Dog Breeds That Start With M

5 dog breeds Animals and nature Checked 9 Oct 2026

Here are 5 dog breeds that start with M, each with a one-line description so you can tell what it is. They are listed below with what each one is.

M has five breeds, ranging from big to small. The mastiff is an old, powerful dog with a deep chest, and the malamute is a sled dog developed in Alaska. At the other end, the maltese is a small white toy dog with a long silky coat.

The malinois is a fawn sheepdog with a short coat, and the miniature poodle is a small version of the poodle. Four of the five begin with ma, which makes this list easy to mix up, so say the names slowly.

Dog breeds starting with M: 5
Best known: mastiff, malamute
Longest name: miniature poodle

All dog breeds that start with M

#	Name	What it is
1	malamute	breed of sled dog developed in Alaska
2	malinois	fawn-colored short-haired sheepdog
3	maltese	small white toy dog with a long silky coat
4	mastiff	an old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog
5	miniature poodle	a breed of small poodles

Questions people ask

How many dog breeds start with M?

This list has 5 dog breeds starting with M, from well-known ones like mastiff, malamute, maltese to rarer kinds.

What dog breeds start with M?

Well-known examples are mastiff, malamute, maltese.

Source: Princeton WordNet, a public dictionary database, reviewed by our editors to keep only clear, real members of the list. Meanings are short dictionary glosses.

See every letter on one page: dog breeds A to Z