Do you want a companion pup that lives by the motto “man’s best friend?” Do you also prefer for your dog to be low-shedding? Although breeds like this might seem like a rarity, there are more of them than you may think.
Which dogs have a great temperament and don’t shed much?
Here’s the list:
- Poodle
- Shih-Tzu
- French Bulldog
- West Highland Terrier
- Boston Terrier
- Vizsla
- Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Bichon Frise
- Brussels Griffon
In this post, I’ll highlight the personality traits that make these 9 dogs such fluffy sweethearts. I’ll also delve into their shedding habits and grooming requirements.
Poodles come in a multitude of sizes, from the mid-sized standard Poodle to the adorable Toy Poodle. Even as the surface area of the Poodle increases, its rate of shedding does not.
The Poodle is in that group of cute dogs that don’t shed much, a distinction it shares with another breed on this list, the Bichon Frise.
A Poodle’s single-coated, wiry fur might not come out much, but it does require regular brushing to maintain. Oh, and if your Poodle has a show-worthy coat, trimming the dog can take hours every month.
The Poodle’s temperament makes it all well worth it. This breed is described as alert, faithful, intelligent, and trainable.
Do you prefer an affectionate, loyal, playful dog that gets along with all members of the family, including the furry, non-human kind too? The Shih-Tzu is beloved for its docile nature, so it could be just the family pet you’ve been looking for.
Whether your Shih-Tzu has black or red fur, brown, white, or gold, it will keep more of that hair due to its low-shedding nature. Although this Chinese toy breed is double-coated, most of its shedding isn’t perceptible since the breed is small.
Like the Poodle, the Shih-Tzu requires a lot of time and care to properly groom. That’s mostly because this dog’s hair can grow long and luxurious if you allow it. The longer the fur, the likelier mats are to occur, so you should have your dog-cutting scissors ready.
You’ll need your slicker brush handy as well for daily brushing sessions with your Shih-Tzu.
There’s a reason people can’t get enough of French Bulldogs, and no, it’s not just because of their adorable faces and precious bat ears.
Frenchies are also adored for leaving hardly any mess in their wake. They shed slightly more than some of the other breeds I’ve discussed, but their small size means the shedding is moderate at best.
Most Frenchies are single-coated, except for brindled French Bulldogs. Those double-coated canines might shed more often, which is why you really need to know the type of dog you adopt before you bring one home.
At least grooming your Frenchie is easy. Living with this dog every day will be a joy too, as Frenchies have a playful, bright, keen, and lively temperament.
One look at a West Highland Terrier and it’s hard not to fall in love. The shaggy, light-colored Westie has a lot to adore, after all, such as its low-shedding nature.
That’s right, you’ll almost never have to follow in your Westie’s footsteps with your vacuum cleaner since the dog’s hair growth cycle is more gradual. The longer it takes a dog breed for its fur to cycle through the four stages of growth, the less shedding they do.
If you like the shaggy look, maintaining your Westie is easy. For those who’d prefer a show dog in their Westie, you’ll have to hand-strip the dog regularly. Daily brushing using a slicker brush is a must no matter the condition of your Westie’s coat.
The Westie has a bright, bold personality, with descriptors like independent, friendly, courageous, and hardy often attributed to it.
As a member of the Terrier group, you might worry the Boston Terrier would be yappy, but it’s actually one of the quieter Terrier breeds.
The dog with the tuxedo coat is brainy, sweet-natured, and lively. Small and low-shedding, there are plenty of reasons to strongly consider the Boston Terrier as your next companion dog.
Shih-Tzus and Boston Terriers shed about the same amount, likely because they’re very close in size. Boston Terriers will shed seasonally, but their hair loss shouldn’t be too much more significant than during other times of the year.
Grooming your Boston Terrier isn’t time-consuming in the slightest so you should be able to enjoy more quality moments with your canine companion. A few times per week, use a soft-bristle brush or a rubber brush on your Boston Terrier.
Recommended: Go here to see our top-rated dog hair blow dryers
6. Vizsla
You might have heard that the Vizsla is a hunting dog, but don’t worry, as he’s kind and quite good with children. This mid-sized breed from Hungary is a gentle giant that’s quiet, loyal, and affectionate yet has energy to spare.
The dog’s close-cropped fur is short, and the Vizsla is single-coated as well. There’s no seasonal shedding here!
As you might have guessed, the Vizsla’s easy-breezy coat means that maintenance is very low-effort. You should brush your pup using a rubber brush about weekly. You won’t have to worry about knots or mats, so even brushing is quick and simple.
Here’s a fun fact about the Vizsla: it likes to groom itself. No, the Vizsla is not a cat (I swear); it just seems to think it is in this regard. You’ll still have to bathe your dog, but not super often.
7. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Did you want a Labrador Retriever or a Golden Retriever, then you discovered how much they shed? The Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier is a great alternative.
A big teddy bear, the Wheaten is faithful, loyal, playful, spirited, and super-duper affectionate. Despite that he’s a large dog, Wheaten Terriers control their shedding well enough that I wouldn’t call them messy dogs. That’s due in part to their single coat.
The only thing is, you’ll have to put considerable effort into grooming your Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. Its silken fur needs trimming to prevent it from becoming overgrown. Since the hair grows non-stop, this job also never ends.
Don’t forget to brush your Wheaten Terrier with a slicker brush or pin brush every few days and no more infrequently than once per week.
8. Bichon Frise
I mentioned the Bichon Frise earlier since it’s one of the lowest-shedding dogs you can own.
Why’s that? Well, part of it is that the Bichon Frise is small, so it doesn’t have as much fur to shed. Its hair growth cycle is also slow, which reduces the amount of hair that comes out at any one time.
Cute and loveable, the Bichon Frise does have a feisty side to its temperament. There’s no reason to let that deter you if you want to own this dog, as the Bichon Frise is known to get along well with kids.
The double-layered coat of a Bichon Frise requires a lot of attention and care. You’ll have to commit to brushing your dog often to prevent the curly, puffy hair from becoming tangled and knotted into the undercoat.
Trimming is another frequent job every month or so unless you want your Bichon Frise to look like a giant puffball.
9. Brussels Griffon
The last low-shedding dog with a great temperament that I want to talk about is the Brussels Griffon.
Some Brussels Griffons have a wiry coat; they’re known as the Griffon Bruxellois and Griffon Beige. These are the types of Brussels Griffons that get likened to Ewoks or even Chewbacca from Star Wars.
The other type of Brussels Griffon is the Petit Brabancon, which is a smooth-coated canine. All types of Brussels Griffon don’t shed to excess. The Petit Brabancon will shed seasonally, FYI.
Although he’s a little self-important, the Brussels Griffon is adored for its temperament, as it’s curious, watchful, and companionable. That’s quite a desirable combination!
Bottom Line
Low-shedding dogs with good temperaments are not unicorns; they do exist. The nine breeds I talked about today prove as much.
I should note, as I have before, that while a dog’s personality traits might be likely to recur across a breed that they are not guaranteed. Each dog is unique, so if yours isn’t quite as feisty or watchful as the breed standards, that’s just your dog’s own special personality.
Don’t agree since one of the most temperamental dog is not on the list which is a low shredder is missing!!! Bouvier Des Flanders