Breeds of Dogs That Have Black in Their Mouths

Though black lips and muzzles are common in many dog breeds, very few breeds have black on the interior of their mouths. Where the black is located in or on the dog's mouth is dependent on the dog's breed -- for example, Saint Bernard dogs will have black on the roof of their mouths but not on their tongues. The location of that black color may be so breed-specific that the existence of it on a dog's mouth might point to a mixed ancestry that's otherwise not evident.

  1. Black Tongue

    • The chow chow is a medium-sized, affectionate and social breed that has a blue-black tongue and a blue-black pigment to its mouth area generally. Paintings and pottery from the Han dynasty of China are the earliest depictions of chow chows, so some extrapolate that the breed is originally from that area. The chow chow is the ancestor of many other modern breeds, such as the Pomeranian, the Keeshoned, the Samoyed and the Norwegian elkhound.

    Black Roof of the Mouth

    • The Saint Bernard, a large, active, gentle and intelligent breed that is believed to originate from the Swiss Alps, has a black roof to its mouth. The Saint Bernard has a black nose and black lips -- however, its tongue is pink and its muzzle is generally not black.

    Black Lips

    • Many -- perhaps most -- dog breeds have black lips. Even some dogs with otherwise light pigmentation have black lips, such as the Bichon Frise. The Bichon Frise is a gentle, playful, small dog with an entirely white coat, including its muzzle. However, it nevertheless has black lips and a black nose. The Bichon Frise is a breed that emerged in the 13th century as a Spanish-bred descendent of the water spaniel.

    Black Muzzle

    • Virtually any dog that might have black on its coat might have a black muzzle. For example, a black Labrador retriever -- a friendly, active, large dog originating from Newfoundland -- will generally have a black nose, black lips and black muzzle. However, the inside of its mouth will nevertheless be pink.