Can You Tell the Breed of a Dog by the Color of the Tongue?

Life would be much easier if Rover's secret ancestry could be revealed by just asking him to ̶0;open up and say, 'ahhhh.'̶1; If you look at the big picture, the tongue is just a small piece of a dog's genetic puzzle. A dark tongue is normal in a couple breeds.

  1. Breed Standards

    • One of the best ways to tell the breed of a dog is by observing how closely he resembles a specific breed standard. A breed standard consists of a set of guidelines devised by breed associations or breed clubs meant to ensure animals conform to the breed's distinct specifics. A purebred German shepherd, therefore, will be expected to have a noble head, erect ears and a bushy tail, whereas a purebred Rottweiler must be black with rusty to mahogany markings located in specific areas.

    Tongue Pigmentation

    • A few breed standards place an emphasis on the color of a dog's tongue. For instance, the Chinese Shar-Pei breed standard calls for a preferably solid bluish-black tongue in all coat colors. The only exception is a lavender-colored tongue in specimens with diluted coats. A spotted pink tongue is considered a major fault; a solid pink tongue is a disqualification. In the chow chow, the top surface and edges of the tongue must be solid blue-black, the darker the better. The presence of red or pink spots in the top surface or edges of the tongue is considered disqualifying faults.

    No Rule of Tongue

    • Should Rover's tongue fancy some interesting colors or spots, you may feel tempted to assume he must be part chow chow or part Shar-pei. More than 30 pure breeds are known for producing specimens with spotted tongues. Only the chow and the Chinese Shar-Pei, though, require a bluish-black tongue and mouth in their standard.

    Pigmented Areas

    • Spots on a dog's tongue are often just deposits of extra pigment. Just as you see a freckle or a birthmark on a person, Rover may have spots on his tongue. These spots are similar to those pigment spots you may find hiding under a dog's coat. See a vet should the pigmented area present as a bump that is raised above the neighboring tissue. At times, such pigmented areas may signify cancer.

    Further Proof

    • You ultimately cannot rely solely on Rover's tongue as an indication of his breed; indeed, most likely you'll need to investigate more. If you're looking for an answer about his genetic makeup, a DNA test may reveal more information about his ancestry. It could be that your pooch is part chow chow or Shar-Pei; these are some of the oldest breeds of dog known to man. Many breeds we know today are likely to have descended from these ancient breeds.