We all adore our fluffy, pillow-like pups; those loyal, loving furballs who fill our lives with joy and tail-wagging happiness. Whether it’s their gorgeous coats, sweet temperaments, or unshakable loyalty, there’s so much to love. But let’s be real, some of our favorite furry friends are serious shedders.
Double-coated breeds don’t just shed during seasonal changes — they shed all year long. Their fur ends up on couches, carpets, clothes… basically everywhere. And while we love them to pieces, constantly cleaning up after their hair hurricanes can get pretty exhausting.
Here are some of the notoriously layered and thick double coat types of dog breeds that shed the most out of all the dog breeds out there:
Dog Breeds That Will Shed all Over your House
1. Alaskan Malamute
This chubby cousin of the Samoyed, the American Eskimo and the Siberian Husky always needs consistent grooming and brushing because of its thick double coat, with medium-length outercoat and dense undercoat, which protects this adorable furry pup from extremely cold and harsh temperatures of Alaska.
The Alaskan malamute is an ancient breed that was originally bred as sled dogs by the Mahlemut people. This 70-90 pound pup with a 24 to 28 inches of height sheds heavily during the shedding seasons and moderately all year round.
Omlet advises that you need to be careful about bacterial and fungal infections in their cloud-like fluffy fur. Hence, when your Alaskan malamute gets wet, pat them dry and they start losing too much fur with patches of skin turning red, get them checked at the nearby pet clinic.
Also, make sure to brush their fur with a slicker brush and give them occasional baths to keep your chubby fur ball happy and healthy.
2. Chow Chow
This ancient Chinese dog with its unique blue tongue and fluffy looks is an extremely loyal and majestic pup to own. The Chow Chow is an incredible guard dog and protector with its muscular frame and stern demeanor.
He is the ultimate dog breed that is known for its cute lion mane, fluffy and thick double coat, stubborn and possessive temperament, graceful temperament, and loving charm.
However, according to Pet Plan, this 50-75 pound dog with a height of 15-20 inches is an independent thinker and requires high-budget professional grooming for maintaining its fur. You will also need to brush this majesty’s fur every day and provide it with occasional baths or more like a relaxing sauna treatment fit for its royal caliber.
3. German Shepherd
The most popular and renowned dog on the block is undoubtedly the German Shepherd. This dog will accompany you to the gym to put in the workout for the day, to the dog park to enjoy a stroll, to your police unit if you are serving the country, to the hospital if you are sick, to the war zones and even at home where they constantly protect you vigilantly.
These German shepherds are versatile to another level and bring so much to the table for dog owners that a bit of excessive shedding and grooming requirements seem nothing in comparison to the incredible contribution these dogs make.
Orvis says that these muscular and agile 70-100 pound do-it-all dogs with an average height of 22-30 inches shed heavily in the shedding seasons, which are fall and spring, and moderately all year round, need proper grooming from a professional who can attend to their cutting.
However, if you brush their coats regularly and bathe them occasionally, they won’t require professional grooming too often.
4. Labrador Retriever
The Canadian Hero is another versatile dog known for its exemplary services in the police and military departments, in medical units, and at homes where they stand guard and protect their families all day long. The Labrador Retriever is another fan favourite in the United States and many countries around the world.
This unique waterfowl retriever is an excellent camping buddy and loving family pet for families with kids. Hence, this hero has many, many pros and only one con, which is its shedding dog breed genes.
According to PetMD, this 60-80 pound dog breed sheds heavily during shedding and molting season in spring they blow off their winter fluff, and in fall, they blow off their breezy summer double coat for bulking up and adjusting to the colder temperature.
5. Siberian Husky
This wolf-like cutie is a daunting and independent sled dog from Siberia, and because of its natural habitat, it has a thick coat of fur that protects it from the harsh arctic temperatures. The Siberian Husky comes in a diverse variety of shades that are incomparable to those of other dog breeds.
They are energetic and active dogs with a strong protective instinct and a selfless and loyal temperament. These blue-eyed furry boys are unique and doting pets for owners. They make cool guards, cooler hiking partners, and can even impress the ladies with their charm, which makes them a dashing wingman.
WebMD states that these purebred sled dogs shed the least amount of hair after their shedding season, which lasts about 2-6 weeks, is complete. They shed heavily every 6 months when they are blowing their coats to adjust to temperatures.
Beware of this 50-70 pounds furry pup which is one the strongest dog breeds with a height of 23-25 inches, as you will find hefty fur piles at your home if you own a husky, and also because they do need a lot of grooming with daily brushing and weekly baths to maintain their furry and fuzzy form.
6. Bernese Mountain Dog
This ultimate fur ball hails from the Swiss Alps, yes, you guessed it right, this Bernese mountain dog belongs to the family of four tri-colored dogs from the Swiss mountains. AKC explains that they are exceptionally beautiful, docile, and protective dogs that are great family pets, wonderful livestock guardians, and even service and therapy dogs.
However, these tri-colored beauties also shed a lot and are quite a difficult breed to maintain. This 80-100 pound puppy with a height of 25 to 28 inches has a double coat with a topcoat being a long coat that is thick, straight, and shiny, and an undercoat which is a woolly short coat.
The Bernese mountain dogs that hail from the alpine meadows and snowy mountainous regions require regular grooming every 3-4 weeks, with weekly brushing to avoid matting and tangles in your puppy’s fur. Furthermore, you can give these sturdy dogs weekly baths so that they keep smelling fresh.
7. Saint Bernard
Another Swiss gentleman and noble saviour from the middle of the Swiss and Italian Alps is the Saint Bernard, named after the St. Bernard Pass and the result of the monastery and hospice on Jove Mountain. The Saint Bernard dogs are reputably known for saving and rescuing stranded monks and mountaineers on the snowy Alps that are prone to frequent avalanches.
This strong and incredibly agile dog that has descended from the Roman molossers is an incredible breed to own, because they prove to be great guardians and service dogs are intelligent and adaptable. Also, many Saint Bernards prove to be great working dogs that can help and support the community or your household with your daily errands.
According to CKCUSA, these large dogs that weigh around 110 to 130 pounds and have a height of 28-36 inches are gentle giants who you can cuddle with on a cold winter’s night, as they have a dense double coat that has a heavy shedding tendency. They need brushing at least 2-3 times per week to remove loose hair and to prevent matting.
Make sure you also give your cute Saint Bernards a bath every week, as these highly energetic fur balls can get a bit stinky because of their weather-resistant, smooth, and silky coat.
8. Great Pyrenees
Purina states this hypervigilant and magnificently alert protector is also a mountain dog with his roots belonging to the Pyrenees mountains. This pristine and regal large dog is an adorable white breed with a soft undercoat and long topcoat, requires frequent grooming, but is a delight to own and raise.
You’ll see the Great Pyrenees driving off wild animals away and guarding their families zealously. The Great Pyrenees is a fearless and independent thinker, which might make them a challenge to train, but in the long run, a Great Pyrenees turns out to be the perfect loyal companion and cherished pet for the family.
This livestock guard dog and herder that weighs around 80 to 120 pounds lives in harsh weather, due to which it has a high maintenance and thick double coat that protects the dog from extreme temperatures and requires regular brushing. If you own this dog, which has a height of 25 to 30 inches, you’ll often find their bright white fur dispersed on the floor or your furniture, constantly reminding you of their presence.
Hence, if your dog is shedding too much, brush and remove loose hair at least once a week or daily when they are shedding due to seasonal changes to keep your dog in prime condition.
9. Akita
This incredible Japanese dog will fight to the death to protect its owner, has been known for its loyalty even after the dog owner passed away (an ode to Hachiko), and is a national hallmark in Japan for its devotion and selflessness. Many think owning an Akita is a tiresome job because it comes with a big, colorful personality that is a mix of stubbornness, independence, loyalty, reserved attitude, intelligence, dedication, and devotion.
Pawlicy Advisor vouches for this iconic and sturdy dog breed that weighs 65 to 85 pounds and is 25 to 28 inches is a big dog with a big personality that will be a great guard dog, service dog, therapy dog, or a plain fluffy cloud whenever you want to cuddle.
Although we know that an Akita will only hug or cuddle an owner that he loves and respects, this dog has a higher caliber and demands nobility and respect from its owner. If you adopt an Akita, you’ll often find piles of fur lying around and flying in the air.
Hence, if any of your family member has allergies to pet hair and dander, make sure to keep your Akita away from them. Not that the Akita won’t stay away from strangers because it will, but you should still be careful. The Akita sheds heavily due to seasonal changes twice a year and isn’t a high shedder all year round.
Just give your Akita daily brushing to remove loose hair and give them occasional professional grooming with a puppy cut, with baths at least twice or thrice a month, depending on how dirty they get or if they get stinky.
Conclusion
On an ending note, if you are thinking about molting and shedding patterns of dogs before adoption and worrying about the sheer amount of dog fur, then do you know that what seems like a nuisance can be transformed into treasure?
Such is the story of a woman named Pat Martinek, who spun dog fur into gold by taking an interest in weaving over a spinning wheel and wanting to find an alternative to expensive merino wool or cashmere; she found dog fur to be the invaluable answer. Nowadays, she spends her days creating mementos and keepsakes for owners to cherish, and garments like sweaters and scarves from chiengora or dog hair that prove to be 80% warmer than wool.
Using Chiengora for making beautiful and sustainable yarn is a rising trend and can earn someone $10,000. Moreover, you would be shocked to know people nowadays also earn a lot of income by selling pounds of dog hair on Craigslist and Etsy. Hence, if you are considering adopting a golden retriever who is a heavy shedding dog breed, then don’t be resistant to the amount of fur they produce, but cherish the amount of oxytocin their minds release and the love they have for their owners.
