Both dogs and foxes being members of the same family, the Canidae family, share some appearance familiarities. But they also have many differences as they are completely different animals and have different pairs of chromosomes, so they can’t mate with each other. As we are talking about dogs, we are gonna learn now what dogs look like foxes. We will go through the 8 small dogs that look like foxes.
Dogs That Look Like Foxes
Some of the small dog breeds share some appearance similarities with the foxes. These are the top 10 dogs that look like foxes.
| Rank | Breed |
| 1 | Akita |
| 2 | Shiba Inu |
| 3 | Finnish Spitz |
| 4 | Japanese Spitz |
| 5 | Schipperke |
| 6 | Volpino Italiano |
| 7 | Long Hair Chihuahua |
| 8 | Jindo |
Now we’re gonna learn about some of the characteristics of these dog breeds.
Akita Inu
The first dog that looks like foxes is Akita Inu. This breed of dog is often called the Japanese Akitainu. This breed has two versions: the American and Japanese. The American version is slightly larger than the Japanese version. The Japanese one has its name Akita-ken.
Originally this breed was a strong mountain dog. These dogs tend to help to hunt the bears and work as guard dogs. The Akita Inu has more than 1000+ years of history. History tells us that this breed was a faithful companion of the Samurai Soldiers. In 1931 Japan started the program to preserve the breed and declared them as a national monument for Japan.
The shape of their head and their triangular ears, their fur is reddish and they have a white mask on their faces. These are some characteristics that make them look familiar to the foxes.
The Akita Inu are very cute and can be a great pet than a fox. But they are not friendly with other dog breeds. They can be aloof to strangers as well. They are good guards and they have many enthusiasts.
Shiba Inu
This one is also from Japan and it’s an ancient breed. This breed has a seriously long history. Researchers found some evidence of Shiba Inus from the Jomon Period which started in 14,000 BC. These dogs have been extremely famous in Japan for thousands of years, however they went almost extinct after World War II. This happened due to the lack of food at that time. An intentional program became the saviour of this breed, they saved them and now they have come out of danger of being extinct.
These dogs have independent and spunky personalities. They also have triangular ears and their face shape is fox-like. The shiba inus shed their coat once a year which makes a mess. These dogs groom themselves with their tongues. Due to this, they don’t need as many baths as any other breed.
Finnish Spitz
This breed is also a mountain dog. As with other breeds they also have triangular ears and a fox-like face shape. They are also called the bark pointers as they are quite barky, because of being the hunting dog they barked to show their owners the prey’s location.
Due to breeding with other types of dogs, they nearly went extinct in the late 1800s. Hugo Roos, a Finnish hunting enthusiast created a program that takes the careful selection of the breed for about 30 to re-establish the breed.
These dogs can become great family pets as they are quite friendly. They usually love their children and often become friendly with other dogs. They love to be around people. But keep in mind that these dogs bark a lot more than other animals.
Japanese Spitz
This breed is considered a larger cousin of the Pomeranian breed. They are foxy-looking dogs with triangular ears, they are very fluffy and all-white. Their pointed snout gives them a very cute look.
This breed was just recently created between the 1920s and 1930s by breeding a white German spitz with another small white spitz. Their average lifespan is between 10 and 16 years which makes them one of the longest-living breeds.
They can be great pets as they love kids and are friendly with other dogs. They are eager learners and love to be the centre of attention.
Schipperke
The schipperke breed is originally from Belgium. Their name means the little boatman or a little captain. This breed was found around the 1600s but they were officially recognized as a breed in the 1800s.
They have cute fox-like face shapes with perky ears and are mainly black. Some people in the US and Canada cut off their tails to achieve the desired look. While in some other countries, this practice is illegal.
The schipperke has a lot of energy and loves to do a job. They also have a strong prey drive and they tend to chase the small mammals. They usually bark at strangers when they feel threatened.
They have the personality of bigger dogs, despite being only 13 inches high on average.
Volpino Italiano
This breed of dog is also called the Pomeranian or small Samoyed. Some people also associate them with the German spitz. This history suggests that this breed was found in the 1500s. They are all white and have perky ears. They measure just 11 inches high on average.
They are very energetic, smart, and friendly. They love to be around people. Being an energetic breed you need to give something to them to keep them busy.
Long Hair Chihuahua
This breed has its distinctive look and is not considered too foxy. However, their face and body can be familiar with foxes, especially if they are reddish. They are small animals and they need training to live peacefully with others. They are considered good companions and city dogs. Without the proper training, the chihuahua can become a biting lap dog with bad manners. But with proper training, they can become a faithful companion. Their average lifespan is 18 years which makes them one of the longest-living breeds of the dogs.
Jindo
The jindo is the last on the list of small dogs that look like foxes. This breed is from an island in a Korean country. Again they are spitz dogs, they pointed ears and long snouts.
These dogs are considered one of the most loyal animals ever. In Korea, one jindo dog was sold to a person about 170 miles away. After seven months the dog ran away and returned to its original owner. It has been found that people who feed them, the jindo dogs, are loyal and interact with them only.
Summary of Top 8 Dogs That Look Like Foxes
| Rank | Breed | Key Features | Qualities |
| 1 | Akita | Large frame, thick coats in brindle or red and white, | Aloof with other pets and strangers, excellent guarding abilities |
| 2 | Shiba Inu | Thick red and white coat, stiff curly tail | Independent, fastidious, shed heavily once a year |
| 3 | Finnish Spitz | Luxuriant red coat, broad head, tapered muzzle, curly tail | Fond of children, extremely affectionate, fond of barking |
| 4 | Japanese Spitz | Abundant white coat, dark eyes, curly tail, | Eager learners, great with kids, enjoy a great deal of attention |
| 5 | Schipperke | Medium-sized frame, silky fur in black, cream, or red, curly tails, | Energetic, a strong prey drive, fond of the sound of their barking |
| 6 | Volpino Italiano | A small-sized frame, a luxuriant, white, silky coat | Energetic, smart, and affectionate |
| 7 | Long Hair Chihuahua | Small frame, long, silky coat, protruding eyes | A potential lifespan of 18 years, amicable when properly trained |
| 10 | Jindo | Heavy set frame, broad head, curled tail, pointy ears, smooth medium-length coat | Exceptional attachment to owners or carers |
FAQs
Which is the Most Loyal Dog Breed?
The jindo is considered the most loyal dog breed. They are more interactive and friendly with their original owners and the people who feed them.
Which Dogs Are Most Fox-Like?
The Akita Inu is a Japanese breed that has a lot of similarities with the foxes. They don’t just look like foxes, they have the same reddish colour as the red foxes.
Are Dogs Friendly With Humans?
Dogs are generally loyal to humans. But they tend to bark if they feel a threat from a human, they can even bite and can give you serious injuries.
Is Shiba Inu Gone Extinct?
They nearly went extinct during World War II but an intentional program turned out to be their savior and with proper care and intention saved them from the verge of extinction.
Can A Fox-Like Dog Be a Pet?
They can turn out to be a greater pet than the foxes. They are friendly if given proper care and attention. They are loyal to their owners and are super energetic.
Why Do Dogs Have Similarities With the Foxes?
The dogs and foxes are from the same family, the Canidae family. Due to this, they share lots of similarities in behaviour and appearance as well. Both of them are more or less the same in size and shape.
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