10 Best Dog Breeds That Don't Shed Much

Written by
Jenna Stregowski, RVT

Jenna Stregowski, RVT, has more than 20 years of experience working in veterinary medicine and has been writing about pet care for over 10 years.

Learn about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process
Jenna Stregowski, RVT
Updated 04/30/21
Yorkshire terrier being groomed with brush

Gerard Brown / Getty Images

While all dogs shed their fur, some don't shed as much as others. Hair follicles determine texture, length, and rate of growth and shedding. Most low-shedding dogs have the hair type that grows long, and this often means they have special grooming needs, such as requiring regular haircuts.

If you're looking for a low-shedding dog, here are 10 excellent breeds to choose from.

Tip

A low-shedding dog can still trigger allergies. Many people are allergic to a dog’s dander or saliva, which all dogs spread throughout their environment.

Illustration of five dogs that rarely shed
The Spruce / Theresa Chiechi
  • 01 of 10

    Afghan Hound

    Afghan hound smiling

    Jerry Young / Getty Images

    The Afghan is a large sighthound known for its glamorous tresses. That long, silky hair requires ample attention to keep it healthy. Daily brushing is a must to remove tangles and prevent mats. The coat should also be washed with shampoo and conditioner as needed. Some owners keep their dogs' coats trimmed short to minimize maintenance.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Hound

    Height: 25 to 27 inches

    Weight: 50 to 60 pounds

    Coat and Color: Thick, silky coat; colors include black, blue, silver, and more

    Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

  • 02 of 10

    Bedlington Terrier

    Bedlington terrier lying down

    Agency Animal Picture / Getty Images

    The lamb-like appearance of the Bedlington terrier matches its gentle nature. This dog sports a unique coat that has both soft and coarse hair. Although the breed barely sheds, the coat grows fast and must be trimmed often. Brushing or combing twice weekly is recommended to prevent tangles and mats.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Terrier

    Height: 15 to 17.5 inches

    Weight: 17 to 23 pounds

    Coat and Color: Curly coat; colors include blue, liver, sandy, and more

    Life Expectancy: 11 to 16 years

  • 03 of 10

    Bichon Frise

    A Bichon Frise

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

    The bichon frise is a playful dog with a cheerful personality. It needs haircuts about every four to six weeks as well as regular baths to keep its white coat fresh. The coat should be brushed several times a week, if not daily, to prevent loose, dead hair from forming mats.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Non-Sporting

    Height: 9.5 to 11.5 inches

    Weight: 12 to 18 pounds

    Coat and Color: Soft, dense coat; colors include white, white and apricot, and white and cream

    Life Expectancy: 14 to 15 years

  • 04 of 10

    Boston Terrier

    A Boston Terrier

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

    The Boston terrier is typically an energetic and friendly dog. Its short and sleek coat tends to shed very little, though more noticeable seasonal sheds occur roughly twice a year. Weekly brushing with a soft-bristle brush or grooming mitt can help to remove loose fur and keep the coat healthy.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Non-Sporting

    Height: 15 to 17 inches

    Weight: 12 to 25 pounds

    Coat and Color: Smooth coat; colors include black and white, seal and white, and more

    Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Lhasa Apso

    lhasa apso walking in garden

    Lesa Blackburn / Getty Images

    The Lhasa apso is generally playful and loving with its family, though some Lhasas are aloof with strangers. Its coat may be kept long or trimmed short. Long hair must be brushed several times a week and bathed regularly. Short hair should be trimmed regularly and brushed once or twice a week. 

    Breed Overview

    Group: Non-Sporting

    Height: 10 to 11 inches (male); slightly smaller (female)

    Weight: 12 to 18 pounds

    Coat and Color: Long, flat coat; colors include black, cream, red, and more

    Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

  • 06 of 10

    Maltese

    Maltese on wooden floor

    Oliver Byunggyu Woo / Getty Images

    The Maltese is graceful and playful yet hardy and fearless. Its coat should be brushed daily to prevent tangles, and it should have regular baths with conditioner. Some owners choose to keep the hair trimmed short for easier upkeep. Short coats should still be brushed once or twice a week.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Toy

    Height: 7 to 9 inches

    Weight: Up to 7 pounds

    Coat and Color: Long, silky, single-layer, white coat

    Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

  • 07 of 10

    Poodle

    apricot poodle lying on sofa

    Teppei Kaku / Getty Images

    All poodle varieties—standard, miniature, and toy—have curly hair that needs regular grooming. If the coat is long, daily brushing is necessary to prevent mats. Poodles with short haircuts should be brushed about once a week. And they should be clipped and bathed about every four to six weeks.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Non-Sporting (standard and miniature) or Toy (toy)

    Height: Standard: Over 15 inches; miniature: 10 to 15 inches; toy: up to 10 inches

    Weight: Standard: 60 to 70 pounds (male); 40 to 50 pounds (female); miniature: 10 to 15 pounds; toy: 4 to 6 pounds

    Coat and Color: Curly, dense, single-layer coat; comes in many colors, including white, black, gray, brown, and apricot

    Life Expectancy: 10 to 18 years

  • 08 of 10

    Shih Tzu

    A Shih Tzu on a chair

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

    The Shih Tzu is the quintessential lap dog, and its coat needs daily brushing and some styling. (It takes practice to get that topknot right.) Shorter haircuts require brushing about twice a week. Plan on trips to the groomer every four to eight weeks, depending on the desired coat length.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Toy

    Height: 9 to 10.5 inches

    Weight: 9 to 16 pounds

    Coat and Color: Long double coat; colors include black, blue, gold, liver, silver, and more

    Life Expectancy: 10 to 18 years

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Wire Fox Terrier

    wire fox terrier on a hilltop

    Colin Millum / Getty Images

    The wire fox terrier is a bold, sociable, and active dog with a low-shedding coat. Some people choose to hand-strip their dogs' coats periodically to remove dead fur, while others prefer to trim the coat with clippers. Either way, the coat should be brushed about once or twice a week.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Terrier

    Height: 15.5 inches

    Weight: 18 pounds (male); 15 to 17 pounds (female)

    Coat and Color: Dense, wiry coat; colors include white and black, white and tan, and more

    Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

  • 10 of 10

    Yorkshire Terrier

    Yorkshire terrier running on lawn

    Peet Simard / Getty Images

    The Yorkshire terrier is a fearless little dog. Its low-shedding, silky coat is similar to human hair and needs to be brushed daily to prevent tangles. Yorkies with short-trimmed coats should be brushed about once a week. Plan to visit the groomer every six to eight weeks, depending on the desired coat length.

    Breed Overview

    Group: Toy

    Height: 7 to 8 inches

    Weight: 7 pounds

    Coat and Color: Silky coat; colors include black and tan, blue and tan, and more

    Life Expectancy: 11 to 15 years

Breeds to Avoid

Many dog breeds, including the Siberian husky, German shepherd, and Saint Bernard, have thick coats that will inevitably shed all over your home. Even the popular Labrador and golden retrievers have dense coats that tend to shed a lot. Brushing several times a week to remove loose fur can help keep their shedding to a minimum.