Dogs That Look Like Foxes

If you are looking for the dog that most looks like a fox, it is perhaps the Finnish Spitz which provides the answer. In terms of size, coat color and morphology, the Finnish Spitz is a dead ringer for a red fox. With small triangular ears, a pointed muzzle and piercing eyes, they greatly resemble the fox. Even their bushy tail has a foxlike quality.

Another striking similarity is the fact that Finnish Spitz puppies are born a darker color than their adult counterparts. This is the same with red foxes. Both are a dark gray color at birth, but will slowly turn to a red or chestnut red when they mature. In terms of character, the Finnish Spitz is sociable, attentive, active and generally well balanced. They do need plenty of dail exercise to maintain such balance.

Another of the dogs most similar to the fox, is the Shiba Inu. They are also particularly reminiscent of the red fox thanks to traits like their triangular ears, pointed muzzle and characteristic bicolor coat which is lighter underneath.

A native Asian dog breed, the Shiba Inu is a highly protective and loyal dog to their family. While they are affectionate and playful, they can be somewhat nervous around strangers. During their puppyhood and youth, they can be mischievous, especially if they don't receive the stimulation they need to channel all their energy.

This is a small dog that looks like a fox, but if you are looking to adopt a big dog that looks like a fox, you may want to look to the Akita Inu. The latter is a larger breed with many similar features. Learn more with our guide to the differences between the Akita Inu and the Shiba Inu.

The Pomsky is not an officially recognized breed, rather it is a relatively recent cross originating from the Pomeranian and Siberian Husky breeds. Specimens classified as second generation are significantly more similar to the Pomeranian, and this breed greatly influences their similar appearance to foxes. They have varying coat colors, meaning they can look like the red fox, Arctic fox, gray fox or even black fox.

The character of the Pomsky will depend entirely on the inherited genetics. They can be more territorial and dependent, like the Pomeranian, or more sociable, like the Husky.

You can take a look at our comparison of the differences between Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes to see some other dogs with similarities.

Among dogs that look like Arctic foxes, the American Eskimo Dog probably takes the dog biscuit. They are of a similar size, have abundant white fur, triangular ears, round eyes and a pointed snout. This canine breed is not recognized by the International Cynological Federation (FCI), but the American Kennel Club (AKC) do have an official breed standard, This standard indicates it is an intelligent, friendly and active dog.

Another dog similar to the arctic and red fox is the Italian Volpino, a foxlike dog breed characterized by its unicolor or red white coat, triangular ears and pointed muzzle. This is a miniature breed, making them a small dog breed that lookd like a fox. According to its breed standard, the cream color in the coat is accepted (despite not being the most desirable). This means they look quite similar to the fennec fox if they present this hue.

The Italian Volpino is an affectionate, lively dog and very attached to their family. They establish a strong bond. For this reason, they do not usually tolerate loneliness very well.

Not all dog breeds look like other animals, but it should be no surprise they often resemble other canids. See for yourself with our guide to dogs that look like wolves.

If you look at a Pomeranian, it is hard not to see a baby fox looking back at you. Thanks to their adorable face and fluffy coat, they look very similar to fox cubs. This is especially so with reddish-colored Pomeranians, although they can have various coat colors.

The Pomeranian is considered a toy dog due to their tiny size, which barely reaches 6.6 lb/3 kg in weight. In addition to their remarkable physical characteristics, they stand out for their strong, territorial, active and intelligent character.

If we are dealing with dogs that look like foxes, we must refer to the variety of long-haired Chihuahua. While not all the types of Chihuahuas look like foxes, these longhaired breeds, especially when cream or red colored, quite closely resemble fennec foxes. This is thanks to their small size, small muzzle, large ears and bulging eyes, traits shared with both foxes and this dog breed.

The Chihuahua has an active and lively character, but we must also emphasize that it is a territorial and selective dog, which tend to be very suspicious of strangers.

The incredible similarity of the Icelandic Sheepdog with the red fox is undeniable, both for the colors of the coat and for the size, facial features and bushy tail. Regarding the character of the Icelandic Sheepdog, we are presented with very affectionate, happy and playful dogs. Likewise, they are quite vocal and active, so they need daily exercise to stay appropriately stimulated.

See resemblances to other animals with our guide to dogs that look like bears.

Another small dog that looks like a fox is the Schipperke. When we look at this breed, we automatically think of the beautiful black fox with its triangular ears, pointed muzzle, jet black coat and fluffy tail. In this case, the Schipperke has a much smaller tail than its fox counterpart.

This breed is more independent than the previous foxlike dogs, although they also need to receive attention from their human family. In turn, they are protective, faithful and friendly with their family, but can be wary of strangers.

Finally, we highlight another of the dogs that look like small foxes, especially desert foxes due to their large ears and tiny snout. Although it is true that the coat does not resemble that of the fennec, the Papillon does coincide with that of other fox species, so it can remind us of a mixture of several. It is considered a toy dog for not exceeding 5 kg in weight.

It is an intelligent, sociable, affectionate and active dog. They love to be the center of attention and will not hesitate to demand more if they feel they are not getting enough.

Now we know about the purebred dogs that look like foxes, you might want to have a look at dog breeds that look like sheep.

It is not only purebred dogs that can bear resemblance to foxes. Many mixed-breed dogs share these similar traits, especially if they are crossed from breeds on our list of dogs that most look like foxes. Unlike purebred dogs, mixed-breed dogs have a lower incidence of developing hereditary diseases as a result of irresponsible breeding. In addition, it is much easier to find a mixed-breed dog for adoption than a purebred one.

Learn more about the benefits of adopting a mongrel with our guide to the advantages of having a mixed-breed dog.

If you want to read similar articles to Dogs That Look Like Foxes, we recommend you visit our Comparisons category.