HowStuffWorks profiles 10 tricolored dog breeds, naming classics such as the Bernese mountain dog, Australian shepherd and the basset hound.

The brief guide outlines how the same three-color pattern—typically a dark base, tan points and white markings—appears across working, herding and hunting breeds, producing dramatic coats and distinct temperaments. While breed characteristics can provide insights, they influence behavior and temperament only slightly, with genetics and breed characteristics influencing behavior and temperament to a limited extent, with individual and environmental factors playing larger roles.

Several of the featured breeds trace part of their origin to Switzerland. The Bernese mountain dog is described as part of the Swiss mountain dogs group, prized for a thick, dense coat made for cold weather and a gentle demeanor, while the Greater Swiss mountain dog is noted for its tricolored coat, strength and calm temperament; the Entlebucher is identified as the smallest of that group and recognized for loyalty and guarding skills. The piece points to Switzerland as the birthplace of those mountain types. Specific breeds like the Border Collie, originating from the Scotland-England border, hold significant cultural importance, with the tricolor “Old Hemp” revered as its founding sire.

“With bold patches of black, white, and tan, the tricolored dog breeds stand out not just for their coats but for their character,” the feature says, framing color as a marker that often accompanies working roles such as farm labor and guarding. The article appears on HowStuffWorks.

Herding breeds also figure prominently. The Australian shepherd is singled out as a high-energy herding dog that frequently appears in tricolor combinations, a breed whose development is closely tied to the demands of working farms and ranches. The AKC explains that while these physical traits define breed standards, they do not dictate behavior, as variations can occur even within breed lines. Meanwhile, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is described as a small, affectionate herding breed that can carry the same three-color pattern.

Hunting and scent hounds are represented as well. The basset hound is noted for long ears and tricolor patterns and is described as a scent hound originally bred for hunting. The list also includes the Australian cattle dog—often called a blue heeler or red heeler—valued for endurance and intelligence in stock work.

Other breeds on the roster demonstrate how tricolor markings cross function and form. The Bull terrier is listed for its strong personality and tricolored coats. The Panda shepherd is mentioned for a unique black-white-and-tan pattern and is described as not officially recognized by all kennel clubs. Together these examples illustrate that the tricolor palette appears in both established, registry-recognized breeds and newer or less formal types.

The feature combines breed snapshots with descriptive details — such as bold patches of black, white and tan and the thick, dense coats suited to cold climates — to show how coloration and historic roles intersect. Rather than treating tricolor solely as an aesthetic trait, the article ties markings to centuries of working roles: herding, guarding and hunting.

HowStuffWorks’ list aims to be a compact primer for readers who encounter tricolored dogs in parks, farms or shelters and want a quick sense of what those markings often mean in terms of breed history and typical behavior. The piece stops short of exhaustive breed histories but provides a path to further reading on specific breeds and their origins. For those interested in a deep dive into particular herding breeds, the comprehensive entry on the Australian shepherd from the AKC offers a longer account of that breed’s development and cultural role.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.