14 Dog Breeds That Look Completely Different as Puppies and Adults

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All humans know that as you age, your appearance changes. You start as a baby and turn into an adult over time, and often, it can be tough to recognize someone’s baby picture because their appearance changes so much as they grow up.

The same is also true for many animals, specifically dogs. All puppies are adorable — let’s be clear, but not all will grow up and retain their childish good looks. Some dogs actually grow up and bear no resemblance to their younger selves.

Here’s a look at the puppy and adult versions of 14 dog breeds that literally look nothing alike from puppyhood to adulthood.

Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan malamute puppies are puffy, playful babies. The breed’s thick coats make them look fluffy and round. As adults, their facial features become sharper. Puppies’ coloring will darken as they age with brown or black patches. Adults are more muscular, and their coats become coarser and more dense.

German Shepherd

German shepherds grow tremendously in size until they reach physical maturity after two years. Puppies have slightly lighter coats and less defined facial features. Their coats become tan and black with coarse, rough hair. Growth spurts happen during the first year, with the chest and face broadening. After two years, puppies with longer legs and torsos will be significantly more muscular.

Rottweiler

Rottweiler puppies look drastically different from adults in their breed. They mature slower than other breeds, too, so they may not reach adulthood until they are two years old. They’ll have large heads with small, disproportionate bodies during this time. Their coloring remains the same, but their chests and faces will broaden, giving them a more muscular stature as they age.

Dalmatian

Dalmatians are unique because puppies of this breed are born without spots! Dalmatian puppies have pure white coats with no definitive markings. These spots appear and darken in the first few weeks following birth. A Dalmatian’s legs will lengthen as they age, and their faces will become more slender. Their coats can appear darker as they age, and spots become more visible.

Afghan Hound

Afghan hounds share few physical similarities with adults. This breed is known for its long coat, which puppies do not have. They’re born with short, fuzzy coats and longer whiskers on their faces. Their hair grows long and silky as they age, which requires routine maintenance. Puppies have bulky bodies that become lean and slender once they reach maturity.

Saluki

Salukis are known for their height and slender bodies. Puppies are nothing like this and have chubbier bodies with rounder faces. Their limbs, torsos, and necks will lengthen as they age. The snout and ears of a Saluki puppy will elongate, giving it the classic fluffy-eared appearance. The color of their fur will remain the same, but their hair will grow longer after one year.

Bergamasco

Bergamasco puppies look nothing like mop-furred adults. These puppies are smaller, chubbier, and shorter-haired when they’re born. Their coats are shorter and softer than adults, with three different hair types. Sheepdog breeds have fur made of “dog,” “goat,” and “wool” hair. These types of hair appear at different growth stages in the breed after one year.

Bearded Collie

Bearded collies have light coats when they’re born that darken with age. Determining how a puppy will look once it reaches maturity is difficult. However, determining its size is easier since most reach their full size in 18 months. Puppies have short, fluffier hair, while adults have longer, shaggier hair. Their facial features don’t change much, but snouts may elongate as they mature.

Briard

The biggest change a briard puppy will undergo is the appearance of its coat. Puppies will lose most of their fur between seven and 18 months. As they mature, briards grow two new layers of fur with a thick undercoat. Puppies will also grow distinctive eyebrow markings and a beard to fill out their coat. An adult briard’s fur can measure up to six inches long from its neck!

Tibetan Terrier

Tibetan terrier puppies have short, fluffy, slightly curly hair. As they mature, their coats grow longer and require brushing. They grow quickly and reach their full height around one year. As puppies, Tibetan terriers have round facial features that become more defined as they age. Their bodies become slimmer but remain short and stocky like most terrier breeds.

Puli

Puli puppies will not grow cords in their fur until about 10 months. They have short, curly hair that shows off their round faces. Their features are hidden underneath a corded double fur coat until they mature. Their heads and bodies grow, but the facial features of puli puppies and adults are very similar. Adult pulis are beloved for their puppy-like appearance. If not for their corded coat, there would be little difference between a puppy and an adult.

Old English Sheepdog

Old English sheepdogs undergo a big change from puppyhood to adulthood. Puppies are born with thick, fluffy, but shaggy coats. As they age, they shed their puppy coat and grow a longer, shaggier coat. This is the classic sheepdog appearance the breed is known for. Puppies are fully grown by 18 months but will turn gray by six months. The “greying gene” is responsible for this, which is common in long or curly-haired dogs.

Great Dane

Great Dane puppies look comical next to adults. They go through a tremendous growth spurt that can last two years. Puppies look disproportionate to adults, with larger paws and lean bodies. As they mature, they gain muscle mass and grow into their features. Puppies grow longer snouts, limbs, and torsos, sometimes not reaching full maturity for several years.

Otterhound

Otterhound puppies mature by 18 months and experience many changes during this time. Their coats start out light and will darken as they age. The fur of their coats is often tan or off-white and black or dark brown. Puppies also have darker eye and nose rims. As they mature, their coat becomes shaggier and will grow another two to four inches long. Their facial features remain similar to a puppy’s into adulthood, with longer bodies, tails, and limbs.