Dogs or other pets usually complete the family picture for some people. There are so many types of cute dogs around that it becomes difficult to choose one. For those who are allergic to dog hairs, but still love dogs and want to keep one, the best solution is to go for non shedding dogs.
Every dog needs some kind of grooming or may be more than that. In a Dog’s coat there are 2 kinds of hair, one is the outer coat and second is the inner coat. The outer coat consists of coarse hair, while the inner coat has much softer hair. The growth of a dog hair is fixed to a length and after its full growth it is pushed out or shed by new hair. If you get those sneezes and watery eyes when you get close to a dog then a non shedding is the right selection for you.
Dogs do shed a lot of hair of their coat regularly. But, there are many breeds that almost do not shed hairs at all. They are called as non shedding dogs. There are many varieties to look into that do not shed hair. Even so, some people may be allergic to dander, i.e., the flakes of the skin, if not the hair. Even a hairless dog will produce allergen, dander. Saliva is the next culprit in causing allergic reactions. This has to be kept in mind when you go looking to buy a dog.
Depending on whether you want to buy a smaller dog or a larger one, you can look into varieties such as terriers, poodles and so on.
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Small Non Shedding Dog Breeds
If you want a smaller non shedding dog, the perfect varieties for you will be Mini Schnauzer, small Poodles, the Shih Tzu, Cairn Terriers, Silky Terriers, Havanese, Norwich and Norfolk Terriers, Chinese Crested and West Highland White Terriers.
Usually all terriers are classified as non-shedding or very low shedding with the exceptions of Jack Russell, Rat and Fox Terriers.
Non Shedding Terriers
- Airedale Terrier (no shedding).
- Bedlington Terrier (no shedding).
- Yorkshire Terrier (this dog is an excessive yapper, but its hair is the same PH as human hair).
- Welsh Terrier (no shedding).
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (no shedding).
- Silky Terrier (no shedding, but another yipper which produces more saliva).
- Sealyham Terrier (no shedding).
- Scottish Terrier (no shedding).
- Cairn Terrier (minimal shedding, but another voracious yipper).
- Wired Hair Fox Terrier (minimal shedding, but another excessive yipper).
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier (no shedding).
Best Non Shedding Dog Breeds
American Hairless Terrier
This is the perfect dog for those who suffer from allergies. This dog has no body hair except for the eye brows and whiskers. It comes in three size varieties. So you can make a selection from any one of them according to your taste.
Brussels Griffon – Rough Coat Only
These dogs are the non shedding dogs and are also know as a toy breed. The Brussels Griffon of Rough Coat only are the non shedding dogs, those who are of the Smooth Coat variety are not the shedding dogs. So keep in mind about the variety of this dog.
Chinese Crested (hairless)
This breed shed no or very less hair.
Italian Greyhound
This breed of dog is also known as the toy breed. This breed is also one of the non shedding breeds, but it release dander. So for those who suffer from allergies should test before owing a dog of this breed.
Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers have been said to have a big personality for such a small dog. Their coat sheds very little but they do require consisting grooming and brushing.
Dachshund
Dachshunds are well known for their droopy ears and low center of gravity. They can often become rather attached to their owners and fearful of strangers. In fact, for a small dog, Dachshunds can often be one of the more aggressive dogs that bite.
Poodle
Poodles can come in different colors and sizes, but all Poodle owners can agree that Poodles are the best dog for allergies. Poodles are also easy to groom but need to be keep untangled because their fur can get tangled.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus need to be groomed regularly and even though they have a long coat of hair, they typically do not shed. From time to time, Shih Tzu can get matted and the comb cannot run through their hair. Then the owner has to cut the mats out, down to the skin. This is why they need to be groomed daily.
Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers are very loving dogs which are great around kids. Like most dogs, the Miniature Schnauzer needs frequent grooming. Owners usually tend to keep their hair short and their beards long.
Boston Terrier
Boston Terrier, a breed that always seems to be smiling, are usually well tempered dogs who are great for apartment living. Also their short coat is excellent for those who do not like shedding dogs.
Maltese
One of the most lovable and fearless lap dogs, the Maltese breed is known to have long silky hair that can get matted very easily. Owners who keep their Maltese hair long, will spend hours keeping the hair untangled. Most Maltese owners choose to keep their hair short.
Havanese
Havanese breed is a low shedding dog that has a silky hair like the Maltese that requires daily grooming. Although not as popular as the Maltese breed, Havanese are very friendly and make for an excellent family pet.
West Highland Terrier
West Highland Terrier breed have a two layer coat. Some shedding occurs from these coats, but the hair is manageable.
Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise coat is thick and needs to be brushed frequently but it does not shed like other thick coated breeds. Many owners choose to keep the Bichon Frise cut short to save time on grooming the long frizzy hair.
Usually non shedding dogs don’t have coats that can be cared for easily for some dogs have long coats, the examples for which can be Tibetan terrier, the Bichon Frise, the Lhasa Apso and the Maltese, that need to be groomed daily.
Large Non-Shedding Dogs
Among the larger dogs, there four major breeds that can be looked into, the most favorable being the Greyhound, while the others include Standard Poodle, Irish Water Spaniel and the Airedale Terrier.
The Greyhound is the most suitable because it with just a light brush every few days over the greyhound’s coat, the furniture would be almost fully free of dog-hair, while not requiring frequent bathing and grooming.
Standard Poodles and the Irish Water Spaniel too are almost free of dog hairs because their coats are non allergic and non-irritating in nature; but it does require frequent grooming, bathing and clipping.
The Airedale terrier with its fur too sheds very little. But dander can become a problem with frequent clippings.
Usually, non shedding dogs have wiry, stiff very curly hair while dogs with multi-layered coats and fine hair are not prone to much shedding.
Dogs That Shed The Most
The worse breed you can get if you hate shedding is a dog with a double coat. The outer coat usually is coarse while the inner coat has softer and shorter hairs. The hairs on the coat grow to a certain length, then stop growing and are pushed out or shed by new hairs growing in.
Some breeds shed their whole coat twice per year, some shed moderately throughout the year and some shed very little.
Hypoallergenic Dogs
Some people simply have violent physiological reactions when exposed to dogs, especially the dog hairs. The dog hairs are considered allergens. Fortunately, such allergic reactions may be reduced and managed when important precautions are carried out and hypoallergenic dog breeds are chosen.
Dogs cannot prevent a person from having allergic reactions. But some dogs induce such allergic reactions more often than others. Such allergy-inducing dogs usually have long-haired coats or coats that are lush and abundant. Other dogs have milder effects on the sensitive or asthmatic person. These dogs are described as hypoallergenic. The word “hypo” means “less”.
Hypoallergenic breeds do not totally remove the possibility of allergic reactions. But, by the nature of their coat, such allergic reactions can be less frequent. Some of them are considered hairless dogs and others are described as single-coated dogs.
Popular Hairless Dog Breeds
- American Hairless Terrier (no hair).
- Chinese Crested (almost no fur so no shedding but still produces dancer and saliva).
- Peruvian Inca Orchid (no hair).
- Xoloitzcuintle, also known as the Mexican Hairless (no hair, but still produces dander and saliva).
Popular Single-coated Dog Breeds
- Bedlington Terrier (no shedding).
- Bichon Frise (minimal shedding).
- Chinese Crested (known as the Powder Puff variety).
- Coton de Tulear (no shedding).
- Kerry Blue Terrier (minimal shedding because of short hair).
- Poodles (of all sizes, no shedding, but another barker).
- Portuguese Water Dog (no shedding).
- Schnauzers (of all sizes, less shedding because of short hair, but another yipper).
- Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier (no shedding).
- West Highland White Terrier (almost no shedding. Another yapper).
Other Hypoallergenic No Shed Dogs:
- Samoyed (no shedding).
- Puli (no shedding).
- Pomeranian (less dander because its small and can be easily washed).
- Poodle hybrid e.g., Labradoodle ( no shedding, but barks a lot making dander and saliva).
- Irish Water Spaniel (no shedding).
- Golden Doodle (depends on parent, if poodle parent, no shedding).
- Greyhound (minimal shedding owing to short hair).
- Bolognese (no shedding).
- Bearded Collie (closely matches PH of human hair).
- Basenji (no shedding).
- Affenpinscher (no shedding).
Most people argue this fact, but anything with hair sheds the hair from time to time. As much as hundreds of hair follicles a day! And the more you brush your dog, and bathe your dog, the more you will not notice the hair shedding. However, yes there are some dogs that noticeably shed a lot! These dogs are usually more accustom to colder climates and they will shed their outer coats frequently.
During summer months, some dogs can shed their entire outer coat, which can be a mess on your furniture, carpet and all over the house.
