25 dog breeds that don’t shed (that much)

Small and affectionate with a soft, long, white coat that doesn’t shed, the one drawback to a Coton de Tulear (besides the challenging pronunciation, which is coTAWN day two-LEE), is that it does need regular grooming to keep its fur full and mat-free.

These native Cuban dogs offer owners both their patented spunky charm and a coat that doesn’t shed, which means less time spent lint-rolling the furniture and more time romping with the playful Havanese. Their coat requires weekly brushing and regular baths to keep them clean and healthy.

Like the Barbet, the Irish Water Spaniel was bred to retrieve hunted game from the water. The Irish Water Spaniel’s coat is thick and curly and requires brushing only every couple of weeks. Fun, funny, and fun-loving, potential parents of these dogs that don’t shed a lot should be aware that this is a highly energetic breed and needs daily exercise.

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As its name suggests, the Kerry Blue Terrier’s coat comes in varying shades of blue, from light blue-grey to dark. But perhaps most importantly, its coat sheds minimally and is super soft and dense. If you like beard-trimming, this mid-sized breed is for you since the long hair on its face it requires grooming.

This ancient Tibetan breed of lapdog has long, luxurious hair that, happily, doesn’t shed. Calm and playful, the Lhasa Apso likes going for walks but is also perfectly happy to sit on your lap or lie beside you on the sofa. The Lhasa’s long hair requires some maintenance to keep it mat-free and silky, but lots of Lhasa owners get around that with a cute, cropped ‘puppy cut’ to avoid daily brushing and grooming.

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The Maltese (aka Maltese Terrier) is big in personality and so small in size, in fact, it’s one of 13 of the world’s teeny-tiniest dog breeds. Energetic and agile, the Maltese is highly trainable but not necessarily wonderful with small children. If you’re past the young-kids stage and you’re looking for a miniature dog that sheds almost not at all (they have no undercoat, which means even on a seasonal basis, they have no need to shed for the purpose of changing their coat), this is the pup for you.

Another hairless breed, the Peruvian Inca Orchid comes in small, medium, and large. And regardless of its size, it’s extremely loyal, if not flat-out protective of its people. Keep the Peruvian Inca Orchid well-exercised and make sure to coat him in sunscreen because he’s prone to sunburn.

Like the Peruvian Inca Orchid, the Poodle comes in just about any size. Unlike the Peruvian Inca Orchid, the Poodle isn’t hairless…far from it, in fact. However, poodles are famous for not shedding and even being ‘hypoallergenic’ dogs’ (or at least relatively so). However, these dogs that don’t shed a lot are known for their high-maintenance grooming routine.

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What do you get when you cross one dog that doesn’t shed with another dog that doesn’t shed? If you guessed ‘a dog that doesn’t shed,’ then you’re correct! That’s why Maltipoos (a cross between a Poodle and a Maltese) are dogs that don’t shed a lot. The same goes for Schnoodles (a cross between a Poodle and a Schnauzer). In fact, all hybrids that are at least half Poodle tend to be minimal shedders. Highly intelligent, Poodle hybrids are also high energy, so you’ll want to give yours lots of exercise to keep him happy.

If you think you’ve never heard of the Portuguese Water dog, then may we remind you that the adorable Bo Obama, and Sunny Obama, First Dogs during the Obama Administration, are Portuguese Water dogs? Medium-sized, friendly, and high energy, the Portuguese Water dog is famous also for its webbed feet, as well as for being hypoallergenic dogs. We dare you to check one out and not fall in love. But don’t bring one into your family if you’re not prepared to give him lots of exercise.