bloodhounds can grow to a height of 27 inches and weigh approximately 80 to 110 pounds. Their average life span is 11 to 15 years.
8. Basset Hound
The Basset hound is a short-legged hound who was also bred as a scent hound to hunt hare. These wrinkle dogs are known for their short legs, large domed head, and extremely large ears. They have mournful eyes and wrinkled brows and look like a sad clown.
Basset hounds were originally bred in France and Belgium. Basset means low in French. Like other hounds, they can be obstinate at times and firm consistent training is required.
They are laid-back dogs and small walks are just good enough. They drool a lot. So if you can get over this, they are apartment-friendly dogs.
Basset hounds can grow to a height of 14 inches and weigh approximately 50 to 65 pounds. Their average life span is 11 to 12 years.
9. Neapolitan Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiffs are massive wrinkle dogs that originated from southern Italy and were bred as guard dogs for their protective instincts and formidable appearance. They rarely bark and are known for sneakingly attacking the intruders instead of first alerting them.
Neapolitan Mastiffs are known for their loose skin, wrinkles, folds on their face, and a huge dewlap. They make a great family pet as a companion and protective dog.
They are not suitable for apartment living and do their best in a fenced yard. These dogs need an experienced owner and are not meant for the first-time ones.
Neapolitan Mastiff can grow to a height of 31 inches and weigh approximately 150 to 200 pounds. They have an average life span of 8 to 10 years.
10. Pekingese
Pekingese are Chinese wrinkle dogs having wrinkles on their face. He is a toy breed that originated in China. They are ancient dogs known in China since 700 AD.
Pekingese are also known as lion dogs. They have a long body but are short in height.
Pekingese are highly intelligent dogs but can be stubborn as well. They have short noses and snore loudly. They do not tolerate heat well and bark a lot. Being small in size, they are suitable for apartment living.
Pekingese can grow to a height of 10 inches and weigh approximately 10 to 14 pounds. They have an average life span of 12 to 15 years.
Why do few dogs have wrinkles?
Now that we know about a few popular wrinkle dogs, let us also look at the reasons why they have them.
It is commonly believed that dogs wrinkled as an evolution to help them in fighting. Like Shar-Pei will not get hurt even if someone has mouthed his coat and can still attack in a fight.
Similarly, Bulldogs used to fight in bull-baiting games in the UK. They also developed these wrinkles.
According to the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Shar-pei dogs have wrinkles due to a hereditary disease called mucinosis. This causes a buildup of hyaluronic acid. This, in turn, causes a build-up of the skin resulting in wrinkles.
Skin problems in wrinkle dogs
Wrinkly skin may look cute but it has its own fair bit of issues to maintain. Dust and moisture can easily get in and be trapped in there. This can lead to multiple problems.
- It may become itchy. Dogs can start licking or scratching the same which can lead to cuts or abrasions.
- If not cleaned for long, it can become smelly and inflamed.
- Bacteria can develop which can lead to acne.
Make sure that you are cleaning the wrinkles and do not allow any dirt or moisture left in there. Else, they may become smelly and prone to bacterial or fungal infection.
If they do get smelly or start scratching their skin due to itchiness, give them a bath so as to remove any traces of dirt or food or any extraneous matter.
Eye Issues
The wrinkle around the eye in Shar-pei dogs may cause the eyelids to bend inwards. This may cause eyelashes and skin to constantly rub the surface of the eye causing chronic abrasion, and pain. This is known as Entropion and this can be corrected with a simple surgery.
Wrinkle dogs are prone to other eye conditions known as Ectropion due to loose skin. This happens when the eyelid of the dog turns outward due to wrinkles. This condition may lead to infections.
Care for wrinkle dogs
Your aim should be to clean every single wrinkle each day or twice a week. Follow the below steps for wrinkle care:
- Wipe anything like dust, food, etc that is left out in there. You can choose between dog wipes or baby wipes (moist) for the same.
- Once you have cleaned them, do the cleaning again with a soft, dry cloth to prevent any moisture from getting trapped in.
- Take the advice of the Vet, if you can put some grooming powder to keep the skin dry.
- Keep looking for any signs of rashes, red skin, itchiness, foul smell, or any other signs of infection.
- A bad smell may indicate infection or fold dermatitis.
If you see any signs of inflammation, rashes, or odor. This may mean, you need to bathe the dog or clean his wriggly skin and apply wrinkle balm or cream.
Use a shampoo that is good for sensitive wrinkly skin. Too much bathing with harsh shampoo may cause dry skin which may lead to further skin problems.
You should not give a bath within 4 weeks as this may lead to dry skin and may again cause dry skin and other skin ailments.
If the situation persists, check with your vet as well so that you don’t bathe him more often as it may result in dried skin.
How to clean dog wrinkles?
You can use any of the below to clean
- You can use a dry cloth or towel for a quick clean-up, but you will also need to regularly clean your dog’s wrinkles with water.
- Normal Baby wipes
- Pet-Friendly wrinkle wipes
- In case your wrinkled dog’s skin seems to have Inflammation or redness, you can use a wrinkle cream balm.
Are Wrinkle dogs for you?
You are in love with wrinkle dogs and wondering if you can have one of them. Check if you have time and patience to keep his wrinkles clean and dry. They are very cute dogs but come with high maintenance. This is the reason, we often see them in Rescue Shelters.
So if you can commit your time to care for these lovely dogs including their skin, some of the above are great dogs to owners who can be fiercely loyal and a great companions.
And if you are still looking for these dogs, look for them at animal shelters in your local area as there may be a dog waiting for new hope in life.
FAQs
Shar-Pei is the wrinkliest dog that has lots of wrinkles on his face and the body. Wrinkles are more when he is a puppy and reduces as he matures.
Keep the spaces between the wrinkles clean by wiping it daily. Regular bathing is also good for keeping the coat clean.
This is due to a hereditary condition known as mucinosis. This causes a buildup of hyaluronic acid. This, in turn, causes a build-up of the skin resulting in wrinkles.
Hope we gave you some good insights on wrinkle dogs and how you can take care of them.
I am glad that I found this article well documented and very informative.
Thank you and keep going, you do a great job!!