Curly-haired dogs are one of the most adorable breeds in the world. Their stylish and luxurious appearance and hypoallergenic coats make them stand out from the other breeds. From poodle to labradoodle, many curly-coated dogs will melt your heart with their curly locks.
Curly hair in dogs appears when they inherit two mutations of the gene Keratin-71 (KRT71). Inheriting one copy of the gene will result in a wavy coat, not curly. Dogs have curly coats due to their functional roles associated with their historical purposes.
Many curly-haired dog breeds were originally bred as water dogs for assisting fishermen, aiding in water rescue, or herding in cold and wet climates.
Have a look at these 7 curly-coated dog breeds with brown hair.
Brown Curly Dog Breeds
1. Poodle
Breed Profile
Height: 18 to 24 inches
Weight: 40 to 70 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 18 years
The brown in Poodles is not just a single shade. This ancient breed ranges in colors from chocolate brown to a much lighter Cafe-au-lait tone. So, potential pet parents get a variety of options within the brown palette. A brown Poodle’s nose, lips, and eye rims must also be brown.
Just like other poodle counterparts, brown poodles also have a hypoallergenic curly coat. The hair, if left unchecked, keeps growing, much like human hair. Grooming includes regular brushing to prevent matting and tangles. Depending on coat condition, wash your poodle’s coat every 3 to 6 weeks.
The low-shedding coat traps loose hair and keeps it from falling off. The American Kennel Club defines Poodles as active, proud, and smart dogs who can be trained easily. These fur balls love water— swimming is the best exercise for them.
2. Labradoodle
Breed Profile
Height: 20 to 25 inches (Mini Labradoodle: 14 to 16 inches)
Weight: 50 to 70 pounds (Mini Labradoodle: 15 to 25 pounds)
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Another curly-haired breed, Labradoodles are the adorable little pups with friendly personalities. They make wonderful family pets. One of their most distinctive features is their coat.
There are three types of Labradoodle coats, each having its own care requirements.
Wool coat: Similar to that of a Poodle, this dense and curly coat provides excellent insulation. It is hypoallergenic and has tight curls.
Fleece coat: A mix between Labrador and Poodle coats, fleece coat is soft, wavy, or curly. It is the common coat type, relatively easy to maintain, and hypoallergenic.
Hair coat: Similar to that of a Labrador Retriever, it is short and straight.
Brown Labradoodles have a variety of shades from chocolate brown to caramel.
Caramel: Caramel colored Labradoodles have liver noses, which distinguish them from apricot variants.
Chocolate: This shade of coat can fade over time.
Parchment: It is creamy beige chocolate color that resembles a cup of coffee with a generous amount of milk. They have rose colored noses.
Café: This color tone lies between a light milk chocolate to almost beige.
3. Cockapoo
Breed Profile
Height: 10 to 18 inches
Weight: 15 to 22 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Cockapoo is a mixed breed resulting from a cross between a Cocker spaniel and a Poodle. One of the first designer breeds, Cockapoos take the hypoallergenic and low-shedding curly coat from their Poodle parents.
Cockapoos are highly adaptable dogs who do well with kids as well as seniors. The coat color of these therapy dogs can range from solid chocolate to a lighter cafe-au-lait shade, red, apricot, deep russet, and pale cream. The shades can fade over time.
Cockapoos can also have four types of coats:
Flat coat similar to that of a Cocker spaniel. It is low shedding.
Straight coat with very loose waves. It is medium to low shedding.
Wavy Ringlet Coat that looks like a teddy bear. It is almost non-shedding.
Poodle-type coat that is high maintenance and non-shedding.
4. Portuguese Water Dog
Breed Profile
Height: 17 to 23 inches
Weight: 35 to 60 pounds
Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years
According to PetMD, Portuguese water dogs have friendly personalities that enjoy giving and receiving love and affection. Their curly or wavy coats can range in color from black to brown, or black or brown with white patches.
Portuguese water dogs have a thick water-repellent coat that protects them against extreme weather conditions. Dark brown or black eyes go well with the brown coat color. The nose color is the same as the coat color.
Unlike other water dog breeds, they do not have an undercoat. These energetic and furry canines love swimming— they are the dogs with webbed feet. Portuguese water dogs have an eagerness to please, which makes them highly trainable.
5. Irish Water Spaniel
Breed Profile
Height: 21 to 24 inches
Weight: 45 to 68 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12 to 13 years
Having curly-coated retrievers as their ancestors, Irish water spaniels were originally bred in the 1830s for retrieving game, says Britannica. This spaniel breed has a distinctive coat with curly fur and a topknot of hair on the head. Its rat tail is tapered and covered in tight curls.
The coat is brown (liver) in color. The coat does not shed much, but requires regular grooming to prevent tangles and matting. Irish water spaniels do not need frequent bathing because their water-repellent coat naturally repels dirt and moisture.
However, occasional baths can help get rid of trapped dirt and doggy odor. Brush your Irish water spaniel’s hair a few times a week and consider trimming their fur from time to time to maintain the curly coat.
6. Lagotto Romagnolo
Breed Profile
Height: 16 to 19 inches
Weight: 24 to 35 pounds
Life Expectancy: 15 to 17 years
These feisty canines with lots of stamina love to run and play. These curly-haired cuties look like teddy bears, but their active personalities always keep you on the move. Lagotti (plural) are the Italian water dogs who love to accompany you to the beach.
Lagotti has a distinctive water-resistant double coat. The woolly curls cover their bodies from head to toe. The American Kennel Club describes Lagotti Romagnoli as the bearded dogs with lavish eyebrows and whiskers.
Coat color can be dark brown or brown roan. Roan Lagotti are born very similar to white with brown, but as they grow, the fur turns into a different shade of grey. The coat color fades with age in both roan and brown pups. Their woolly coats should be trimmed evenly to around 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length.
7. Barbet
Breed Profile
Height: 19.5 to 24.5 inches
Weight: 35 to 65 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
The Barbet, also known as the French Water dog, has a long, dense coat of curly hair along with a beard on its chin and neck. The dog gets its name due to its beard, which is called “barbe” in French. They have a bushy tail.
Barbet’s tight curls run all the way from head to tail, making them quite fluffy. Its shaggy coat makes it look like a puppet that has come to life. The coat can be brown, fawn, black, or gray. It can also have white or pied markings, which are a mix of two colors.
Their round eyes can be dark brown or hazel colored, whereas their nose can be black or brown. Barbet’s coat requires a lot of grooming. To show off your dog’s body shape, its hair should be trimmed to 3-5 inches in length.
Conclusion
Many dog breeds, such as those mentioned in the article, have adorable brown curly coats. Such breeds are the epitome of elegance and grace. As pets, they bring joy to your life. But make sure to take care of their coats and grooming needs.
