There are lots of dog breed lookalikes out there – where two breeds are quite similar and tricky to tell apart. So, if you ever find yourself looking at a dog and thinking, “Wait, is that a __ or a __?”, we’re here to help!
I’m Dr Hannah Godfrey, BVetMed MRCVS, and I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College back in 2011. It’s certainly true that the dog breeds that were popular when I first qualified aren’t as common anymore. These days, most dogs I see in my consult room are so-called designer crossbreeds, such as cockapoos and cavachons.
Whether pedigree or mixed breed, some dogs can look very similar – so let’s take a look at some examples of dog breed lookalikes and find out how to tell them apart.
Dog breed lookalikes
1. Shih Tzu vs Lhasa Apso
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Shih Tzu | Lhasa Apso |
|---|---|---|
Height | 9-10.5 inches | 10-11 inches |
Weight | 9-16 pounds | 12-18 pounds |
Coat | Long sleek hair Colors include combinations of black, gold, brindle, white, red, silver, blue, liver, and red | Long sleek hair Colors include combinations of black, golden, tan, cream, grizzle, white, red, and blue |
Personality | Affectionate, fun and playful | Intelligent and playful when they get to know you, often indifferent to new people |
Exercise needs | Minimal exercise required | Minimal exercise required |
Read our breed profiles on the Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso.
2. French Bulldog vs Boston Terrier
| Header Cell - Column 0 | French Bulldog | Boston Terrier |
|---|---|---|
Height | 11-13 inches | 10-12 inches |
Weight | 12-25 pounds | |
Coat | Short, sleek hair with minimal shedding Colors include combinations of white, fawn, brindle, and cream | Short sleek hair with minimal shedding Colors include combinations of black, white, brindle, and seal |
Personality | Affectionate, fun, and friendly with dogs and people | Lively, friendly, and curious |
Exercise needs | Minimal to moderate exercise required | Moderate exercise required |
Read our breed profiles on the French Bulldog and Boston Terrier, or our full comparison of the Boston Terrier vs French Bulldog.
3. Siberian Husky vs Alaskan Malamute
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Siberian Husky | Alaskan Malamute |
|---|---|---|
Height | 20-23.5 inches | 23-25 inches |
Weight | 35-60 pounds | 75-85 pounds |
Coat | A thick double coat, lots of shedding Colors include agouti, sable, red, gray, or black, combined with white | A thick double coat that sheds Colors include red, sable, black, gray, or seal, combined with white |
Personality | Friendly, active, get on well with dogs and children | Loyal, playful, and friendly |
Exercise needs | Need lots of exercise | Needs lots of exercise |
Read our breed profiles on the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute or our full comparison of the Husky vs Malamute.
4. Whippet vs Italian Greyhound
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Whippet | Italian Greyhound |
|---|---|---|
Height | 18-22 inches | 13-15 inches |
Weight | 25-40 pounds | 7-14 pounds |
Coat | Short smooth coat Colors include combinations of black, blue, brindle, fawn, white, and red | Short smooth coat Colors include combinations of fawn, blue, red, black, sable, seal, and white |
Personality | Affectionate, chilled, and gentle | Playful, curious, and intelligent |
Exercise needs | Lots of exercise required (off-leash ideal) | Moderate to high exercise requirements |
Read our breed profiles on the whippet and Italian Greyhound, or our comparison of the Italian Greyhound vs whippet.
5. Bearded Collie vs Old English Sheepdog
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Bearded collie | Old English Sheepdog |
|---|---|---|
Height | 20-22 inches | >21-22 inches |
Weight | 45-55 pounds | 60-100 pounds |
Coat | Long thick coat, daily brushing, and weekly removal of tangles and dead hair required Colors include combinations of black, blue, brown, and fawn | Thick double coat, regular grooming required Colors include combinations of grizzle, blue, gray, and white |
Personality | Friendly and playful but sometimes stubborn | Friendly, playful, and affectionate |
Exercise needs | Moderate to high exercise requirements | Moderate exercise required |
Read our round-up of the best herding dog breeds.
6. Bichon Frise vs Bolognese
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Bichon Frise | Bolognese |
|---|---|---|
Height | 9.5-11.5 inches | 10-12 inches |
Weight | 12-18 pounds | 6-10 pounds |
Coat | Thick, curly white coat | Long wavy white coat |
Personality | Affectionate, intelligent, and playful | Intelligent, playful, and laidback |
Exercise needs | Average exercise requirement | Minimal exercise required |
Read our breed profile on the Bichon Frisé.
7. Beagle vs harrier
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Beagle | Harrier |
|---|---|---|
Height | 13-15 inches | 19-21 inches |
Weight | 19-21 inches | 45-60 pounds |
Coat | Short, smooth coat Usually lemon, black, white, and tan | Short double coat Usually lemon, black, white, and red |
Personality | Clever, vocal, and confident | Intelligent, playful, and affectionate |
Exercise needs | Lots of exercise required | Lots of exercise required |
Read our breed profile on the beagle.
8. Welsh Terrier vs Lakeland Terrier
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Welsh Terrier | Lakeland Terrier |
|---|---|---|
Height | 15 inches | 14.5-15 inches |
Weight | 20 pounds | 17 pounds |
Coat | Medium length, wiry, double coat Usually black and tan or grizzle and tan | Short, wiry double coat Colors include combinations of black, wheaten, tan, blue, liver, grizzle, white, and red |
Personality | Affectionate, friendly, and playful. | Confident, affectionate, and playful |
Exercise needs | Moderate to high exercise requirements | Average exercise requirements |
Read our round-ups of terrier breeds and other British dog breeds.
9. Shetland Sheepdog vs rough collie
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Shetland Sheepdog | Rough collie |
|---|---|---|
Height | 13-16 inches | 22-26 inches |
Weight | 15-25 pounds | 50-75 pounds |
Coat | Long double coat Colors include combinations of black, white, tan, sable, and blue | Long double coat Colors include combinations of black, white, tan, sable, and blue |
Personality | Affectionate, intelligent, friendly but vocal | Friendly and affectionate with family but can be wary of other dogs and strangers |
Exercise needs | Moderate exercise required | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
Read our breed profile on the Shetland Sheepdog and the collie – or our full comparison of Shelties vs collies.
10. Golden retriever vs Labrador Retriever
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Golden retriever | Labrador Retriever |
|---|---|---|
Height | 21.5-24 inches | 21.5-24.5 inches |
Weight | 55-75 pounds | 55-80 pounds |
Coat | Medium length, golden double coat | Short double coat in black, yellow, or chocolate |
Personality | Affectionate, friendly, and playful | Intelligent, affectionate, playful, and energetic |
Exercise needs | Moderate to high exercise requirements | Lots of exercise required |
Read our breed profiles on the golden retriever and Labrador Retriever or our full comparison of the golden retriever vs labrador.
Now that you’ve read about some of the differences between these pairs of similar breeds, you should be able to make the best choice for which canine companion suits your family best!
Read next: Dog breeds with bad reputations and the most Googled dog breeds
Hannah graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and began work straight away at a busy mixed practice. Initially, she treated all species, but focused on small animals from 2014. She has a passion for soft tissue surgery, ultrasound, and canine and feline dentistry, having completed additional training in these areas.
Edited by Megan Milstead.
This feature was last updated in June 2025 by Hannah Godfrey.
