6 Dog Breeds with Purple and Black Tongues

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Written by Patrick MacFarland

Published: May 14, 2024

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When you get a dog, your whole world is turned upside down. All of a sudden you feel like you’re floating on a cloud with unicorns by your side and eating chocolates and marshmallows all the time. The thing is, a dog makes things so much better. You have that constant Protector or furry friend to keep you company. You’re no longer alone when you need to be with another being. The best part is that your dog is going to love you no matter what.

But when you get certain breeds of dogs, have you ever noticed their tongues or an odd color? Some dog breeds have purple (or blue-purple) and black tongues. It is important to note that some breeds of dogs can develop black spots on their tongue, but only a few have full black or purple tongues. Let’s take a look at the six dog breeds with purple and black tongues.

Chow-Chow

The Chow-Chow is a dog breed that originates from China.

No one knows why the Chow-Chow’s tongue is a purple or black type of color. Various legends have been passed down from generation to generation, highlighting why the child’s tongue is that particular color. But from the basis of science, veterinarians, and scientists that have researched this particular phenomenon do not know. The most that researchers have concluded is that it is something that Chow-Chows inherited and it is something Gene related to that breed. The fascinating part about the dog breed is that puppies are born with pink tongues. As the dog matures, their tongues start to change colors.

Chinese Shar-Pei

Shar-Pei means “sand skin” in Chinese.

This interesting dog breed also has a black and purple tongue. Hailing from China, the Chinese Shar-Pei was once considered one of the rarest dogs in the world. Just like the Chow-Chow, researchers have not been able to figure out why their tongues are this particular color. Scientists have determined that it is probably something to do with genetics. Because there is a link between the Chow-Chow and the Chinese Shar-Pei, it makes sense that both these dog breeds have purple-black tongues. According to legend, it is believed that when the Chinese Shar-Pei barked, it would show its tongue therefore scaring off evil spirits.

Eurasier

The Eurasier was named as such because of its Asian and European roots.

Although this dog breed sounds like the band erasure, it is actually spelled differently. The Eurasier started as a cross-breed between the Chow-Chow and the Wolfspitz. Because it looked like both a wolf and a Chow-Chow, it was originally called the Wolf-Chow. Eventually, it was crossed with the Samoyed in the 1970s. Because its genetic links are related to the Chow-Chow, the Eurasier’s tongues are purple and black. Sometimes it may only have spots of purple or black, instead of having the entire tongue be that particular color.

Miniature Shar-Pei

Cute Sharpei puppy sitting inside mini tricycle with autumn fall leaves

This dog breed can trace its ancestry to China 2,000 years ago.

The Miniature Shar Pei is a direct descendant of the Chinese Shar-Pei. What happened was that there were breeders who wanted to make the Shar-Pei smaller and basically crossbred between various types of dog breeds to come up with the Miniature Shar-Pei. As such, the miniature Shar-Pei’s tongue is purple and black. The genetic link between them and the Chinese Shar-Pei is the most prominent reason why.

Phu Quoc Ridgeback

A rare Phu Quoc ridgeback dock

This dog breed comes from Vietnam.

The Phu Quoc Ridgeback is a dog breed that hails from Southeast Asia and has similar attributes to the Thai Ridgeback. According to the American Rare Breed Association, the dog breed’s lips are black and the tongue is also black. Sometimes its tongue can have pigmented spots, but usually, its tongue is fully black. This dog breed is also called Vietnamese Ridgeback or Chó Phú Quốc.

Thai Ridgeback

Thai ridgeback dog

The Thai Ridgeback comes in several colors including fawn, red, black, and blue.

There are three different types of Ridgeback dog breeds: the Vietnamese (or Phu Quoc) Ridgeback, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, and the Thai Ridgeback. Thai Ridgebacks hail from Thailand and are rarely seen outside of their native country. Just like the closely related Phu Quoc Ridgeback, these dogs have fully black or purple tongues or spotted ones.

Purple/Black Spots on Tongues

Pomeranian dog

Some dog breeds, like Pomeranians, have black or purple spots on their tongues.

Certain dog breeds may not have purple, black, or blue tongues completely. However, these dog breeds tend to have spots on their tongues that are black or purple. There isn’t anything wrong with them, it’s just how things have evolved. Things have to do with pigment more than anything; sometimes these spots may appear on the roof of the mouth besides the tongue.

The following are several of the dog breeds that may have purple or black spots on their tongue: Akitas, Mastiffs, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Pomeranians, Newfoundlands, English Cocker Spaniels, Siberian Huskies, and Labrador Retrievers.

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About the Author

Patrick MacFarland

Patrick Macfarland is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering travel, geography, and history. Patrick has been writing for more than 10 years. In the past, he has been a teacher and a political candidate. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SDSU and a Master's Degree in European Union Studies from CIFE. From San Diego, California, Patrick loves to travel and try new recipes to cook.

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