Keeping a dog can be a whole lot of fun, but cleaning up their hair can become a major chore. For those of us who want all the love and affection of a canine companion, without the mess, there’s a surprising amount of dogs that don’t shed. When we pick one of these breeds out to be our pets, we’ll have even more time to enjoy their company.
Table Of Contents 11. Shih Tzu22. Whippet33. Poodle44. Bolognese55. Chinese Crested66. Portuguese Water Dog77. Xoloitzcuintli88. Tibetan Terrier99. Irish Water Spaniel1010. Saluki1111. Komondor1212. Giant Schnauzer1313. Puli14Summary
1. Shih Tzu
Shiz Tzu doesn’t shed like other dogs, the cool thing about them is that they have a double coat which means they have hair over an underlying layer of fur. While these hairs will break off on occasion, they’ll generally be caught in the fur coat underneath and won’t end up all over your house.
While a widely recognized breed, their ancestry is a bit spotty. What is known is that a properly raised Shih Tzu makes for an amazing companion dog, and when you add in the lack of excess hair all over the house they’re perfect for apartments.
On top of that, they’re absolutely adorable little rascals and make quite sweet dogs as long as they’re socialized properly. They can also be a bit of a pain if they’re not, so only get one if you have a good amount of time to spend with them.
2. Whippet
Whippets are a great, high-energy dog breed that barely shed at all. They’re extremely quick, though, and shouldn’t be off of a leash if you’re outside, with their high prey drive they can get themselves into a lot of trouble if they see a rabbit or squirrel, often before their owner can react.
Whippets have a rather troubled ancestry. In medieval European cultures, peasants bred greyhounds for the aristocratic classes and whippets are thought to have descended from those dogs which were rejected for being too small for the traditional use of greyhounds. They were often maimed, to make them useless for hunting, before being returned to their original breeders.
They’re not really well suited for cold climates, you’ll need to invest in a sweater for them if you plan on them being in the cold for more than a few minutes.
That said, they’re extremely friendly, gentle dogs and can make a great companion even if you have children as long as you take some sensible precautions.
3. Poodle
Poodles are one of the gold standards of dogs that don’t shed. While they still lose hair, much of it will get caught in their undercoat so as long as you brush them outside it shouldn’t be littering your furniture or floor.
Poodles get something of a bad rap among some people due to the often elaborate hairstyles which have come to be almost standard on the dog show circuit.
They’re still prized dogs for retrieving waterfowl among hunters who are “in the know” although these dogs will never sport an elaborate hair-do.
Poodles are also hypoallergenic, so even people with dog allergies can generally enjoy their company sniffle-free.
Despite the common perception of them, poodles are actually active, athletic dogs who were originally bred to hunt waterfowl making them a great companion for a wide variety of people.
4. Bolognese
These dogs fit neatly into the toy category and make excellent companions. Even better, despite their furry coat they’re generally considered a non-shedding dog.
They’re generally considered playful and intelligent, and they’re not as high-energy as terriers.
They’re also unlikely to be tearing up your house, and they’re just all around cute little buggers that respond well to standard obedience training which makes them all around well behaved small dogs perfect for a home with limited space.
5. Chinese Crested
Chinese Crested are a unique breed with a distinctive hair pattern, and from the right angle they almost look like tiny ponies. They barely shed at all, owing to the fact that their bodies are mostly hairless. The Powderpuff genetic variant, which has a full coat of hair, does shed normally though.
Relatively little is known about the history of this breed, their ancestry has only been recorded since the 1950’s. As their name would indicate, this particular breed of hairless dog emerged in China, but for what purpose and whether they were purposefully bred in this manner is still unknown.
They’re smart dogs who respond well to obedience training, but they can also be quite jealous of other pets so they’re best suited for a single dog household. Their unique look and bright personality makes them a favorite among the hairless dog breeds, however.
6. Portuguese Water Dog
Portugese water dogs are medium sized dogs that make great companions, and their double coat keeps them from shedding excessively in much the same manner as poodles, by trapping hair in the undercoat.
These almost aquatic canines often accompanied fishermen on their trips, and the first recorded account of the dog as a separate breed emerges from 1257 in which a monk recorded an event involving one of them rescuing a sailor who had fallen off of a boat.
It’s a unique lineage, and shows why they were so highly regarded among the people from their native land.
7. Xoloitzcuintli
Also known as the Mexican Hairless Dog, these unique-looking canines are great watchdogs. They come in two varieities, the true hairless which often has only small tufts of hair on the head and face and another variety which has an extremely short coat. For obvious reasons, shedding isn’t a problem if you add one of them to your home.
Source: allaboutdogs.net
These active canines require a lot of stimulation, and preferably somewhere to swim. Without this required activity they can become a bit too energetic for most people to handle, so make sure you have the time to give your pet its required activity if you’re considering one of these canines.
These dogs have been around for a very long time, their ancestors were owned by the various Meso-American cultures which inhabited Central and South America including the Aztecs, Zapotec, and Toltec cultures. There’s evidence in tombs that means this breed of dog is thousands of years old.
They’re caring and fairly gentle dogs, but you might want to consider something else if you own small animals which are generally prey like rabbits and guinea pigs. They’re also fairly high-energy, but with enough exercise you’ll find they stay calm in the house.
8. Tibetan Terrier
Like the Shiz Tzu, these dogs have a double coat consisting of both hair and fur and despite their fluffy look leave remarkably little hair lying around. Their temperament is almost legendarily friendly, they eagerly join their humans without complaint in almost any activity and they’re great with children and other pets.
In the culture they originated in they were regarded as “little people” and their sale was forbidden by cultural taboo.
This actually isn’t a unique trait among dogs, several cultures around the world have had their own “special” dogs which were regarded as something more than mere animals.
They need to be socialized from an early age, this will help them develop a better attitude towards strangers. This breed is beloved not so much for their cute look, but for the amount of affection they can share with a family that opens their doors to them.
9. Irish Water Spaniel
Source: doglib.com
The Irish Water Spaniel, as is true of most dogs bred for the water, is an extremely light shedder and a lovable companion. They’re very inquisitive, and they have a tendency to be kind of goofy in their behavior and unlike most poodles are still commonly used as hunting dogs for both water and upland fowl.
They shouldn’t be confused for poodles though, despite the superficial similarities in appearance. Irish Water Spaniels are still commonly used as working dogs to this day, retrieving fowl for their humans.
They can be a bit of a handful, and they’re rather large, but they make a great dog for those looking for a loving, loyal pet that’s still close to its breed’s roots.
10. Saluki
Saluki are one of the world’s oldest breeds and have a short coat that lends itself to not shedding much. They’re highly regarded as intelligent, dignified, dogs but they do have a high-activity requirement and aren’t suitable for those who live in apartments or other small, enclosed dwellings.
Source: wikipedia.org
They were prized among Middle Eastern cultures as a gift from God and the sale and mistreatment of these amazing canines was highly frowned upon.
Their extreme usefulness and amazing temperament makes it easy to see why.
These dogs are generally quite docile when indoors after they’re full-grown, and aren’t prone to tearing up furniture or their beds.
As long as you have the space for one, one of these ancient, highly respected dogs might be just what you’re looking for.
11. Komondor
Source: wikipedia.org
Komondors have the unique fortune of being a dog with naturally dreadlocked hair, which keeps them from shedding everywhere.
Despite their easy-going appearance and dignified temperament, they do need quite a bit of activity to keep them happy and healthy so they’re not suitable for limited living spaces.
The ideal living space for one would be a large house and a large, well fenced.
They’re not super playful once they’re past the puppy stage though, but they’re a reliable dog that can be counted on to do what it’s told and not tear around the house knocking things over. If you’re looking for a quiet, large dog that doesn’t shed, Komondors are almost perfectly ideal for you.
12. Giant Schnauzer
Source: pets4homes.co.uk
Much like the standard Schnauzer, the Giant Schnaiuzer is a lively, active dog which doesn’t shed much.
They require a lot of mental stimulation and have a wide range of different personalities so it’s hard to know what to expect once your dog grows up.
Generally, expect them to be smart, playful, and requiring a lot of socialization from a young age to curb some of the more belligerent parts of their personality.
They require a lot of exercise, so make sure you have the time to care for your dog properly in order to keep them calm. If you have the time and space to keep one, however, expect to have a large, loyal dog which is sure to keep you entertained.
13. Puli
Puli are often described as a mop-like, high-energy dog whose energy knows no bounds. Thanks to the dreadlocked nature of their hair, they aren’t big shedders and they’re actually working dogs despite their almost ridiculous appearance.
They’re one of the smartest dog breeds, and they’re extremely mischievous so if you decide on one of these unique dogs, expect to have some trouble on your hands on occasion.
As long as they’re well trained though, they make an excellent dog for almost anyone who has the time to manage their high-energy nature with exercise.
Summary
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this list of dogs that don’t shed and might consider adding one of these wonderful breeds to your home. Sometimes the hair can be a bit much to deal with when it comes to dogs, but nearly everyone could benefit from a canine companion in their life and you can avoid this pitfall by carefully selecting a breed.
Did you like our list? Have some additions? Leave us a comment below.
Actually I did consider #7! We lived in Mexico for several years, in an area where there are quite a few Xolos, as people called them. But knowing we would likely move back to the US, as we did, I wasn’t keen on having one I’d need to keep a sweater on in our northern climates. In that area, these dogs were often used as sleeping companions for elderly people who got cold easily. The Xolos act like hot water bottles.