Some people say that no outfit (or sofa or bedspread) is complete without a little dog hair on it. And sure, some excess fur floating around is a small price to pay for having our beloved dogs nearby. But we do understand why some folks seek out dog breeds less prone to heavy shedding.
With that in mind, we polled 249 veterinary professionals (veterinarians, vet techs and office managers) to learn which dog breeds they think shed the least. Some aren’t terribly surprising — after all, it’s not a huge leap to say that a dog with no fur wouldn’t shed heavily, right? But a few on the list weren’t quite what we expected!
No. 10: Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier's tough, weather-resistant coat (which comes in any color but white) is also somewhat resistant to shedding, nabbing this little Terrier a top 10 spot.
No. 9: Airedale Terrier
This isn't the first member of the Terrier group you'll see on this list, and it won't be the last, either. The Airedale, frequently called one of the smartest Terriers, has a hard, dense, wiry coat with a softer undercoat.
No. 8: Dachshund
The smallest of the hounds, the alert little Dachshund is probably most often found with a solid red coat, but that coat can come in an endless variety of colors and patterns, including cream, black, brindle and dapple. This breed comes in smooth, wire-haired and long-haired varieties.
No. 7: Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier's distinctive tuxedo coat looks stylish and, according to our experts, is quite low maintenance. His coat can also come in brindle or seal with white markings.
No. 6: Chihuahua
Another dog that can be found with either a smooth or a less-common long coat, the Chihuahua grabbed the No. 6 spot on this list, likely at least in part due to his diminutive size. You see, smooth Chihuahuas actually do shed, and longhaired Chihuahuas do so seasonally, but they're so small that the amount of fur tends to be manageable for most dog owners.
No. 5: Maltese
You might be surprised to see the Maltese on here — with her long, glistening, silky white coat — but our experts voted her into the No. 5 spot, and we're not about to argue! It should be noted that, while she might not shed heavily, her coat does require considerable grooming if it's left long. If you opt to have it trimmed into an easy-care puppy clip, you'll likely need a professional groomer.
No. 4: Yorkshire Terrier
It's true, Yorkies don't shed much. But like the Maltese, his grooming is still high-maintenance. If his coat is left long, you'll need to brush it daily. Even with a professional puppy clip (which most owners choose for their Yorkies), you'll want to groom him at home regularly.
No. 3: Chinese Crested
There's a very good reason for the Chinese Crested to make this list — she's hairless over most of her body! Or at least one variety of this breed is. The Chinese Crested also comes in a Powderpuff variety that's entirely covered with soft, silky hair.
No. 2: Bichon Frise
The affectionate little Bichon Frise has a long, curly coat if left alone — but the look you're probably used to seeing requires some artistic scissoring by a groomer or highly experienced owner. While her curly coat doesn't generally shed, it does require daily grooming, even if you do opt to have it professionally clipped.
No. 1: Poodle
The Poodle was far and away the winner on this survey, which makes sense — we're sure part of the reason he's such a popular dog (currently ranked the No. 7 most popular dog breed by the American Kennel Club) is that low-shedding coat. But, as we saw with the Bichon, low-shedding does not equal low-maintenance, and the Poodle usually requires clipping every 6 to 8 weeks with regular brushing at home.
Although we kept the slideshow above to breeds officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, it’s worth noting that several Poodle mixes — Maltipoo, Goldendoodle, Labradoodle and Yorkipoo — also ranked highly with the experts we surveyed. That might not shock you much once you’ve clicked through the slideshow, though!
