Dogs are men’s (and women’s) best friend, but when they shed all over your clothes, your furniture, and your vehicle, it can be a nuisance. If you want to minimize all that shedding, consider getting a low-shedding dog.
Today’s blog will focus on low-shedding breeds that require fewer trips to the groomer and less cleaning up dog hair.
What Are Hypoallergenic Breeds?
Now, before we get into the low-shedding dog breeds, let’s talk about hypoallergenic breeds. Being allergic to a dog (meaning allergy to their dander) can cause anything from running eyes to asthma, so if you’re looking for a hypoallergenic dog, instead of just low-shedding, there are several breeds to choose from:
- Basenji
- Bichon Frise
- Giant Schnauzer
- Havanese
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Poodle
- Portuguese Water Dog
These breeds are best for those who suffer from allergies. For everyone else that just wants a less-shedding dog, there are many more in which to choose.
Why Do Dogs Shed?
Furry dogs shed for various reasons. The first is the most relevant, and that is to keep their body temperature constant from winter to summer. Dogs need to blow out their undercoat, like dropping a layer of insulation. In spring, they replace it with much lighter fur for the season, and then in fall, they shed again, and a new coat starts growing thicker for winter insulation.
Keep in mind, ALL dogs shed, but not all dogs shed heavily, and some are so minor that it’s not a problem. The term “non-shedding” is commonly referred to as dogs that have hair rather than fur, such as with a Poodle. With dogs that have fur, large clumps are shed each season, whereas the “non-shedding” dogs occasionally drop loose hairs.
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds
The following breeds are great for people who don’t want to clean up and groom their dogs continuously. There are 59 low-shedding breeds, but for the sake of length, we’re going to focus on the top 17.
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Airedale Terrier: The medium-sized breed has a dense and wiry coat that sheds very little, but still needs to be groomed regularly and brushed weekly.
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Brittany: Another medium-sized breed that weighs about 30-40 pounds, the Brittany has a feathered flat or wavy coat known for less shedding. It does need regular grooming, but you won’t need to worry so much about tons of hair all over the place.
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Coton de Tulear: This small breed has a long coat that is soft and supple and needs brushing several times a week; however, it’s one of least shedding breeds.
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Dachshund: A small breed that has tiny legs, “weiner dogs” make ideal house pets. They either have a smooth, longhaired, or wirehaired coat, but note that the wirehaired ones shed the least.
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Greyhound: The large breed of the Greyhound has a short coat that is very easy to maintain and sheds very little.
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Irish Terrier: Another terrier breed that sheds little due to the short and wiry hair. The solid, dense, low-shedding coat and long, tail body make it perfect for someone who needs a low-maintenance dog.
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Kerry Blue Terrier: Here is a breed that is hypoallergenic due to its short coat. It needs regular brushing and trimming, however, to keep its coat shiny and not matted.
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Maltese: The toy-sized breed has a long coat that needs daily brushing and frequence baths to avoid tangles and matting; however, it’s very low-shedding.
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Norwich Terrier: This small dog isn’t more than 10 inches in height and has a medium wiry coat that makes it low-shedding. It does need regular grooming and brushing to prevent matting.
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Polish Lowland Sheepdog: This longhaired breed is medium-sized and has a thick, shaggy coat, which hangs over his eyes, thus needs daily grooming to avoid tangles.
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Poodle: One of the most popular low-shedding dogs, the poodle comes in various sizes and has a medium, curly coat that sheds very little. This is a perfect breed for allergy sufferers.
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Redbone Coonhound: This large breed has a very short coat that is smooth, yet slightly coarse, and needs only occasional grooming.
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Standard Schnauzer: With their wiry, coarse coat, schnauzers are pretty light shedders. They do need regular brushing, though, to avoid matting, and be stripped (pulling dead hair out of the coat) at least twice a year.
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Tibetan Terrier: Not actually a terrier, but named because of his terrier-like size, the Tibetan terrier has a long, thick coat that sheds little but requires weekly grooming.
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Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: This large breed has a wiry coat that takes two to three years to reach full growth, so shedding is minimal.
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Xoloitzcuintli: These toy to medium-sized Mexican breeds come in two varieties: hairless and coated. For the hairless, there’s no need for brushing or worry about shedding. For both hairless and coated, they do need grooming occasionally.
- Yorkshire Terrier: Known for their toy size and very long, luxurious coat, you often see the hair around the eyes of a Yorkshire Terrier trimmed short or pulled into a topknot with a bow. Another breed that can claim to be hypoallergenic, the Yorkshire requires daily brushing and weekly baths to keep all that hair clean and tangle-free.
Dogs that Shed the Most
Since there are only seventeen breeds listed here, you may wonder if the dog you’re considering getting makes the list or if it sheds a lot. Wonder no more. Below are the top heaviest shedders and the in-betweeners.
The breeds that shed the most are:
- Alaskan Husky
- Alaskan Malamute
- Labrador Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Siberian Husky
- Akita
- Chow Chow
- Great Pyrennes
- Saint Bernard
- Pugs
- Jack Russel Terrier
- Newfoundland
Dogs that Shed Moderately
Don’t want a dog that sheds tons but can handle ones that moderately shed? Here is a list.
- Golden Irish
- Springerdoodle
- Utonagan
- Anatolian Shepherd Dog
- Shiranian
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Parson Russel Terrier
- Australian Bulldog
- Cheagle
- Old English Bulldogge
- Pitbull
- Kangal Dog
- Borador
- Chug
- Boerboel
- Catahoula Leopard Dog
- Texas Heeler
- Siberian Husky
- And more
You can control the effects of shedding by regularly grooming, washing, and brushing your dog. Getting a pet vac for your home and car is valuable and can really help with shedding. Also, get a vacuum that is specially designed for dog owners and make your life easier.
Get Protection for Your Car
Whether you choose a breed that sheds a little or a lot or even none at all, you need to protect your vehicle from dander, mud, dirt, water, and accidents a dog can make. With Plush Paws Products, you can choose from various sizes, colors, and textures for a perfect match to your vehicle. Visit our online shop where we have rear/bench seat covers, premium and co-pilot covers, along with door cover protectors, cargo liners, and more.
