Dog breeds that look like lions

Author: Peter Berry
Date Of Creation: 16 February 2021
Update Date: 1 July 2024
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Top 10 Dog Breeds That Look Like Lions
Video: Top 10 Dog Breeds That Look Like Lions

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There are so many dog ​​breeds that it is sometimes easy to draw similarities to even other animal species. There are some breeds of dogs that look like lions because of their fur, physical structure and other characteristics. But is this similarity because some races come from lions or is it just a coincidence? In truth, a lion is genetically closer to a cat than a dog. Therefore, any similarity between them is not due to a family relationship, but to other factors.

The dog breeds that are often compared to a lion share a number of characteristics. One of the most decisive is their coat, as in practically all of them there is a long layer around the head, like a lion's mane. As for size, there is a great variety, although logically, the bigger the dog, the more similar it is to a lion. If you want to find out more about them, keep reading this PeritoAnimal article about dog breeds that look like lions!


1. Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff draws attention because of its incredible appearance. Depending on the length of the fur, this lion-like dog can also look similar to a bear, although it is more common to find it with a thick mane that wraps its entire head, like the mane of the king of the jungle. Due to its popularity, in China the price of a Tibetan Mastiff has already surpassed 2 million dollars[1], exorbitant amount paid in 2010.

At PeritoAnimal we always encourage adoption, which is why we strongly discourage the purchase and sale of animals. It is important to remember that they are not a toy, we must be responsible and adopt them thinking that we will be able to cover all your needs, not just its beauty.

That said, and unfashionable, the Tibetan Mastiff is much more than a popular breed. Known to many as the lion dog, he is a dog with a long history who has worked for centuries as a sheepdog for the nomadic populations of the Himalayas. It gets its name from its exemplary role as a guard dog in Tibetan monasteries. The race is so old that it is already mentioned by the great philosopher Aristotle in 384 BC.


The Tibetan Mastiff is a giant breed dog and can reach 90 kilos in the first year of age. This, added to its abundant coat, especially long on its head, makes it look like a real house lion. As its most typical colors are camel and beige, this makes it even more similar to the lion.

2. Chow chow

At first glance, it's impossible not to appreciate that Chow chow is a dog that looks like lion. It is a robust, bulky, broad-bodied dog, with a coat so similar to that of a wild lion that it may even make us wonder if they are, in fact, unrelated. But no, as we have already indicated, there is no parental relationship between dogs and lions.


In addition to its fur, the chow chow has other features that could resemble a lion, such as its small, rounded ears and short, flat snout. Another of the curiosities of this breed, which has nothing to do with its similarity to the lion, is its incredible blue tongue.

3. Keeshond

Another dog that looks like a lion is the Keeshond, and no wonder, since this breed is the result of crosses between the Chow chow, the Elkhound and the Samoyed. So the result is a dog that looks like a silver Chow Chow with slightly more pointed ears. It is a medium sized dog with a long and dense hair, which stands out for having it even longer in the face area, which is the main reason why it resembles the lion.

The breed, from Germany and whose origin dates back to the 18th century, has served as a companion dog since its inception. It stands out for having a cheerful and always alert personality.

4. Löwchen or Little-dog-lion

This is a breed of dog that is in serious decline, so there are fewer and fewer dogs to be found. However, it is believed that their origins are old, as they found 16th-century paintings depicting very similar dogs, although it is unclear whether they are of the Löwchen breed or another similar breed with a characteristic cut of fur such as a small lion, the breed's official nickname.

Although its place of origin is unknown, currently where this dog is most appreciated is in Europe, specifically in Belgium, France, Germany and Austria, where they have been created since the 19th century. The breed has been recognized by virtually all official bodies, including the International Cynological Federation (FCI).

Naturally, the little lion-dog could not be missing from this list of puppies that look like lions for obvious reasons: the haircut that characterizes the breed. Although we can see him with his entire coat long, the most common is to find him with the lion-type cut, which consists of shortening the cloak of the entire body. except the head, the tip of the tail and the paws. So if you're looking for a dog that looks like a lion, here you have a small one!

5. Lulu of Pomerania

Although the Pomeranian Lulu has a very small size, especially compared to a lion, there are similar characteristics between them. For example, in Pomeranian Lulu a cloak of longer hairs also appears in the area of ​​the face, surrounding it and giving it the image of a miniature lion. It's even the smallest breed we've mentioned in this article. So here we have another of the dog that looks like a small lion.

However, there are differences that "discharacterize" this breed as a lion, as there are no lions with pointed ears and snouts, distinctive characteristics of this breed of dogs. These small, restless dogs may look like a lion, but your nervous and playful nature makes them very different from these wild cats.

6. Shih tzu

Did you know that "shih tzu" is the translation of "lion dog" in Chinese? In fact, it is also known by the name of "small eastern lion" because of its physical characteristics, which can be related to a lion, but in a very small size.

The shih tzu is a breed of dog originally from the region of Tibet, where it was used as a guard dog for homes and families, who took care of it with care and dedication. The fact of looking like a lion is not a mere coincidence, as this characteristic was reinforced with well-controlled crossings, because if they looked like small lions they could defend places with ferocity and symbolizing the fortune of the guardian lions of Chinese culture.

7. Leonberger

Leonberger comes from the Germanic country, being originally from the homonymous German city of Leonberg. It is a breed in the molossos category that arises from crosses between dogs of the São Bernardo breed and dogs from the mountains of the Pyrenees. It is, therefore, a big dog, with a long brown coat, which makes it another dog that looks like a lion. In fact, the most frequent color of its coat is called "lion", in English, which means lion.

Not only in appearance does it resemble lions, because despite its enormous size, this breed is very agile. He moves easily at high speed, which is surprising in such a big dog.

8. Yorkshire terrier

The yorkshire terrier can also look like a miniature lion, especially when a distinctive cut is made in which the hair on his body is cut but not the head, the hair being much longer and more prominent.

His temperament is also leonine, as he is a dog with a very strong personality. So much so that he tends to be a dominant dog when he meets other dogs, as well as possessive and territorial, something very typical of lions. So if you are looking for a dog that looks like lion both physically and in terms of personality, yorkshire is an excellent choice.

9. Caucasus Shepherd

When you see a Caucasus Shepherd, either in person or in photographs or videos, it's easy to find similarities to lions. They are giant breed dogs, with an imposing size, reaching almost 80 centimeters high at the withers.

Of course, although robust in appearance, with fur and size that can resemble that of a wild animal such as a lion, in personality they do not resemble at all. That's because the Caucasus Shepherd breed is considered to be one of the most peaceful, kind and loving there is. Yes, they share with the lions their courage and bravery, facing everything without fearing practically anything.

10. Eurasier

The last lion-like dog on our list is the Eurasier, from the spitz family, like the Pomeranian Lulu. This breed can also resemble a lion due to its fur, which is quite dense and especially long and voluminous around its head, with a tail also covered by a long coat and very expressive brown eyes.

The eurasier is a dog originated from a cross between the chow chow and the wolfpitz, which is why it has similarities to both dogs. So this dog that looks like a lion stands out not only for its beauty, but also for its well balanced personality, very affectionate and sociable.

Now that you know the dog breeds that look like lions, don't miss this other article where we show you which dogs look like wolves!

Video of dogs that look like lions

If you want to see even better the similarities between these animals, check out the video we made showing the 10 dogs that look like lions:

If you want to read more articles similar to Dog breeds that look like lions, we recommend that you enter our Comparisons section.