25 Dog Breeds That Start With P: Pictures, Facts, & History

There are hundreds of purebred dog breeds that are recognized by official dog clubs and associations. Today, we’ll be focusing on dog breeds that are officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and have names that start with P. You’ll find that even within this category, there’s a wide variety of dogs of all shapes, colors, and sizes. We’ve provided a brief overview and interesting facts so that you can get to know each of them.

Dog Breeds That Start With P

The 25 Dog Breeds That Start With P

1. Papillon

The Papillon is a bright and charming dog breed known for their large, butterfly-wing ears. Papillons can either have erect ears or ears that flop down. Papillons with ears that flop down are known as Phalenes. They have a white base coat and can have black, red, sable, or tan markings. Despite their small size, these dogs are full of energy and spunk and enjoy going on adventures with their favorite people.

2. Parson Russell Terrier

Parson Russell Terriers were originally bred to hunt foxes. They’re fast, bold, and highly intelligent. These dogs tend to have independent temperaments and can be challenging for inexperienced dog owners to train. However, they’re also known to be very loyal and become very devoted to their families.

Parson Russell Terriers have a white base coat and can have black, brown, cream, or tan markings. They can also have a tri-colored coat.

3. Pekingese

Pekingeses are adorable companion dogs with stout builds and extremely soft and fluffy coats. They have origins as being one of the favored dog breeds of Chinese royalty, and stealing one was a crime punishable by death.

Even though they’re small, Pekingeses can have strong guarding tendencies and can become protective of their families. They can act aloof with strangers, but they’re known to be very affectionate and loyal to their favorite people.

4. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are herding dogs that were bred to corral cattle. These fearless dogs have a lot of strength and stamina for their size and love to run around. Their active lifestyle makes them great exercise companions, especially for joggers and runners.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis can be red, sable, fawn, black, or tan. Some may also have white markings.

5. Perro De Presa Canario

Perro De Presa Canarios are strong and sturdy dogs that were built for stamina and speed. They were traditionally used as herding dogs and guarding dogs. They’re known to be extremely doting and loving with their family but can be very wary of strangers. Therefore, it’s especially important for Perro De Presa Canarios to receive adequate training and socialization opportunities.

6. Peruvian Inca Orchid

Peruvian Inca Orchids are an ancient dog breed, and depictions of them can be found in Moche pottery in 750 AD. They come in three sizes – small, medium, and large – and there are both hairless and coated varieties.

Peruvian Inca Orchids were bred for their speed and are often compared to Greyhounds and Whippets. They can be aloof or wary of strangers and are very loyal and protective of their families.

7. Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen belongs to the hound group and was originally bred to be a rabbit-hunting hound. They have a compact and stocky build and can run surprisingly fast.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen are known for their happy and bright personalities. They’re very affectionate and usually get along with children and other dogs very well.

8. Pharaoh Hound

Pharaoh Hounds are affectionate and friendly dogs that were originally bred to hunt small game, traverse rough terrain, and have a lot of stamina. Pharaoh Hounds are also known as “blushing hounds” because their noses and ears can glow red. This is because they lack black pigment in their skin.

9. Plott Hound

Plott Hounds are known to be fast and tenacious hunters that don’t easily give up on a chase. They often prefer to run around freely than walk on a leash. While Plott Hounds can be very active, they tend to be pretty calm at home, especially when they get their daily exercise needs met. Plott Hounds come in a wide variety of colors, and many have coats with beautiful shades of brindle.

10. Pointer

Pointers were originally bred to point game birds. They’re known to be graceful runners and often enjoy being running companions. They’re fairly even-tempered and hardworking. Pointers also grow to become very loyal to their families and usually become wonderful family dogs.

11. Polish Lowland Sheepdog

Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are often mistaken for small Old English Sheepdogs, but they’re two distinct breeds. These dogs have lively personalities and are quite clever. However, they can be strong-willed, so they do best with more experienced dog owners.

Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are known for their luxurious, fluffy coats. Their hair is prone to tangling, so owners must be prepared to spend a significant amount of time keeping them well-groomed.

12. Pomeranian

Pomeranians are tiny dogs with big personalities. They’re sure to liven up a room and be the cause of a lot of smiles and laughter. Pomeranians are fearless and naturally curious. They’re the perfect companion dog because of their compact size and they typically enjoy going from place to place with their owners.

13. Pont-Audemer Spaniel

Pont-Audemer Spaniels were bred to hunt waterfowl. They’re hard workers that have a lot of energy and stamina. They’re also skilled in pointing, flushing, and tracking, which makes them a very well-rounded hunting dog.

Pont-Audemer Spaniels are extremely affectionate and devoted to their families. They’re relatively easy to train, but they don’t enjoy being home alone for too long. So, they do best in homes where someone is usually around to be with them.

14. Poodle

Despite being the national dog of France, Poodles originate from Germany, and they were bred to be hunting dogs. Their coats were intentionally designed to keep them warm as they swam to hunt and retrieve waterfowl.

Poodles come in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. They’re one of the most intelligent dog breeds and are easy to train and eager to please. This makes them a popular breed for first-time dog owners.

15. Porcelaine

Porcelaines are hunting dogs that typically hunt small game. They’re relatively easy to train and become affectionate family dogs. Porcelaines love human companionship and often do well with children. They often become successful service dogs and therapy dogs because of their strong intuition and trainability.

16. Portuguese Podengo

Portuguese Podengos come in medium and large sizes. Medium-sized Portuguese Podengos were originally bred to hunt rabbits and other small game, while the larger ones could hunt boar and deer.

Portuguese Podengos have a lot of energy and have playful personalities. While they’re intelligent and affectionate dogs, they can be a little challenging to train.

17. Portuguese Pointer

Portuguese Pointers are excellent hunting dogs that were bred for both stamina and speed. They tend to have a lot of energy, especially when they’re young, and they’re extremely intelligent. So, they often do well in dog agility sports.

These dogs are very affectionate and make good family dogs. Just keep in mind that they may be a little too high-energy and overwhelming for younger children.

18. Portuguese Sheepdog

Portuguese Sheepdogs are affectionate and lively dogs that were originally bred to herd. They have a keen eye on their herd and are very watchful of predators. These dogs are hardworking and enjoy being entrusted with a job or responsibility. They come in several different colors, including yellow, brown, gray, fawn, black, and wolf gray.

19. Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dogs are athletic and adventurous. They’re also relatively easy to train and very affectionate with their families. So, they end up becoming excellent companions for people who enjoy spending time outdoors. They were originally bred to help fishermen, and their stamina and trainability helped them to branch out into search and rescue work.

20. Pudelpointer

The Pudelpointer first came to be by crossbreeding a Poodle and a Pointer. The goal was to combine the Poodle’s intelligence, love for water, and retrieving skills with the Pointer’s endurance, tracking, and pointing skills. As a result, Pudelpointers are well-rounded hunting dogs. They’re bold and don’t tend to have game or gun shyness.

21. Pug

Pugs belong to the group of dogs with flat faces that were bred in China. They were the pets of Chinese emperors and received a lot of praise and affection. To this day, Pugs remain a popular dog breed. They’re known for their charming and playful personalities, and they’re also known for getting into mischief and their silly antics.

22. Puli

Puli dogs (Pulik is the plural form) are known for their unique coats that grow naturally into cords. Their coats do require a lot of maintenance, so they’re often better suited for people who can take the time to groom them properly.

Pulik were originally bred to be herding dogs. They’re extremely agile and pack a lot of power, and they’re also fast learners that are easy to train.

23. Pumi

Pumi are extremely lively and energetic dogs. While they’re small in size, they’re actually herding dogs that were bred to herd sheep. They’re bold and fearless and do an excellent job of weaving through their flock and keeping count of all their sheep.

Pumis seem to have an endless supply of energy. They’re eager to work, and dog owners must make sure that they get plenty of exercise every day.

24. Pyrenean Mastiff

Pyrenean Mastiffs are an ancient dog breed that originated from the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain. They were bred to herd and guard livestock from wolves, bears, and other predators.

These large dogs appear intimidating, but they’re actually quite gentle and very docile with their families. They’re usually even-tempered and easygoing, but they’re quick to become alert if they sense a threat to their families.

25. Pyrenean Shepherd

Pyrenean Shepherds are extremely smart herding dogs that were bred to herd flocks along the rough terrains in the Pyrenees Mountains. They often worked together with Pyrenean Mastiffs to get the job done.

Pyrenean Shepherds come in two varieties: rough-faced and smooth-faced. Rough-faced Pyrenean Shepherds have longer hair above their muzzle and coarser coats. Smoothed-faced dogs have finer coats, shorter facial hair, and longer muzzles.

Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock