Most people crave having a dog as a pet, but the allergic reactions pull them away. In the canine world, everything you wish for can be fulfilled if you pick the right breed. For people with dog allergies, many small hypoallergenic dogs can be your pet. For example: Lhasa Apso, Miniature Schnauzer, Basenji, and Shih Tzu, etc.
They qualify for apartment living as well, because of their size and low shedding. But if you wish to have a medium-sized dog, breeds like Portuguese Water Dog, Whippet, and Tibetan Terrier, etc, can make your dream come true. Any dog you bring home, owners need to understand no dog is completely non-shedding.
So, even if you pick a low-shedding breed, it will have lower maintenance requirements but will demand regular grooming to prevent tangles and fur falling on your furniture and belongings. Below we have listed some of the top dog breeds that don’t shed much for a cleaner home.
Top Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed Much for a Cleaner Home
1. Coton de Tulear
Coton de Tulear is a “Royal Dog of Madagascar” that is known for its bright, charming, easygoing, and comical temperament. This hypoallergenic breed has a fluffy white coat that keeps it covered entirely. It makes the right choice for families who want their home clean because Cotons do not leave their hair lying around.
But regular grooming is still important to prevent matting and tangling, and for better upkeep. Further, this breed qualifies as an excellent family pet and travel partner that thrives through proper socialization and training. They like when training sessions are designed on a game basis and respond best to positive reinforcement methods, says Omlet.
Grooming Routine: Brushing these fluff balls 3-4 times a week, with a regular bath, is important. But from an early age, the breed must be trained so that grooming isn’t scary. To make it smooth, use a pin brush and spray conditioner for dogs.
2. Australian Terrier
Australian Terrier is a lively, alert, self-assured, and affectionate breed. It was bred to help ranchers and farmers keep their property free of rodents and predators. It is a small and sturdy breed that is suitable for active pet parents who keep them mentally stimulated.
Higher in energy levels, the Australian Terrier is a dog that doesn’t shed heavily, and it is easy to maintain. It has a double coat that can be easily groomed at home. But their independent nature demands regular exercise and training, followed by activities like walks, nose work, rally, and obedience training.
To bond closely with humans and get comfortable with new situations, socialization is necessary.
Grooming Routine: Frequent baths are not necessary for this energetic pup. To groom their weather-resistant coats, owners must use a metal comb, slicker, and pin brush weekly to remove tangles or debris.
3. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is an easily recognizable breed because of its distinctive coat. It is a lively, sweet-tempered, and affectionate breed that thrives with dog owners who give them lots of care and love and do not leave them alone for a long time. Their coat comes in two varieties: Hairless and Powderpuff.
It is a low-shedding dog that lets you have a fur-free home. To stay active and healthy, it demands a small amount of exercise, followed by getting time to play indoors and lounge with their favorite people. Both of the coat types do not have any extensive grooming needs. But hairless ones need special skin care to avoid contact with direct heat and skin problems.
Grooming Routine: For Powderpuff Chinese Crested, daily brushing and trimming their muzzle is advised. And for hairless dogs, owners must ensure they wear a good sunscreen when going out.
4. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies are a cute hypoallergenic dog breed that is intelligent, bold, spunky, and affectionate. They were bred to chase rodents, while today they make entertaining companions. Their adaptability and low-shedding coat make them suitable for many different living situations.
Their bold personality contributes to brightening up the owner’s day, whereas the long coat gives them an elegant look, which is hard to resist, and owners enjoy styling it. Compared to most dogs, Yorkies don’t shed much. They are also suitable for allergy sufferers. It is an energetic and feisty breed that must exercise for about 15 minutes daily, followed by playtime indoors.
Grooming Routine: Yorkies’ long, silky, and fine hair demands daily brushing and weekly baths to give them a smooth and shiny texture without extensive grooming. They have human-like hair, so the maintenance is quite relevant.
5. Basenji
The Basenji is a small hypoallergenic dog that’s petite, but it has a big heart. It is a spirited, exceptionally clean, aloof, and independent dog that makes the right choice for lazy owners who look for a low-maintenance pet. Back in the 1800’s they were used as hunting dogs, which clarifies that even though small in size, the breed requires lots of physical and mental exercise to keep them active.
They are also alert and inquisitive, and can be wary of strangers, so training and socialization are important to be classed as an ideal family dog. However, a lot of patience is needed to train this breed. So, owners are advised to come up with engaging sessions and encourage the breed. They have a short coat and are considered one of the cleanest breeds because of their self-grooming habit.
Grooming Routine: It is one of the breeds that refuses to go outside in the rain, as Omlet states. They need occasional grooming; however, owners can use a soft cloth or a grooming mitt weekly to remove loose hair.
6. Maltese
Every time you see a Maltese, they will be happy and enjoying their moment with their owners, as it is a friendly and affectionate breed. This low-shedding breed is known for its luxurious floor-length white coat. These brave and gentle dogs are easier to style, and their cuteness makes owners adore them.
As these pint-sized pups have big personalities, they demand regular exercise and training based on positive reinforcement methods. Considering socialization, they get along with cats easily, but when around kids, they must be supervised to avoid any accident. Even though the Maltese is a low-shedding dog breed, it still has an extensive grooming routine.
Grooming Routine: While they need regular brushing and bathing when needed, owners must keep their coat short so that it’s manageable. Also, owners must use a slicker brush to remove tangles and loose hair. Do add moisturising conditioner to their bathing routine.
7. Bichon Frise
If we say a non-shedding breed, that would be a lie, but Bichon Frise is quite relatable with its double-curled coat. It is a playful, affectionate, and cheerful-tempered breed with cute expressions. Their feisty, playful, and and low shedding trait makes them suitable for allergy sufferers as well.
This fluff ball, because of its outgoing and social nature, enjoys meeting new people. So, owners must focus on early socialization. As they are intelligent, training them would be fun because they learn new tricks quickly and enjoy exercising session that must be half an hour.
It is popular in the hypoallergenic category because its double curly coat traps loose hair instead of dropping it around the home.
Grooming Routine: They require daily combing to keep their coat matt-free. Whereas, for a tidy appearance, owners can also opt for hand stripping. Bath them every two weeks. Their minimal odor trait also contributes to keeping the house fresh.
8. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is an ancient, low-shedding breed known for being friendly, clever, outgoing, and playful. Once a favorite of Chinese royalty, this little dog is now loved for its affectionate nature and long, double coat. Although it sheds very little, its coat still requires regular grooming. Its playful energy also means it needs plenty of attention and time from its owner.
They require exercising daily for about 20-30 minutes, followed by walks, playtime in the backyard or indoors, and learning new tricks during training. Above all, they enjoy cuddling with their owners the most. At times, owners might get confused between the Shih Tzu’s coat length and grooming routine, but yes, it’s true. It is a low-shedding breed that gives owners a free hand to groom them in different options.
Grooming Routine: Brushing their coat every alternate day, while trimming it regularly is important, about one to two inches all over, for easier maintenance. Along with occasional baths, clean their tear stains around the eyes with cleaning wipes.
9. Cairn Terrier
Hailing from the Isle of Skye in Scotland, the Cairn Terrier is a scrappy little dog that is intelligent, assertive, active, and fearless. It was historically used for hunting vermin on farmland, whereas today this courageous breed thrives on proper socialization, training, and care. Their size, adaptable nature, and wiry coat that sheds less bring them here.
According to PDSA, the exercising requirements for a Cairn Terrier are higher than its grooming. For exercising, they need an hour followed by a daily walk, and other activities like fetch, frisbee, and dock diving, etc. Whereas for grooming, weekly brushing and occasional baths are enough to keep them in control. Also, they do not demand professional grooming sessions.
Grooming Routine: Owners are advised to use a pin brush to keep the coat free of mats. To keep the coat vibrant, it must be hand-stripped by a groomer; also, it is one of the popular trimming ways for Terriers.
Conclusion
These were a few of the recommendations for breeds that are low-shedding pups. However, if owners think low shedding means no grooming, then you are mistaken. Because dogs require regular grooming to keep their coat neat, free from skin problems, and to avoid fur falling on the floor.
Along with these grooming routines, we advise owners to have proper grooming tools that will demand less effort from you. Such as: a slicker and pin brush, a microfiber towel, and add chemical-free shampoo and conditioner to their routine.
Also, trimming on a monthly basis to keep the coat healthy and make the grooming manageable is highly recommended.
