Which Dogs Do Not Shed?

Dog hair is a problem for some dog owners. They do not like finding clumps of it everywhere in the house. All dogs--even the "hairless" varieties, such as the Chinese hairless crested--shed hair and dander eventually. But there are dogs who shed a lot less and not as often as other kinds of dogs.

  1. Dogs That Shed a Lot

    • Dogs that shed the most often and continuously are short-haired dogs, such as Labrador retrievers. Dogs with long but very fine hair, such as the golden retriever, also shed a lot. Short-haired and long soft-haired dogs are not recommended for people with allergies to dogs. To keep the shedding under control, these dogs must be brushed once a day to remove all of the dead hair at the same time. This keeps the dead hair from dropping at any random place.

    Dogs That Shed Once or Twice a Year

    • Some dog breeds shed only once or twice a year in the spring or the autumn. These are dogs bred to live and work in Arctic conditions, such as the Siberian husky and the Alaskan malamute. When they do shed all at once, it's called "blowing a coat." These dogs still need to be brushed regularly to keep off dirt and to check for injuries. When they shed, the fur will come off in chunks, so brushing may be best outdoors.

    Wirehaired Dogs

    • Many breeds with harsh, wiry hair, such as schnauzers, affenpinscher and the Airedale terrier, do not shed very often. They need their coats stripped (pulled out) once or twice a year by a professional dog groomer to remove the dead hair and keep the coat clean and tidy. If the coats aren't stripped, the dead hair forms clumps and attracts dirt, making the skin sore and the dog miserable.

    Poodles

    • Poodles and poodle-type dogs like the bichon frise shed, but not as much as short-haired dogs or dogs with long, fine hair. Their hair lives longer than many other kinds of dogs, and when it sheds, it tends to stay in tight curls, similar to very small dreadlocks. Poodles are often touted as being hypoallergenic, but this is an exaggeration. People with severe allergies to dogs will still be allergic to poodles.

    Warning

    • A dog that suddenly sheds a lot of hair and becomes bald or balding may have a serious medical issue. Take it to go to the vet as soon as possible.

    Misconceptions

    • Dogs will not shed less if they are bathed more often. They usually wind up shedding even more because the frequent bathing dries up the natural skin oils, and so the skin lets go of the hair more often. Talk to your vet about how often your dog needs to be bathed.