While there is in actual fact no such thing as true non-shedding dogs, as all dogs lose hair to some degree and require brushing, there are hypoallergenic dog breeds that produce less of the allergy-causing substances. Many people believe that hair is what causes the allergies, but it’s actually a certain protein found in the dog’s dander (dried skin and hair) or saliva that makes people allergic. Non-shedding dogs are termed as such because they produce little to none of this dander that causes allergies, though many of them also shed a small amount of hair.
It’s not surprising then that the majority of non-shedding dogs are smaller breeds, as they by a function of their size produce less of these allergy-causing materials. Some of these breeds can include terriers like the Cairn Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Silky Terrier or West Highland White Terrier, plus the Affenpinscher, Chinese Crested Dog, Italian Greyhound and Lhasa Apso. There are also a small amount of larger dogs that don’t shed a lot, which include the Airedale Terrier, Giant Schnauzer and Basenji. Not all of these dogs are extremely popular, however, but the following hypoallergenic dog breeds are.
1. Yorkshire Terrier
Not only is the Yorkshire Terrier the most popular of these non-shedding dogs, but it’s also the third most popular of all breeds behind only the Labrador and German Shepherd. Its coat requires brushing every other day to keep them happy and healthy, as well as special attention for their teeth. It has a high level of energy and is best-suited to an active owner with time for daily walks or play sessions. The Yorkshire Terrier was originally designed to hunt rats, but now it is better known for its popularity around the dog show circuit.
2. Poodle
Tests indicate this is the second most intelligent of all dog breeds, and though it is well-known for its haircuts it was originally bred as a working dog. Its coat requires daily grooming as well as clipping every five weeks, but it sheds a very small amount of hair and this quality is often chosen for creating designer hypoallergenic dog breeds. Some of the more common of these mixed breeds include the Labradoodle, Cockapoo, Yorkiepoo, Shepadoodle, Pekapoo and Schnoodle. Poodles also come in three sizes – standard, miniature and toy – and suit an active owner with time to exercise them, give them mental challenges through obedience training and provide them a lot of companionship and attention.
3. Shih Tzu
Despite the fact that it’s more commonly recognized for its long hair styles when seen at dog shows around the world, the Shih Tzu only sheds a small amount of hair. Still, it does require daily grooming and will likely need attention from a professional every so often. It is suitable for people of all ages, but does require a patient owner with time to train them and exercise them every day.
4. Dachshund (Smooth & Wire-Haired)
While the long-haired version of the Dachshund is not especially suitable for allergy suffers, the short and wire-haired versions of them shed considerably less hair and are often classified as non-shedding dogs. They do require regular grooming that varies somewhat with the coat type, as well as daily exercise and careful feeding to ensure they don’t gain too much weight. They have a curious and bold temperament that makes them a popular choice for families and confident owners who have time for obedience training.
5. Maltese
Like many other hypoallergenic dog breeds, the Maltese sheds a minimal amount of hair thanks to its small size and silky coat that is common among other non-shedding dogs. Its coat requires daily care, and it also needs special attention for its teeth. It has a gentle, affectionate temperament and is known to be fearless for its size. The Maltese is also suitable for apartment living and thrives on high levels of attention, daily walks and regular play sessions.
6. Boston Terrier
Unlike several other non-shedding dogs, the Boston Terrier is a hypoallergenic dog breed that requires a very small amount of maintenance. Its short coat only requires brushing once a week, and does best with an owner who will give them lots of companionship as well as daily exercise. It has a friendly, intelligent and playful temperament, and is often called “the American gentleman” thanks to a gentle disposition that has made it popular since the early 1900s.
7. Greyhound
Known best for its use in racing, though they date back as far as Ancient Egypt and over the centuries have commonly been used for chasing prey. Despite this, it is known to have a sensitive and well-mannered temperament. Its short coat requires brushing only occasionally, and although it is the second fastest animal in the world and loves to sprint, it only requires a moderate amount of daily exercise.
8. Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise has a similar wiry coat to the Poodle and is considered to be a non-shedding dog breed as it sheds virtually no hair. Like the Poodle it is popularly chosen for creating designer hypoallergenic dog breeds that inherit this quality such as the ChiChon, Havachon, Maltichon, Pekachon, Poochon and Shihchon. It is well-liked for its cheerful and affectionate temperament, and loves children as well as other pets. Its coat does require a lot of work grooming in the form of daily brushing and occasional trimming, so will need professional attention or an owner who aspires to be a dog groomer. It doesn’t like to be alone and needs exercise every day to prevent problem barking.
9. Norfolk Terrier
One of the most popular of the small non-shedding terriers, the Norfolk Terrier has a silky coat that is characteristic for dogs of this type and sheds a low amount of hair. Its coat requires minimal attention in the form of combing once or twice a week if kept fairly short, and only needs a small amount of daily exercise. It has an energetic and loyal temperament, and enjoys a lot of human companionship.
10. Havanese
This is another popular hypoallergenic dog breed among allergy sufferers that only requires a moderate level of maintenance in the form of brushing every second day. They have also been popular with several notable historical figures such as Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens. The Havanese has a curious and intelligent temperament, is affectionate with both humans and other animals and enjoy daily walks and play sessions.
Posted by Brent McCoy on October 18, 2011