Do Low Shedding Dogs Still Need Grooming Appointments?
All dogs shed hair, it’s inevitable. The only way you can avoid having your home filled with fur is by choosing one of the limited hairless dog breeds. Even then, they can still shed dead skin, so you’ll still need to do the same cleaning rounds.
Even if you’ve got a long-coated dog, you might even come across balls of fur clumped together that occasionally make an appearance and roll across the living room like a tumbleweed in an old western!
A low shedding breed could be the key to making your life easier. It can halve the problem of cleaning up fur around the house, so if you have any allergies to fur or if you just hate to hoover, these dog breeds that don’t shed might be a good option for you.
Low-Shedding Dog Breeds
Low shedding dogs are any breed that doesn’t tend to lose too much fur and discard it all around the house. No dog breed can be truly non shedding unless they are completely hairless and even then, will still shed dander.
Whilst some breeds are naturally non shedding, there are others who are specifically bred together for their low shedding qualities. If we want a specific temperament but don’t want a shedding coat, we often breed with a low shedding dog to minimise how much fur they lose.
Small Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed
When you’re looking for a low shedding breed, you are going to be considering mostly course haired dogs such as wire-haired terriers or curly coated breeds. Even when you’re looking for a smaller breed you can still find a range of lap dogs and higher energy working breeds with suitable coats for homes who want to avoid hoovering up lots of fur every day.
Breeds of dogs that are considered low shedding include:
Bichon Frise
Kerry Blue Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Shih Tzu
Miniature Schnauzer
Yorkshire Terrier
West Highland Terrier
Scottish Terrier
Toy Poodle
Maltese
It’s often common for terrier type breeds to be low shedding, as they were originally bred to have course coats to work outside. Which also helped them to leave fewer hairs around the house.
Whilst they are a great low shedding type of pup, they will need regular brushing a few times a week to help their coats discard any dead fur.
We have also taken to breeding the Poodle with breeds of dog that are usually high shedding to minimise the amount of clean-up we have to perform. The smaller breeds we tend to mix are often family pets and lap dogs who would benefit from shedding less at home. Small breeds of dog we’ve mixed with a Toy Poodle to create a lower shedding crossbreed include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel.
Big Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed
Similar to low shedding pooches are the larger dog breeds, who still need some upkeep with semi-regular brushing and bathing to help remove any old fur in their coats that may have come loose.
Larger breeds of dog that don’t shed include:
Afghan Hound
Giant Schnauzer
Komondor
Standard Poodle
Airedale Terrier
Portuguese Water Dog
The larger breeds that don’t shed also tend to be working breeds who were originally bred to do a certain job. Their coarser coats allowed them to withstand the elements of their role and led them to have less grooming maintenance.
Poodles often tend to be bred with larger dogs to create lower shedding crossbreeds as well. These crossbreeds make great family pets but with the wits of a Poodle are popular service dogs too. Breeds like the Labrador and Golden Retriever are also common crosses, that have now made for excellent house pets.
When Do Dogs Shed the Most?
Dogs will tend to shed seasonally, so when spring comes along, they will lose their fur to have a lighter coat for the summer. Some dogs will shed once a year while others might have twice yearly sheds if they have very thick double coats.
For breeds that don’t have seasonal shedding, you shouldn’t notice too much difference throughout the year and any increase in shedding during the warmer months should be minimal.
You may notice more fur around the home in summer, especially as you’ll be going on fewer blustery walks with your pup which can strip away a lot of that dead fur. Instead of having a free blowout during the winter month, it tends to fall off them around the house when they’re moving or scratching, anything that will disturb their coat.
Do Low Shedding Dogs Still Need Grooming Appointments?
Low shedding dogs aren’t exempt from regular grooming and will still benefit from a visit to The Spa. With regular visits to the groomer, you will find yourself cleaning up less fur around the house. Grooming helps to reduce tangles in the coat but also removes all the fur that’s dead and ready to fall away.
Brushing them at home between grooms will also help to avoid having too much fur floating around the house. The more regular the grooming, the less stray fur you’re bound to find.
For all your pooch essentials to keep your home fur free and your pup happy, check out our latest stock in store and online.