36 Popular Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed
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How to Avoid a Big, Hairy Mess
Dogs are awesome and offer their owners many free perks. But dog hair is not one of them. If you’re looking for a pooch that isn’t a shedding machine, don’t worry — you’ve got options. The truth is, all dogs that have hair shed to some degree — but some offload such a small amount of fur it’s nearly impossible to notice. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that light-shedding dogs don’t require grooming or are necessarily low maintenance and budget friendly. But if you know your breeds, you can find a new best friend that keeps his fur to himself and doesn’t irritate your allergies. Meet the virtually shed-free breeds that are some combination of easy to groom, hypoallergenic, or that have no hair at all.
Poodle
Just six breeds on Earth are more popular than the venerable poodle, which comes in three variations: toy, miniature, and standard. Smart, active, and remarkably obedient, poodles are a hypoallergenic dog breed and they rarely shed. Their dense coats, however, require significant professional grooming — especially if you want the elaborate patterning that wins dog shows. Or you can try your hand at home grooming; just make sure you get a high-quality pet clipper.
Australian Silky Terrier
For dogs with such long, flowing coats, silky terriers shed surprisingly little — and they’re also refreshingly easy to groom and maintain. Since their hair is so long, it is prone to tangling and matting, so don’t use infrequent shedding as an excuse to neglect a good brushing two or three times a week.
Saluki
Statuesque, dignified and loyal, the saluki is built for hunting and endurance running. They can be smooth or coated and they come in a variety of colors. No matter which version you end up with, shedding is light and infrequent, and salukis require just modest grooming.
Affenpinscher
Take one look at the affenpinscher and you’ll know why the American Kennel Club has nicknamed it the "monkey dog." Its primate cuteness is complemented by the minimal, seasonal shedding of its wiry coat. They don’t need a lot of grooming, but schedule in two weekly brushings and combings, as well as two yearly trimmings.
Portuguese Water Dog
Athletic and energetic, Portuguese water dogs live up to their names — they can swim for extended periods of time without tiring. Their coats are both waterproof and hypoallergenic. They can be wavy or curly, but either way, they shed very little and only seasonally. Keep in mind, however, that the American Kennel Club describes Portuguese water dogs’ coats as "profuse" — so grooming demands can be significant.
Basenji
This medium-sized African hunting dog has short, fine hair that requires only minimal, infrequent grooming. Alert and energetic, the basenji is one of the top 100 most popular breeds, and that probably has something to do with the peace and quiet that comes with owning one — basenjis don’t bark.
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Komondor
If you’ve ever seen a walking mop that looks like it’s on its way to a reggae concert, that’s a komondor. The defining characteristic of this brave and loyal Hungarian work dog is its trademark long, dense, corded coat, which protects it from weather and animal attacks. Underneath all those dreads, however, is a large, powerful dog that can grow to more than 100 pounds. They shed only seasonally, but all that mop requires some work — daily grooming is required.
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The tallest among all American Kennel Club spaniels, Irish water spaniels can stand 2 feet tall at the shoulders and weigh up to 65 pounds. Their waterproof coats are hypoallergenic, and they shed only minimally and seasonally. They’re low maintenance, too. You can get away with brushing them just once every few weeks.
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Bichon Frise
Translated literally from French, bichon frise means "fluffy white dog." The French didn’t leave much to the imagination — that description pretty much sums it up. Not only does the bichon frise rarely shed, but it’s a hypoallergenic breed, too. The fluffy, white dog has hair, not fur, so that means you will have to brush it regularly to prevent matting.
Bolognese
Friendly, healthy, and easy to train, the small Bolognese breed produces vibrant dogs that rarely shed and are easy to groom — as a bonus, they tend not to drool. Part of the bichon family group, Bolognese get their name from the region of Italy to which they trace their centuries-old lineage.
Schnauzer
Both standard schnauzers and giant schnauzers are hypoallergenic dog breeds, although giants can grow to nearly 100 pounds — around double the weight of their smaller cousins. Since their coats are made not of fur, but of continuously growing hair, be prepared to strip or trim them regularly.
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Topping out at about 40 pounds, the soft-coated Wheaten terrier has a stubborn streak common to terriers, but is generally a happy, loving — and largely non-shedding — animal. Known for their leaping, jumping greetings, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers can be a handful when it comes to grooming. Expect to brush and comb twice a week and schedule baths and haircuts at least once a month. Maybe try a shampoo made just for Wheatens.
Border Terrier
Keen and intelligent, border terriers have full coats that could lead you to assume they shed relentlessly. They don’t. The reality, however, is that these traditional working sheep dogs love the outdoors, and their long coats are magnets for dirt and debris. Don’t worry about shedding, but do brush them regularly to make sure stuff that should be outside stays outside.
Cairn Terrier
Few breeds in history are more instantly recognizable than the Cairn terrier, which you know better as Toto from "The Wizard of Oz." It’s recommended that you brush these curious, busy dogs regularly — about once a week should do. But beyond that, you should expect just minimal seasonal shedding.
Chinese Crested
It’s almost certain that you’ll live your whole life and never confuse a Chinese crested dog with any other breed. These fine-boned toy dogs are either hairless or the powderpuff variety. If you fall in love with a hairless, you’ll have to put in a little extra effort to prevent sunburn, cleanliness, and exposure to cold, but neither version of the Chinese crested, which is known to act more like a cat, comes with much grooming responsibility.
Scottish Terrier
Scotties are known for their dangling beards and brows, which give them their trademark expressions. Bred to hunt foxes and badgers, the Scottish terrier is compact and sturdy. They do require regular grooming to retain their unique appearance, but they shed only seasonally and minimally.
Afghan Hound
Afghan hounds are prized for their striking beauty, proud posture, and elegant long hair. Underneath it all, however, is an agile, athletic hound that can stand 27 inches tall and is built for work. They’re also a hypoallergenic breed — in fact, considered by the AKC to be one of the best hypoallergenic dogs for allergy sufferers. And they rarely shed, but don’t think that will let you off the grooming hook — frequent brushing and bathing are part of having a relationship with an Afghan hound.
Lhasa Apso
The unmistakable coat of a Lhasa Apso parts down the middle from head to tail. Active but calm, they’re popular show dogs and they tend to be very healthy. Another benefit is that they shed very infrequently. Their long coats, however, do require regular grooming—you’ll need both brush and comb for this dog.
Maltese
The Maltese has a reputation as playful, affectionate and surprisingly fearless for its little size. The breed is most famous, however, for its long, elegant, white coat. They shed very lightly and infrequently — but don’t mistake that for low maintenance. Daily brushing and frequent grooming are required to maintain their trademark floor-length coats — and yes, don’t worry, there are feet under there somewhere.
Xoloitzcuintli
An interesting breed with an interesting name, the medium-sized xoloitzcuintli — often just called xolo — is not just one of the rarest breeds, but also one of the oldest. Scientists believe its ancestors accompanied ours on their Ice Age journey across the Bering Strait. The hairless version is nearly naked, and the version with a coat has short, clean hair that rarely sheds, is hypoallergenic and requires only infrequent brushing.
American Hairless Terrier
Feisty, fearless, and affectionate, the American hairless terrier actually isn’t always hairless. Even the coated varieties, however, are hypoallergenic and rarely shed their short fur. The American Hairless Terrier is another of the best hypoallergenic dogs for allergy sufferers, according to the AKC. As far as grooming, a single weekly brushing with a soft-bristled brush should be enough.
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Since the breed is hairless, shedding obviously won’t be a problem with a Peruvian Inca orchid. But intense and meticulous skin care is critical for the first year of the small dog’s life, and an ongoing regimen is required if you want to keep that skin healthy—many vets and owners swear by coconut oil, as both moisturizing skin salve and supplement. This ancient line of lap dogs will pay you back for your all your efforts, however, with affection, loyalty, and hypoallergenic skin that is perfect for allergy sufferers.
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Shih Tzu
Also known as a "lion dog," the Shih Tzu is another pup that looks like it would shed more than it actually does. They’re a very low-shedding dog breed, however, and what little hair they do lose normally happens when you bathe or brush them. There is one other time in this playful breed’s life when it will lose hair — around the age of 1, they’ll start to lose their puppy coat. If you can make it through that, Shih Tzus, known for being affectionate and outgoing, won’t cause you a lot of cleanup time.
Yorkshire Terrier
With their flowing, silky coats, Yorkshire Terriers might look like they’d be a shedding nightmare, but that’s not the case. Yorkies have hair that’s fine and grows at the same rate all year long, so they don’t have the same shedding cycles that other pups have. If you’re looking for a small, lowshedding dog breed that will be affectionate and lively, the Yorkshire Terrier might be the breed for you.
West Highland White Terrier
The West Highland White Terrier is a low-shedding dog breed that also requires regular maintenance when it comes to grooming. With a short undercoat and an outer coat that’s about 2 inches long, they’ll require regular brushing. For your troubles, though, you’ll be rewarded with a loyal and good-natured pup — West Highland White Terriers are known for their "faithfulness and keen intelligence," according to the AKC.
American Water Spaniel
The curly, shiny, and water-resistant brown coat of the American Water Spaniel will require regular grooming, but the pup will shed very little. This is a good low-shedding dog breed choice for families and individuals that love to be outdoors, as the American Water Spaniel is a sporting breed that loves to hunt, swim, and be active. While the AKC notes that they can be aloof with strangers and stubborn, they’re eager to please and loyal to their human family.
Wire Fox Terrier
The unique-looking, low-shedding Wire Fox Terrier breed is another in the terrier group of dogs that won’t shed much. Because of the wiry texture of their fur, however, owners will want to brush and bathe them somewhat regularly to keep their coat soft and smelling fresh. Also keep in mind that the Wire Fox Terrier is not to be confused with the Smooth Fox Terrier, which will shed more. This breed is an "upbeat, friendly companion with loads of personality," according to the AKC, who will grow to be between 15-18 pounds and live 12 to 15 years.
The Perfect Personalized Gift for Dog Lovers
Thinking of your furry friend? With just a few photos,
Petsies can hand-make an exact replica of your favorite pet. Turning them into …
For more adorable gifts and gadgets for canines or the canine-obsessed, check out our Dog Lovers Gift Guide.
