Dogs with blue tongues are not as rare as you might think. Most of them that have this interesting color have it because of their ancestors but that is not known for a fact.
Nevertheless, the breeds with blue or blue-black tongues or just spots in those colors are present all over the world. Let’s take a look at the ones that are best known for this interesting physical trait.
Shar Pei
This is a Chinese breed and it is quite famous not for its tongue but for the wrinkles on its body. But it is true that these canines have a tongue that can be blue-black or purple in color.
The breed is believed to be a descendant of the Tibetan wolves. That could be why they have the colorful tongue according to the American Kennel Club but that’s not for sure.
Nevertheless, it is a unique feature of a dog that is also unique on its own. It has this kind of pigmentation on the mouth too.
These dogs have a striking form and they have a lot of creases on their body which they tend to lose as they age. Shar Pei dogs are known to be playful, loyal, brave and intelligent.
They are capable of forming strong bonds with their family but do quite alright around strangers too.
Miniature Shar-Pei
This one is from the same lineage as the Shar Pei including the wrinkles on the face. These dogs have a high set of ears and yes the colorful tongue as well.
Often referred to as mini Peis, these dogs have the same history as the Shar Pei except they are smaller in size because they have been bred down from the standard Shar Pei.
Chow Chow
This might be one of the most popular breeds of dogs with a blue or blue-black tongue. Chow Chow is also considered to be an ancient breed.
What’s more interesting is that it might have some shared lineage with the Shar Pei which might explain the similarity between the two breeds. They also look a little bit like bears because they are cuddly and have thick fur around their head and shoulders.
That last detail is yet another thing they are famous for. These dogs are also originally from China and back in the day, their main stay in the imperial kennels belonging to the emperors.
It is not clear where they got their blue tongues from but the American Kennel Club sure uses it as an identifier of purebreds. On the other hand, Chinese legend has an unlikely explanation for it.
It states that these dogs were present at the beginning of creation and happened to lick a drop of blue while the sky was being painted.
Apart from that, Chow Chows are aloof and like to be independent. But they are dignified, extremely loyal and protective of their families.
Also Read: 30 of the Most Popular Asian Dog Breeds
Eurasier
This dog is a cross breed between a Samoyed, a Chow Chow and a Wolf Spitz. It is a mid-sized dog which has a head in the shape of a wedge and ears that are triangular.
The Eurasier also has a double coat which is thick and yes, a tongue that is blue-black in color. It is most likely because there is a Chow Chow in the mix.
Phu Quoc Ridgeback
This is a rare breed of dogs. In fact, it is so rare that there might be only about a thousand of its kind on the planet.
They do have a fur ridge that makes them stand out and yes, the pigmented tongue is the other feature that gives them a special place in history.
Thai Ridgeback
This is another extremely rare dog breed. It is almost never seen outside of Thailand, which is where it comes from.
This dog also has a fur ridge that is similar to the Phu Quoc Ridgeback and that is often used to recognize this dog.
These dogs also have a blue-black tongue although sometimes that might be spotted and not solid like the others. That gives them something to share with the Shar Pei and Chow Chow but there is no lineage connection as far as we can tell.
Pomeranian
Now, this is a dog you would not have expected to see on this list. That’s because most Pomeranians have a pink tongue like almost every other dog.
But Pomeranians with dark tongues do exist and although it is not completely blue like some other dogs on this list, they do have a tinge of it. These dogs are known to be soft not just on the outside but also in their nature.
They don’t have any watchdog capabilities, no more than a dog is expected to have. But they are known to be very suspicious of strangers, which makes them a good pet to have around.
They are also very protective of their families and pay close attention to whoever is mingling with them. And it helps that they are also very loving dogs.
Pomeranians also have fur that is usually brown or cream in color. It is a small dog and is quite lightweight too.
The dogs of this breed that do have a dark tongue usually have solid blue tongues or at least spots in blue.
Rottweiler
This is another dog whose presence on this list might have surprised you. That’s because Rottweilers usually have a pink tongue like several other breeds.
But some of them do have blue tongues or spots of black or blue which makes it quite an unusual sight. Rottweilers with a full blue tongue are a bit of a rarity although not entirely.
These dogs are better known because of their ability to be an excellent watchdog. So, burglars might have felt a chill down their spine wondering where those blotches on the tongue came from.
Akita
The Akita is a breed that looks much like the Chow Chow. So, it is not hard to imagine them also with a blue tongue.
They don’t really have a completely blue tongue like some others on this list but the ones that have the color have blue spots and that’s not very rare.
Akitas are loving dogs when it is their family members but they are not big fans of strangers. So, you might see that blue spotted tongue if you are a family member because it stuck it out for you.
But if you are a stranger, maybe take a step back.
German Shepherd
German Shepherds are not known for their blue tongues and that’s why it is considered to be a bit rare. But if you spot one, you don’t have to be too surprised because it’s just a lesser-known fact, not a lesser-existing condition.
A lot of German Shepherds have dark spots on their tongue which is just the pigment being concentrated. These are harmless if the German Shepherd was born with the spots.
But if you got a pup that had a regular tongue and spots started to show later on, that might be a problem that deserves a trip to the vet’s office.
Border Collie
These dogs also have pink tongues in general but some Border Collies have a blue tongue from birth. It is not hard to spot since they have their tongue hanging out quite a bit.
These dogs work hard and as a result, they leave their tongue out in the open which is a good time to check out the pigmentation situation in their mouths.
Then again, Border Collies are known to be smart dogs. So, make sure they haven’t got their paws on your blueberries.
Tibetan Mastiff
Your love for huge dogs might have taken you to check out Tibetan Mastiffs on the internet. But did you notice that some of them have dark splotches on their tongues?
To have the entire tongue blue in color is a bit rare, but not unheard of when it comes to Tibetan Mastiffs. And it’s not tough to notice either because they have long tongues.
If not completely blue, they have blue-black spots. These dogs have also come from the Tibetan wolves which might be a likely explanation for the blue tongues.
Regardless, this is a good-looking dog that has a heavy coat that might be red in some places.
They are known to be playful and loving but not so much with strangers. But that can be made possible if early socialization is done well.
If that goes wrong, these can grow into destructive little dogs.
Korean Jindo
And finally, we have another rare breed of dogs that is from the Jindo island in Korea, as the name suggests. Some of them are also known to have black or blue tongues and since they are quite friendly, you might get to see a lot of it.
But by lineage, these are hunting dogs that are capable of bonding deeply with one person in the family. They are also independent and intelligent.
They love their families and can be very protective too. They have a coat that is dense but soft.
It is gray, black, white or red in color.
