Barring the stark hairless type, all other dog breeds shed. While inquiring about non-shedding dogs, emphasis must be laid on the dogs that shed lesser than other breeds and whether they are suitable for people prone to allergies.
All dogs shed, the only difference being that some breeds shed much lesser than others. Some dogs are believed to be hypoallergenic, thereby making them suitable companions for people who are vulnerable to allergies triggered by dog hair, saliva, and dander.
A dog’s coat usually consists of two types of hair. While the outer coat consists of comparatively coarser hair, the undercoat contains much shorter and softer hair. When the coat grows to its predetermined length, it sheds to make way for newer growth.
While some dog breeds shed moderately throughout the year, others shed their coats only twice a year and are thus categorized as low-shedding dog breeds.
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American Hairless Terrier
American Hairless Terrier is considered to be suitable for people who are prone to allergies. The hairless and the coated dogs are often born in the same litter. This dog is extremely active, curious, and affectionate. It acts as an excellent guard dog and enjoys hunting. However, its skin tends to get scraped while playing outside or with other dogs because it lacks a coat. This breed needs to be protected from extreme sunlight and should be made to wear a warm coat during winters. If allowed to lead an active life, the average lifespan of the American Hairless Terrier can extend up to 16 years.
Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier has a thicker top coat, consisting of wiry hair and a much softer undercoat. This dog does not shed much, but requires to be groomed at least once a week. The coat must be gently hand-plucked twice a year. This breed must be given a bath every month to keep the coat clean. Excessive bathing must be avoided because it causes the coat to lose its coarse texture. The Airedale’s beard must be trimmed regularly because it tends to get extremely messy.
Australian Terrier
The Australian Terrier has a coarse and wiry coat that does not grow too long. It does however, have a softer undercoat which must be looked after often. The coat must be brushed every other day in order to maintain its natural sheen. This breed hardly sheds, but you will find the occasional spur in shedding once or twice in a year. The coarse coat should not be washed more than once a month. Any further cleaning should be done using a damp cloth. Excessive cleaning will make the coat soft and lank. Ensure that you keep the hair around the eyes, ears, and nose short.
Australian Silky Terrier
This feisty little dog is a warehouse of energy and affection. As the name suggests, the dog’s coat is extremely silky and long. Some owners prefer to keep their pet’s coat long, which often extends till the feet. The coat has a central partition which allows the hair to cascade on either sides of the dog’s body. The hair around the eyes and feet must be kept short. These Silky dogs do not require extensive grooming. Simply brushing the coat every alternate day and a monthly wash is more than enough to keep its coat clean and glossy.
Australian Labradoodle
Labradoodle is a mix of the low-shedding Poodle and the heavy-shedding Labrador. Therefore, the chances of shedding in any Labradoodle are as high as they are low, depending on which gene is more predominant. The Australian Labradoodle is the lowest shedding dog among the lot and has a wooly coat. The coat of this dog requires daily brushing and stripping every few months in order to keep its coat tame. A monthly bath will ensure that the coat does not lose its texture or become lank.
Basset Hound
Basset Hounds have a thick undercoat which prevents dead hair from shedding. However, like all other dog breeds, they too need their coat brushed every single day. They shed the most during spring and fall, and especially when the puppy is shedding its fur. A bath every two weeks is good for this dog breed, as they tend to romp in the mud often. Ensure that you trim the hair under the ear flaps in order to prevent skin infections.
Basenji
This breed is originally of African descent and is well-known for its inability to bark. It instead emits a yodel-like cry. That being said, this breed is adept at keeping themselves clean and are very much like cats in that respect. They have their own way of grooming themselves and rarely allow dirt to mess their short coats. Yet, like most dog breeds, the Basenji goes through seasonal molts as well. So, don’t be alarmed if you find yourself cleaning up after your pet during this period. This breed of dog has a fine undercoat which needs to be kept free of dead hair.
Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier is unique among its kind. It has a triangular head and a comparatively sleeker structure that makes it a very swift runner. This lithe breed is named after the Bedlington Mining town, where in was developed. This terrier does not shed much and has a distinct lamb-like coat. The coat tends to curl often and should be clipped every 5-7 weeks in order to prevent matting. Getting this breed groomed can be expensive, therefore it is advisable for owners to learn how to trim their pet’s coat. A bimonthly wash is well-suited for this breed.
Belgian Shepherd
The Belgian shepherd coat needs to be brushed twice a week in order to remove the dead hair from its undercoat. Being a double-coat breed, the dead hair from the undercoat tends to poke through the top coat. This breed does not shed often, the only exception being during seasonal shedding in spring and fall. You will require two different sets of dog comb for this breed. The wiry outer coat will need a bristle brush, while the undercoat must be untangled using a grooming rake.
Bichon Frise
The coat of the Bichon Frise is always pristine white and fluffy! The coat grows outwards and gives the Bichon its puffy look. The coat must be trimmed close to the body of the dog, while maintaining the powder-puff look. It is not easy to groom this breed, which is another reason why most owners get their Bichon groomed by professionals. Electric clippers are the quickest way to get the job done, if you are planning on grooming the dog by yourself. Ensure that you keep the hair around its eyes really short because the Bichon’s eyes tend to water a lot.
Bolognese Dog
The Bolognese dog does not have an undercoat and thus sheds very little. However, the Bolognese does shed twice a year, when its coat ‘blows’ or ‘molts’ to be replaced by newer hair. This breed is truly a ‘curly-burly’ because of its characteristic wavy, dense, and puffy coat! This breed does not require rigorous grooming and the coat must never be clipped. Simply brushing the coat once a week and a monthly bath is sufficient for maintaining its coat.
Border Terrier
The Border Terrier’s coat is thick and protects its slightly elastic skin. While the undercoat has coarse hair, the outer coat is wiry and thick. The coat of the Border Terrier needs to be stripped every 3-4 months, depending on the growth rate of the pet’s coat. Never shave or clip the coat of this breed, as it will make the dog look skinny. Brush your dog’s coat once a week and make him have a bath twice a month in order to keep skin infections away.
Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier des Flandres is believed to be a hypoallergenic dog breed that is suitable for people who suffer from allergies. The Bouvier is an extremely hairy breed and requires to be groomed often. Its coarse outer coat and softer undercoat, tends to trap twigs and leaves which need to be removed regularly. Being a bushy breed, the hair around the eyes and ears needs to be trimmed every month in order to keep hair from intruding with the pet’s vision. A complete trim can be given 3-4 times a year, depending on the owner’s preference. The Bouvier does not shed much if its coat is brushed every other day. The coat has a tendency of matting which must be avoided by washing the coat twice a month.
Brussels Griffon
The Brussels Griffon is not just another toy dog, and is known for being active and athletic. There are two types of coats found in this breed, the rough and the smooth coat. The rough coat does not undergo seasonal shedding and requires to be brushed every other day. A good grooming session every three months is essential in order to keep the beard trimmed and the hair on the body and legs short. The smooth coat sheds every spring and fall. Griffon dogs with the smoother coat, are suitable for people who rarely find time to groom their pet.
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn does not shed much, if the coat is looked after often and is brushed everyday. The coat does not need to be groomed by a professional and can be hand-stripped every three months. Avoid trimming and snipping the coat of the Cairn because it causes the coat to lose its wiry and weatherproof texture. The coat can be hand-plucked within an hour as long as it is done gently and properly. The Cairn Terrier is a hypoallergenic breed and can be a suitable pet, if its coat is maintained properly.
Chinese Crested Dog
There are two types of Chinese crested dogs, the Powderpuff with fur and the Hairless with fur around the head, feet, and tail. The powderpuff coat needs to be groomed often, brushed everyday, and trimmed every three months. The Chinese crested dog requires to be washed with a high quality shampoo in order to prevent its hair from tangling. It must also be dried properly so as to protect it from catching a chill.
Chinese Shar-Pei
The Shar-Pei is a very clean dog with no offensive odor and hardly requires any grooming. This breed has three varieties of coat, each being extremely different from the other. The rough or the horse-coat, the brush, and the bear-coat. The horse-coat is prickly and points outwards from the dog’s body. The brush-coat breed has comparatively longer and softer hair, which sheds twice a year. The bear-coat has the longest hair and can become really fluffy if the coat is not groomed properly. The Sher-Pei needs its coat to be brushed every week, bathed once a month, and trimmed quarterly.
Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear was named after the city of Tulear in Madagascar and for its cotton-like coat. This breed is known for its long outer coat and its fluffy appearance. The coat needs to be brushed daily in order to keep the hair from matting. The pet must be bathed at least twice a month in order to maintain the whiteness of the coat. Use a blunt scissor to trim the hair around the pet’s eyes, ears, elbows, and the feet. This breed sheds the most during spring.
Dachshund
The Dachshund has three types of coat as well: the smooth, long, and wiry coat. The smooth coat variety has very short hair which rarely allows for any shedding. It’s the long coat Dachshund that tends to shed more, and requires daily brushing. The wiry coated breed, has coarse and thick hair which needs to be stripped twice or thrice a year.
Giant Schnauzer
Being a coarse hair breed, the Giant Schnauzer must be hand-stripped three to four times a year. Daily brushing of the coat will ensure that the slightly more dense undercoat stays free of knots and tangles. A generalized clipping session can be done a few months before stripping the pet, so that its grizzly look can be tamed. A short puppy hairstyle looks great on this dog breed. This breed requires a monthly bath and regular trims for the hair around its eyes, beard, nose, and paws.
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Once again named after the place of its origin, the Glen of Imal is a valley in Ireland, where this breed was developed. It is a dwarf breed and is believed to be a hypoallergenic dog. The Glen of Imaal Terrier has thick coarse hair that must be stripped twice a year, in order to keep the coat from matting. A monthly bath and weekly brushing of the coat will ensure that this little dog looks sharp and tidy. You will also need to trim the hair around its legs as they tends to get a tad too bushy.
Havanese Dog
The Havanese hails from Cuba and is adored for its soft, long, and silky coat. This breed need not always have an undercoat. Yet, it has ample hair to give it its fluffy look. The hair is very easy to maintain and hardly sheds, except during its seasonal molts. However, its coat requires daily grooming and brushing in order to prevent coils from forming. Some owners prefer getting their pet’s hair corded in order to avoid the daily grooming sessions. A bimonthly bath is a must in order to keep the coat clean.
Hungarian Puli
The Hungarian Puli is a unique looking dog with its naturally corded coat. The grooming process is not as difficult as some claim it to be. Since the cords form naturally on the Puli, the hair cords must not be allowed to intertwine with each other. This process can be done by removing the dead hair between two cords by using a pin brush or by parting the cords manually. The Puli must be bathed once a month and given a trim every three weeks.
Irish Terrier
The double-coated Irish Terrier rarely sheds except twice a year. Much like the Airedale, the Irish Terrier requires to be hand-stripped at least twice a year. Depending on the growth of the coat, the owner must decide upon the time and frequency of stripping of the pet’s coat. Trimming the hair around the nose will ensure that the area does not get messy while feeding. A monthly bath is recommended to keep the coat clean. Since these dogs love water, allow your dog to swim in a makeshift toy pool or a nearby lake.
Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound has a fine and short-haired coat which rarely allows for any shedding. The coat can be easily managed with weekly brushing. A monthly bath is sometimes considered excessive for this small breed. Simply cleaning the coat with a damp cloth every now and then will ensure that the coat remains clean. All in all, this is an extremely suitable dog for people who suffer from allergies.
Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso has a double coat and tends to shed a lot when it’s around one year old, because that’s when it’s losing its puppy fur. The coat of an adult Apso will split from the center of the body and flow along the sides. The coat needs to be combed everyday, using a pin brush for the undercoat and a broader brush for the top coat. Keeping the Lhasa Apso’s coat trimmed short
