9 Low-Shedding Family Dogs You’ll Love To Welcome Home

To me, nothing sounds better than curling up on the couch with my partner, the kids, and the family dog to watch a movie or simply enjoy one another’s company.

It's the simple things in life that matter most. At the same time, it can be difficult to relax when all you can think about is the mountain of fur your dog's dropping all over the furniture!

So if you're looking for a low-shedding family dog, we've got you covered.

Here’s the list:

• Poodle
• Vizsla
• Havanese
• Papillon
• Brussels Griffon
• Bichon Frise
• Boston Terrier
• Shih-Tzu
• Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

Poodle

By welcoming a sweet, fluffy Poodle into your home, you’ll quickly discover how little this breed sheds. In fact, Poodles are among the lowest-shedding dogs you can own. That’s true of toy-sized, miniature, and standard-sized Poodles, so you have your pick.

The Poodle’s single coat and lengthy hair growth cycle contribute to its low shedding propensity. Grooming this dog is a more difficult venture, so you must be up to the challenge.

Poodles will treat everyone like their best friend while keeping a close watch on the household. The breed can be quite playful, which can tire out rambunctious children fast. Your Poodle will also adapt to whatever schedule changes you throw its way.

Vizsla

Between its easy grooming requirements and its low shedding, the Vizsla is undoubtedly an excellent family companion. Also known as the Hungarian Pointer, the Vizsla is a hunting dog with some watchdog instincts.

Its short coat requires brushing with a bristle brush only weekly. The rest of the time, you can play with your Vizsla, as this breed is filled to the brim with energy. The kids will love that!

Although they’re not the fuzziest or fluffiest pups, Vizslas are very affectionate, and they get along well with young children too. With some socializing, they’ll even befriend your other dogs.

Havanese

In that exclusive group of ultra-low-shedding dogs with the likes of the Poodle is the beloved Havanese.

When it comes to amiable canines, it doesn’t get much better than this sweet fur baby from Cuba. Shaggy, fuzzy, and oh so lovey-dovey, the kids will want to hug the Havanese constantly.

That’s fine, as this breed loves kids. They don’t mind your other dogs, and even most strangers are a friend to the Havanese.

The only downside is grooming this dog. Every day, you’ll have to comb through the Havanese’s double coat with a pin brush. If you skip brushing your dog for too long, the dog's coat can become matted and tangled. Then you have a bigger issue on your hands!

Papillon

Everyone gawks over the Papillon’s trademark butterflied ears, but the Papillon has many other winning traits if you give this dog a chance. 

For instance, it sheds only a little throughout the year, requiring marginal cleanup. Paps also need little in the way of grooming.

Papillons barely drool, they love children, they show affection freely, and they’re quite vigilant. This breed will warm up to strangers quickly, but Paps are not as kind around other dogs. 

It’s best to introduce your Papillon to another dog early and spend plenty of time socializing the animals. If a Papillon is the only dog in the house, that’s preferable as well.

Brussels Griffon

One look at the Brussels Griffon and it’s hard not to fall in love. And that’s okay! This Ewok-like dog sheds minimally, so go ahead and bring one home.

I should note that there are three types of Brussels Griffon dogs: the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Beige, and the Petit Brabancon. The Bruxellois has wiry fur and the Beige and Brabancon feature smoother hair.

Of the three, the Griffon Bruxellois sheds the least, but the other two types of Brussels Griffon dogs are also moderate shedders.

Although he’s not the lovey-doviest dog, the Brussels Griffon is plenty affectionate, and he’s mostly patient with kids too. Please spend some time socializing your Brussels Griffon to new family members of the human or pet variety to help your dog adapt.

Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise ought to check a lot of your boxes. Adorable? Yes. Low-shedding? Incredibly; few breeds shed less. Fluffy? Oh yeah. Friendly and loving to family members? You betcha.

The only downside to owning a Bichon Frise is that grooming the dog can be a bit of a pain. Since he’s double-coated, the Bichon Frise needs more extensive brushing than other dogs.

You must brush the dog about daily to prevent fur mats. Frequent trimming controls this dog’s hair, which otherwise does not stop growing.

Boston Terrier

If you’d rather your dog require less maintenance than a Bichon Frise, consider the Boston Terrier. This American dog (which does indeed come from Boston) requires weekly brushing and little else.

That’s because of the Boston Terrier’s short coat, which also controls this dog’s shedding quite well. You’ll see more fur drop from your Boston Terrier than a Havanese or a Bichon Frise, but not so much that your vacuum cleaner gets clogged with hair.

What about his personality? The Boston Terrier adores people of all ages, but it takes them some warming up to get used to other dogs. Very playful and a decently good watchdog, Boston Terriers do best with a daily routine.

Shih-Tzu

The majestic Chinese toy breed the Shih-Tzu will be the best friend of the family. Its level of affection is practically unmatched, and the Shih-Tzu is also willing to befriend its dog brethren.

It can take your Shih-Tzu some time to adapt to people it doesn’t know, but that just makes him a loyal companion.

Shih-Tzus look youthful and adorable with a short puppy cut or you can let their hair grow long and free. Either way, expect to brush this dog daily. For your efforts, you’re rewarded with a canine companion that doesn’t shed much.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

Last on my list but certainly not least is the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, a large dog from Ireland.

Although he looks like he might be all rough and tumble, the Wheaten is a gentle giant. You’ll have to supervise playtime with the children to ensure your Wheaten doesn’t bowl them over though (accidentally, of course).

Due to its single-layered wiry coat, the Wheaten Terrier sheds only a little. You’ll have to trim your Wheaten regularly to control its hair growth and brush it every few days to prevent tangles and mats.

Bottom Line

A low-shedding family dog is almost like hitting the lottery. They’re sweet, playful, adaptive, good with family members of all ages, and don’t make a mess.

I do want to stress that although some of these dog breeds are low-shedding doesn’t mean they’re low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. You must groom your dog as often as required or they could start shedding more heavily.

Also, despite the personality traits ascribed to their breed, every dog is different. Even if other dogs in the breed get along with pets, your dog might not. 

I always recommend socializing your dog with people and pets when you first bring them home. It will go a long way towards helping them enjoy a more harmonious life with the rest of your family!