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

Schnauzers come in all sizes, and all of them have thick, wiry coats that shed only minimally but do require weekly brushing and regular grooming – especially of their facial hair (the breed name refers to the German word for a whiskery snout, and you’ll always recognise Schnauzers by their long, luxuriant moustaches and beards). Schnauzers of any size, in addition to being dogs that don’t shed a lot, are incredibly charming and cheerful, as well as highly trainable.

Another wire-haired breed, the Scottish Terrier is another dog that doesn’t shed but that needs regular brushing and grooming to keep its coat healthy. Clever and independent, Scotties are known for their strong instinct to go after prey, which traditionally consisted of rats and other vermin. However, they can’t always tell the difference between vermin and tiny house pets, so please be sure to keep that in mind when bringing a Scotty home.

Here are 15 things dog shelters need you to know. 

While many minimally-shedding terriers have wiry coats, the Soft Coated Wheaton terrier has the wonderful distinction of having…wait for it…a soft coat. Playful, active, and hungry for play, if you’re in the market for dogs that don’t shed and you have young kids, the Soft Coated Wheaton is definitely worth considering.

Another water dog, the Spanish Water dog is not only loyal and affectionate, but its curly coat requires no brushing! All you need to do to take care of your Spanish Water dog’s coat is to shave it once a year. This breed isn’t the most active on this list, but it does require regular exercise.

You’ll recognise a West Highland White Terrier (aka ‘Westie’) by its white coat, which, happily, hardly sheds. A sturdy little breed, Westies are intelligent, loyal, happy, and highly entertaining due to their curiosity and independent streak. That also means they can be challenging to train. But they’ll keep you laughing while they’re blatantly ignoring your commands, so there’s that.

If you’re always cold, you’ll feel a real connection with a Yorkshire Terrier (aka ‘Yorkie’). Perhaps the smallest non-shedder on this list of dogs that don’t shed, Yorkies range in size from itsy bitsy (1.3 kilograms) to teeny-tiny (3 kilograms). Independent, smart, and affectionate, they have a surprising amount of energy for their size. Be sure to give these dogs that don’t shed a lot plenty of opportunities to socialise as puppies if you want them to be friendlier as adults.

Sign up here to get Reader’s Digest’s favourite stories straight to your inbox!

Source: RD.com