The tiny Yorkshire Terrier has a soft, silky coat that needs regular brushing.
People who prefer dogs that do not shed a lot have many choices for a canine companion. While all dogs lose some hair, the dogs who shed least are usually single coated breeds. This means they only have one kind of hair. It is the undercoat of the double coated breeds that tends to be shed. According to Chris Smith at the Complete Guide to Responsible Dog Ownership website, even the length and texture of a dog's hair is less significant than having the double coat. He says that the key to controlling any shedding is regular grooming.
Small Breeds
Poodles have curly hair that can grow quite long if not kept trimmed.
There are many small breeds, up to 20 pounds, that shed very little. Some examples of wire-haired breeds are the Affenpinscher and the Miniature Schnauzer. There are several breeds with long, silky hair including the Bichon and Maltese, both of whom have white hair that needs to be brushed often. Other small silky-haired breeds include the Yorkshire and Silky Terriers. For those who prefer curly hair, the Toy and Miniature Poodles and the Bolognese all sport curls. Ron Lueth of Pet Guardian Angels of America recommends daily brushing for the long, curly ringlets of the Bolognese. The Chinese Crested is a tiny dog that may be almost entirely hairless except for a tuft on its head and tail.
Medium Sized Breeds
The Border Terrier, like many of the terriers, has wiry hair.
Weighing between 20 and 50 pounds, the dogs that shed the least include many in the Terrier group. The Airedale and Welsh Terrier have wiry hair. The Bedlington Terrier's hair is thick but soft. The Cesky and Wheaten Terriers have silky hair. Other dogs in this category include the barkless Basenji, the Portuguese Water Dog, the Brittany Spaniel and the wrinkle-faced Chinese Shar Pei.
Large Breeds
The Doberman Pinscher has a short, smooth coat that hardly sheds.
Leuth describes many large dog breeds weighing over 50 pounds that don't shed much, including the Giant Schnauzer, a wire-haired breed, and the curly coated Standard Poodle, which is the largest member of the poodle family. Most of the Mastiffs, including the Bull Mastiff and Neapolitan Mastiff are short-haired dogs. The Redbone Coonhound, the Bluetick Coonhound and the Bloodhound are all large dogs that shed little. Perhaps the most unusual coat belongs to the Komondor, whose cream-colored hair grows in dreadlock-like cords that never need brushing.
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