Here you’ll find 36 Dog breeds that start with S, organized from “Saarloos Wolfdog” to “Swedish Vallhund”. These breeds range from toy companions to large working dogs and are popular for pets, herding, and protection.
Dog breeds that start with S are a diverse group united by their initial letter rather than function or size. Several reflect regional histories, such as the Swedish Vallhund’s ties to Scandinavian herding traditions.
Below you’ll find the table with origin, size category, and temperament.
Origin: Shows the country or region where the breed developed, helping you understand climate suitability and historical roles.
Size category: Indicates typical adult size class (toy, small, medium, large, giant) so you can judge space and care needs.
Temperament: Lists 2–4 concise adjectives describing typical behavior so you can match breed personality to your lifestyle.
Dog breeds that start with S
| Breed | Scientific name | Origin | Size & weight | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Bernard | Canis lupus familiaris | Switzerland (Alps) | Giant; 29–54 kg (64–119 lb) | Gentle, patient, loyal; (AKC/FCI/KC). Classic family guardian, drooling and shedding are heavy—needs space and moderate exercise. |
| Saluki | Canis lupus familiaris | Middle East (ancient Egypt/Arabia) | Large; 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) | Elegant, independent, affectionate; (AKC/FCI). A sighthound for active owners—needs lots of running and a secure yard. |
| Samoyed | Canis lupus familiaris | Siberia (Russia) | Large; 23–30 kg (51–66 lb) | Friendly, alert, people-oriented; (AKC/FCI). Fluffy, heavy-shedding companion—prefers cool climates and needs regular exercise. |
| Saarloos Wolfdog | Canis lupus familiaris | Netherlands | Large; 30–40 kg (66–88 lb) | Reserved, loyal, independent; (FCI). A wolf‑like companion needing experienced handling and lots of space. |
| Schapendoes | Canis lupus familiaris | Netherlands | Medium; 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) | Lively, affectionate, intelligent; (FCI). Dutch herding type—good family dog but needs regular mental and physical activity. |
| Schipperke | Canis lupus familiaris | Belgium | Small; 3–9 kg (7–20 lb) | Curious, bold, alert; (AKC/FCI). Tiny watchdog with high energy—suits active owners or apartment life with daily exercise. |
| Schnauzer | Canis lupus familiaris | Germany | Medium; 14–20 kg (31–44 lb) | Alert, intelligent, spirited; (AKC/FCI). Versatile working breed—good for families, needs grooming and regular exercise. |
| Scottish Deerhound | Canis lupus familiaris | Scotland | Large; 34–50 kg (75–110 lb) | Gentle, dignified, calm; (AKC/FCI). Large sighthound that needs room to run and a patient owner. |
| Scottish Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | Scotland | Small; 8–10 kg (18–22 lb) | Independent, confident, loyal; (AKC/FCI). Sturdy small terrier—good for singles/families, needs firm training. |
| Sealyham Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | Wales (UK) | Small; 8–10 kg (18–22 lb) | Brave, friendly, determined; (KC/FCI). Traditional British terrier—needs grooming and consistent training. |
| Serbian Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Serbia | Medium; 20–28 kg (44–62 lb) | Agile, determined, sociable; (FCI). Hunting hound suited to active owners with scent-work opportunities. |
| Shar Pei | Canis lupus familiaris | China | Medium; 18–30 kg (40–66 lb) | Loyal, reserved, calm; (AKC/FCI). Distinctive wrinkled breed—needs early socialization and moderate exercise. |
| Shetland Sheepdog | Canis lupus familiaris | Shetland Islands (Scotland) | Small; 6–12 kg (13–26 lb) | Intelligent, eager, affectionate; (AKC/FCI). Excellent for active families—thrives on training and mental work. |
| Shiba Inu | Canis lupus familiaris | Japan | Small; 8–11 kg (18–24 lb) | Independent, alert, bold; (AKC/FCI). Compact, cat‑like personality—requires consistent training and secure exercise. |
| Shih Tzu | Canis lupus familiaris | Tibet/China | Small; 4–7 kg (9–15 lb) | Affectionate, outgoing, playful; (AKC/FCI). Lapdog that suits apartment life—needs regular grooming. |
| Siberian Husky | Canis lupus familiaris | Siberia (Russia) | Medium; 16–27 kg (35–60 lb) | Friendly, energetic, stubborn; (AKC/FCI). Pack‑oriented sled breed—needs heavy exercise and escapes-proof fencing. |
| Silky Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | Australia (bred from Yorkshire/Silky types) | Small; 3–5 kg (7–11 lb) | Confident, lively, affectionate; (AKC). Small toy terrier—good for apartments but needs grooming and playtime. |
| Skye Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | Scotland (Isle of Skye) | Small; 9–11 kg (20–24 lb) | Loyal, dignified, independent; (AKC/FCI). Low-energy indoors but needs regular walks; heavy coat requires grooming. |
| Sloughi | Canis lupus familiaris | North Africa (Maghreb) | Large; 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) | Reserved, gentle, athletic; (FCI). North African sighthound—needs running and firm socialization. |
| Slovak Cuvac | Canis lupus familiaris | Slovakia | Large; 30–40 kg (66–88 lb) | Protective, steady, watchful; (FCI). Livestock guardian—best with space and a rural setting. |
| Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer | Canis lupus familiaris | Slovakia | Medium; 20–30 kg (44–66 lb) | Energetic, loyal, versatile; (FCI). Hunting gundog—needs active outdoor work and training. |
| Slovakian Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Slovakia | Medium; 18–25 kg (40–55 lb) | Persistent, friendly, driven; (FCI). Scent hound for hunters—requires exercise and scent outlets. |
| Small Munsterlander | Canis lupus familiaris | Germany | Medium; 20–28 kg (44–62 lb) | Versatile, trainable, affectionate; (FCI). Active hunter and family dog—needs lots of exercise and mental work. |
| Smooth Fox Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | England | Small; 7–8 kg (15–18 lb) | Bold, energetic, playful; (AKC/FCI). Classic terrier—good for active owners, needs consistent training. |
| Spanish Water Dog | Canis lupus familiaris | Spain | Medium; 14–25 kg (31–55 lb) | Loyal, hardworking, intelligent; (FCI/KC). Coat needs maintenance—great for active families and water work. |
| Spanish Mastiff | Canis lupus familiaris | Spain | Giant; 50–70 kg (110–154 lb) | Calm, protective, independent; (FCI). Livestock guardian needing space and experienced ownership. |
| Spanish Greyhound (Galgo Español) | Canis lupus familiaris | Spain | Large; 20–28 kg (44–62 lb) | Gentle, reserved, athletic; (FCI). Sighthound often rescued—needs running and patient socialization. |
| Spinone Italiano | Canis lupus familiaris | Italy | Large; 25–39 kg (55–86 lb) | Friendly, patient, steady; (AKC/FCI). Versatile hunting companion—good family dog with moderate exercise needs. |
| Stabyhoun | Canis lupus familiaris | Netherlands (Friesland) | Medium; 20–25 kg (44–55 lb) | Gentle, eager, calm; (FCI). Rare Dutch gundog—versatile family dog needing regular activity. |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Canis lupus familiaris | England | Medium; 11–17 kg (24–37 lb) | Brave, affectionate, tenacious; (AKC/FCI/KC). Loyal family dog—needs firm training and socialization. |
| Sussex Spaniel | Canis lupus familiaris | England | Medium; 18–23 kg (40–51 lb) | Low‑key, friendly, determined; (AKC/FCI). Laid‑back spaniel—good for calmer homes, enjoys scent work. |
| Swedish Lapphund | Canis lupus familiaris | Sweden | Medium; 16–22 kg (35–48 lb) | Friendly, alert, adaptable; (FCI). Nordic herding dog—good family companion with daily exercise. |
| Swedish Vallhund | Canis lupus familiaris | Sweden | Small; 9–16 kg (20–35 lb) | Energetic, intelligent, bold; (AKC/FCI). Little Viking herder—thrives on activity and training. |
| Schiller Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Sweden | Medium; 18–28 kg (40–62 lb) | Independent, vocal, eager; (FCI). Swedish scenthound—best for active hunters and scent work. |
| Slovene Mountain Hound | Canis lupus familiaris | Slovenia | Medium; 18–24 kg (40–53 lb) | Tenacious, friendly, focused; (FCI). Mountain hound for trackers—needs exercise and hunting outlets. |
| Sarplaninac | Canis lupus familiaris | Balkans (Šar Mountains) | Large; 30–45 kg (66–99 lb) | Protective, loyal, independent; (FCI). Livestock guardian—requires experienced handler and space. |
Descriptions
Saint Bernard
Saluki
Samoyed
Saarloos Wolfdog
Schapendoes
Schipperke
Schnauzer
Scottish Deerhound
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Serbian Hound
Shar Pei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shiba Inu
Shih Tzu
Siberian Husky
Silky Terrier
Skye Terrier
Sloughi
Slovak Cuvac
Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer
Slovakian Hound
Small Munsterlander
Smooth Fox Terrier
Spanish Water Dog
Spanish Mastiff
Spanish Greyhound (Galgo Español)
Spinone Italiano
Stabyhoun
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Sussex Spaniel
Swedish Lapphund
Swedish Vallhund
Schiller Hound
Slovene Mountain Hound
Sarplaninac