15 Dogs That Drastically Transform With Age

Think you’ve seen it all when it comes to dogs? Not even close. Some puppies look like cuddly stuffed animals, only to morph into regal show dogs or shaggy creatures that resemble living mops. These changes are the kind that makes you do a double-take. Let’s see how these 15 dog breeds prove that growing up can be the ultimate glow-up.

Poodle

A Poodle puppy is a soft, round bundle with loose waves and zero elegance. Give it time and a groomer, and suddenly, you’ve got a runway model with sculpted curls and a topknot. The transformation is 90% coat, 10% attitude, and 100% unrecognizable.

Komondor

You’d never guess the fuzzy white pup napping on the rug would grow into the rug. Komondor puppies start out looking like plush toys, but their coat mats into thick cords over time. They soon become walking mops that were once working livestock guardians in Hungary.

Bedlington Terrier

These guys look like regular terrier pups at first: scrappy and playful. But by adulthood, the transformation is surreal. The Bedlington’s pear-shaped head and lamb-like curls give it the odd distinction of being a dog that somehow looks like a sheep in disguise.

Chinese Crested

There’s no telling what you’ll get with a Chinese Crested puppy. Some are nearly bald, others are fuzzballs—and neither look like their future selves. Hairless adults end up with spiky mohawks and tufts on feet and tails. No two look alike.

Shar Pei

As puppies, Shar Peis are a collection of deep wrinkles and squishy rolls, often described as looking like they’ll never stop growing into their skin. But adulthood stretches them out. What once looked like a crumpled towel becomes a surprisingly dignified and surprisingly different-looking guardian.

Kerry Blue Terrier

Kerry Blue Terrier pups are born solid black, with no exceptions. But around 18 months in, their coat slowly shifts to a smoky, silvery-blue, which leaves first-time owners wondering if they brought home the same dog. The change is gradual but dramatic—a complete color flip without warning.

Bearded Collie

Puppy Bearded Collies are scruffy and manageable, often mistaken for generic herding breeds. But wait a year, and you’ll meet their shaggy adult selves with long, parted fur flowing like a 1970s rock star. Their bearded snouts and expressive eyes transform them from clumsy to charismatic overnight.

Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound puppies resemble awkward, oversized Whippets with fuzzy coats and big feet. Then the metamorphosis begins: their fur grows long and silky, like a canine supermodel in slow motion. The adult’s regal appearance is so distinct you’d never guess its humble start.

Tibetan Terrier

Those puppies are round-faced friendly fluffballs with average coats. But adulthood brings a dramatic shift to Tibetan Terriers. Thick, luxurious fur falls like drapes over their eyes and covers their famously flat feet. From basic to mystical, Tibetan Terriers seem like different breeds depending on the stage of life.

Old English Sheepdog

They start off as goofy cotton balls with black noses. Then, the growth spurt kicks in. Suddenly, you’ve got a bear-sized dog with a barrel body and a thick, gray-and-white coat that swallows its eyes. The only clue it’s the same dog? The happy, bouncing trot.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier puppies are cute but basic: small, round, and floppy-eared. Give them a few months, and they evolve into elegant lapdogs with glossy coats and soulful eyes that practically plead for cuddles. It’s like watching a cartoon sidekick become the show’s star.

Borzoi

Young Borzois are stubby-nosed, clumsy puppies that look like standard mutts. Then their snouts lengthen, and their limbs stretch. The once-awkward pup turns into a sleek, aristocratic sighthound. Their final form is so statuesque that it’s hard to believe they ever stumbled over their own paws.

Newfoundland

Newfie puppies are the definition of “adorable”—fluffy and impossibly sweet. Then they grow. Fast. The adult Newfoundland is a 150-pound behemoth with a bear-like coat and webbed feet. Their sheer size and presence make them almost unrecognizable from their baby-faced beginnings.

Irish Water Spaniel

The puppy version looks like a standard brown fluffball. By adulthood, their coat tightens into dense, waterproof curls, and their rat-like tail becomes a signature trait. They go from teddy bears to water-ready athletes, with a silhouette that stands apart from every other spaniel.

Saluki

When young, Saluki puppies could pass for generic mutts. But as they mature, they grow into silky-coated visionaries with feathered ears and tails. Adults move with a grace that’s nearly feline, bearing zero resemblance to the scrappy, awkward pups they once were.