The fastest way to make a pickleball gift personal is to put the right dog on it. PawsNPaddles draws a separate design for each of 51 breeds, so this page is a map: how to find the right breed, how to tell the easily confused ones apart, and where every breed sits by type.
Transparency note: PawsNPaddles designs and sells the breed tees, mugs and stickers this page points to.
The short version
- 51 breeds, each with its own tee, mug and sticker.
- Confirm the breed from a photo before you order. Several pairs look alike but have separate designs.
- For a mix, use the breed the owner names when people ask.
- Every breed page shows all three products for that breed together.
Every breed, A to Z
Breeds that are easy to mix up
Owners notice immediately when the breed is wrong. These pairs each have their own design, so it’s worth a second look at the photo:
- Collie and Shetland Sheepdog. Similar coat and colouring; the Sheltie is a much smaller dog.
- Australian Shepherd and Miniature American Shepherd. Same look, different size. If the owner says “mini Aussie”, the Miniature American Shepherd is the closest match.
- Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel. Separate breeds; the English Cocker has a longer muzzle and a less domed head.
- German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois. The Malinois is lighter-built with a short coat, usually fawn with a black mask; the German Shepherd more often has a black saddle across the back.
- Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Goldendoodle. A curly or wavy coat usually points to the Goldendoodle; a short, dense coat to the Labrador.
- Bulldog, French Bulldog and Boston Terrier. The French Bulldog has upright “bat” ears; the Boston Terrier is leaner with a tuxedo coat.
The breeds, by type
The groups below follow the American Kennel Club’s breed groups, with the Goldendoodle, a crossbreed, listed on its own. They’re a useful way to browse if you know the kind of dog but not the exact breed.
Herding (9)
Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Border Collie, Collie, Corgi, German Shepherd, Miniature American Shepherd and Shetland Sheepdog. Bred to work all day and think for themselves, which will sound familiar to anyone who has watched their owners chase down every lob.
Sporting (8)
Brittany, Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and Vizsla. Friendly, energetic and very interested in anything round that bounces.
Working (10)
Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, Cane Corso, Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Portuguese Water Dog, Rottweiler and Siberian Husky. The big, steady teammates, from the gentle giants to the athletes.
Hound (5)
Basset Hound, Beagle, Dachshund, Rhodesian Ridgeback and Whippet. Noses, speed or both.
Toy (9)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Havanese, Maltese, Papillon, Pomeranian, Pug, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier. Small dogs with large opinions about when practice should end.
Non-Sporting (7)
Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Dalmatian, French Bulldog, Poodle and Shiba Inu. The group with the widest range of personalities, from the Bulldog’s calm to the Shiba’s independence.
Terrier (2)
Miniature Schnauzer and West Highland White Terrier. Alert, confident, and first to the fence when someone arrives at the courts.
Crossbreed (1)
Goldendoodle. Not an AKC breed, but common enough at the courts that it has its own design.
What each breed page has
Every breed has the same three products with its own design: a lightweight unisex tee in four colours (sizes S to 3XL, from $29.99), an 11 oz ceramic mug with the design on both sides ($16.99), and a 6 x 6 inch die-cut vinyl sticker ($9.99). All three are printed to order. For help choosing between them, the gift guide for dog owners who play pickleball walks through each, and there’s a separate list of pickleball gifts under $30.
Popular breeds
All breeds
Sources
- American Kennel Club, dog breeds by group
- PawsNPaddles product pages (51 breeds, products and prices checked 26 September 2026)
