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Dog breeds that start with P include some of the best pet and working dogs around. From the tiniest breeds to the most powerful, one of these puppy personalities will fit into any home. Today we are going to take a look at the mixed and purebred dog breeds that start with P. Helping you to pick the perfect puppy for your family.

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Dog breeds that start with P come in all shapes, colors and personalities. This means that whether you live in a tiny flat in a dense urban area or a sprawling farm out in the country, you can find a dog breed that will be perfectly suited to life with you. We think you will love meeting the purebred dog breeds that start with P featured in this article!

Papillon

First in our alphabetical list of dog breeds that start with P, is the Papillon. These 5 to 10-pound bundles of floof, with their outsized ears, alert button eyes and robust enthusiasm for life, are aptly named Papillon, or “butterfly” in French!

The Papillon’s coat will do well with weekly brushing and monthly grooming. These dogs are smart, easy to train and are generally healthy and hardy. The tiny Papillon can live 14 to 16 years.

Parson Russell Terrier

The Parson Russell Terrier, or PRT, takes its name from its original breeder, Reverend John “Sporting Parson Jack” Russell. The second of our dog breeds that start with P, the PRT has been bred to be a hunting companion.

These dogs have lots of energy and stamina. They still have a high prey drive, so be prepared to invest lots of effort in recall training.

This dog is compact, sturdy at 13 to 17 pounds, smart and independent-spirited. The short, sparse coat will do well with regular grooming to avoid mats and tangles. The PRT can live 13 to 15 years.

Pekingese

If ever there was a toy-sized dog bred to look like a walking carpet, it would be the Pekingese! These dogs can weigh up to 14 pounds but their fluffy coat and distinctive “lion’s mane” ruff make them look larger.

The Pekingese’s coat needs lots of brushing and grooming will shed year-round and more seasonally. These dogs have independent natures and can be challenging to train.

Health-wise, the Pekingese has the brachycephalic (flat-faced) short muzzle type that is associated with certain known health issues. Otherwise, these dogs can live 12 to 14 years.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has always been smart, loving and lively, but it took the Queen of England to bring this breed to the world’s attention. These dogs are excellent herders and guard dogs.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi can weigh 28 to 30 pounds and has a full double coat that will shed year-round, so it can require a fair amount of brushing.

This dog is very smart and trainable and loves having regular work to do. Sometimes their strong herding instinct makes them unsuitable for households with small children. These dogs can live 12 to 13 years.

Perro de Presa Canario

The next of our dog breeds that start with P is the lesser-known Perro de Presa Canario. This dog comes from the lineage of molosser (mastiff) dog breeds. This dog’s name translates to mean “Canary Dog of Prey.” Historians think this is a reference to the Canary Islands.

The Perro de Presa Canario likes to play and exercise and is typically very devoted to “their” people. These dogs can live 9 to 11 years.

Peruvian Inca Orchid

The sighthound called the Peruvian Inca Orchid can be coated or hairless and is bred in three sizes: large, medium and small. Weight can range from 8.5 pounds to 55 pounds.

This breed can range from docile to feral in temperament and can be challenging for first-time dog trainers. The Peruvian Inca Orchid is considered generally healthy and can live 12 to 14 years.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

The Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen, or PBGV as these dogs are often called, weighs 25 to 40 pounds and has a shaggy coat that some describe as “goat-like.”

The PBGV was bred to hunt rabbits in thick underbrush, so this dog has shorter legs suitable to ground-level hunting breeds. These dogs are smart, but they can also be independent and stubborn. This dog lives for 14 to 16 years.

Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound is also called the “blushing dog” of the island of Malta, where it is the national hound. This is one of the more ancient dog breeds that start with P, dating back 3,000+ years!

These dogs are scent hounds and sprinters – they have a very strong urge to chase things! The Pharaoh Hound weighs 45 to 55 pounds and is lean with a short, smooth coat. This dog can live 12 to 14 years.

Plott Hound

The Plott is North Carolina’s official state dog. These dogs can weigh 40 to 60 pounds. They take their breed name from a German immigrant to North Carolina, Johannes Plott.

The short-coated Plott is strong, smart and determined – this is not a dog for first-time dog trainers. These dogs can live 12 to 14 years.

Pointer

The Pointer as a breed was first developed in the mid 17th century. These dogs are sporting dogs bred to point (sight) game birds.

This dog has a short, smooth coat that is easy to maintain. These dogs are energetic and active. The Pointer can live 12 to 17 years.

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog weighs 30 to 50 pounds and sports a long, shaggy, double-layer coat that needs lots of brushing. This dog’s nickname, PON, is an acronym for the full Polish breed name of “Polski Owczarek Nizinny.”

These dogs are smart and confident herders. PONs can live 12 to 14 years.

Pomeranian

One of the smallest of the dog breeds that start with P, the Pomeranian weighs just 3 to 7 pounds. These dogs look like miniature foxes with bushy, fluffy coats. This dog’s double-layer coat needs lots of brushing to stay tangle-free.

The biggest training challenge with this breed is housetraining. These dogs can live 12 to 16 years.

Poodle (Standard/Miniature/Toy)

The Poodle today is bred in three sizes: standard, miniature and toy. For this reason, they may weigh anywhere from 4 to 70 pounds.

These dogs are smart, non-shedding, athletic and very devoted to their people. They can live 10 to 18 years.

Porcelaine

The Porcelaine is a French scent hound and hunting dog that is not well known outside of Europe. They generally weigh 55 to 62 pounds and have a sleek, short coat.

The Porcelaine’s personality has been described as “cat-like.” These dogs prefer to be solo dogs and are easy to handle and train. They bay rather than bark. The Porcelaine can live 12 to 13 years.

Portuguese Podengo

The Portuguese Podengo can weigh 35 to 66 pounds and has a unique high-maintenance wire haired or smooth coat that sheds sectionally.

This dog is smart and playful but is known to be challenging to train, especially for first-time dog trainers. These dogs typically live 10 to 15 years.

The Portuguese Podengo Pequento

A smaller example of dog breeds that start with P, this little hunting hound typically weighs 9 to 13 pounds. They have been bred over the centuries to hunt rabbits. The Portuguese Podengo Pequento is said to be the smallest hunting breed in the world!

The Pequento’s short coat can be smooth or wire-haired and does well with regular brushing. These dogs are excellent athletes and love to stay active. The Pequento can live 12 to 15 years.

Portuguese Pointer

As this dog’s name suggests, the ancient Portuguese Pointer breed hails from Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula.

This dog weighs 35 to 59 pounds and has an exceptionally affectionate and loving temperament with “their” people. They are known to be generally healthy and live up to 14 years.

The Portuguese Sheepdog

Relatively new on the scene, the next of our dog breeds that start with P is rarely seen outside of Portugal. The Portuguese Sheepdog was developed to herd livestock, search for stray animals and guard flocks and their people.

In Portugal this dog is sometimes called the “monkey dog.” Its single-layer shaggy coat is said to be quite “goat-like.” The Portuguese Sheepdog weighs 37.5 to 59 pounds and can live 12 to 13 years.

Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese Water dog was originally bred to help Portugal’s fishing community retrieve fish, nets and tackle as well as to serve as a messenger. But today, the main reason the Portuguese Water dog is so famous is because past-President Obama had two – Sunny and Bo.

These dogs are said to be hypoallergenic, but unfortunately this is a myth. Their coat does need regular grooming to remove dead, shed hair that won’t fall out naturally. Otherwise, the Portuguese Water dog is typically healthy and lives 11 to 13 years.

Pudelpointer

As this German-born dog’s name suggests, this is a breed combined of two other popular purebred dogs: the Poodle and the Pointer. The Pudelpointer was developed to create an athletic hunting dog with endless prey drive.

This dog has a dense double coat that will shed seasonally and needs regular brushing to stay free from tangles and mats. The Pudelpointer is known to be a generally healthy breed with a typical lifespan of 14 years.

Pug

The Pug has an ancient lineage said to date back over 2,000 years. The Pug weighs 14 to 18 pounds fully grown. This dog’s short coat does shed and needs regular brushing.

This breed has the brachycephalic (flat-faced) short muzzle type that is associated with respiratory issues, problems with chewing and swallowing food, overheating and eye disorders. They are also are risk of spinal problems as a result of their screw tail.

Due to all the debilitating conditions caused by the Pug’s extreme body shape, unfortunately we do not recommend them as a pet. The Pug lives an average of 11 years.

Puli

The Puli (“Pooh – lee”) recently shot to fame when a creative owner living in Kentucky dressed her black-coated Puli up as a mop for Halloween! Puli puppies have normal coats, but when the adult coat starts growing in, there is the option of cording the coat. The other option is to continue brushing the adult long coat or to keep it clipped short.

These dogs typically weigh 25 to 35 pounds, but their coat can make them look bigger. They are smart yet independent and crave regular activity. They can live 10 to 15 years.

   

Pumi

The Pumi (“Pooh – me”) is a Hungarian purebred herding dog with a thick, double-layer coat of corkscrew curls. These dogs can weigh 22 to 29 pounds. These dogs are very smart and eager to train and learn and work hard. They need a lot of play and exercise to stay happy and healthy.

The Pumi does need regular brushing and grooming to keep the coat tangle-free and neatly curled. The Pumi generally lives 12 to 13 years.

Pyrenean Mastiff

The biggest on our list of dog breeds that start with P is the Pyrenean Mastiff. This rather rare purebred dog breed takes its name from its birthplace in the Spanish Pyrenean mountain range. They are bred to be guardians of livestock and people.

These dogs can easily top 200 pounds and have a long, shaggy double coat that produces quite a bit of shed hair year-round and seasonally. The Pyrenean Mastiff can live 10 to 13 years.

The Pyrenean Shepherd

The last of our dog breeds that start with P is the Pyrenean Shepherd. This is another Spanish breed first developed near the Pyrenean mountains. These dogs are smart, medium-sized herders that weigh 15 to 30 pounds.

The Pyr Shep, as this dog breed is sometimes called, can have either a smooth or a rough coat. Both coat types are double-layer and will shed quite a bit seasonally. These dogs are great athletes and respond well to training and canine work. The Pyr Shep can live up to 18 years.

Mixed Dog Breeds That Start With P

Of course you might be looking for something a bit different in your puppy. Mixed breeds are growing in popularity every year. Here are some mixed dog breeds that start with P.

Pitbull Lab mix

The Pitbull Lab mix combines two confident and intelligent dogs into one seriously cute package. They are medium sized, with a fairly sturdy build.

Pomapoo

The Pomapoo is a Pomeranian Poodle mix. They tend to have medium to long wavy fur coats, and to be relatively small in size. Though this depends a little on whether you have a Toy or Miniature Poodle for one of the parents.

Pomchi

One of the smallest mixed breeds, the Pomchi is a Pomeranian Chihuahua mix. They are confident dogs that are strongly bonded to their families, but a little wary of strangers unless well socialized.

Pomsky

The strikingly beautiful Pomeranian Husky mix is a dog that ranges in size as well as appearance. They tend to look like smaller versions of the Siberian Husky, but can be relatively tall if they take more after their Husky parent.

Puggle

Combining the cute Pug with the much healthier Beagle is a good choice for Pug fans that want to help their puppy avoid some of the breathing difficulties that bother Pugs. They are outgoing dogs, with a cute expression and lots of love.