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10 Big Dog Breeds that Don’t Shed – Complete List and Guide 2023

Do you love big dogs but can’t stand seeing dog hairs all over your furniture and clothes? Lucky for you, there are many big dog breeds that don’t shed!

Allergy sufferers are advised – just because some dog breeds don’t shed doesn’t guarantee they won’t cause an allergic reaction. However, some of these low-shedding breeds are also hypoallergenic, meaning they are less likely to trigger a reaction in an allergic person.

Read on to discover our favorite big dog breeds that don’t shed!

10 Big Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed

10 Big Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed

Whether you are looking for a large dog that won’t cover your home in pet hair, or a hypoallergenic pet that won’t make you sneeze, you’re in the right place! Here are the top 10 large dog breeds that don’t shed!

1. Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer is the largest of the three types of Schnauzers, followed by the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer. This breed was originally bred as a versatile farm dog for driving animals to the market and guarding the property.

Giant Schnauzers have a wiry and hard outer coat and a soft undercoat. While this large breed doesn’t shed much, they have to be brushed three times a week. 

2. Bouvier des Flandres

The Bouvier des Flanders is a herding dog breed originating in Flanders, Belgium. Though originally used for farm work, these burly dogs are nowadays used as police dogs, guard dogs, and are also kept as pets.

The Bouvier des Flanders has a thick water-resistant double coat that doesn’t shed much. This breed is also considered hypoallergenic and might be a good choice if you suffer from allergies.

3. Standard Poodle

Originating in Germany, the Poodle comes in three sizes – standard, miniature, and toy. The standard Poodle is between 18 and 24 inches tall and has a thick curly coat that comes in various colors.

The highly-intelligent standard Poodle is easy to train. The Poodle’s low-shedding coat is also hypoallergenic making this breed a great choice for allergy sufferers and working individuals who don’t have time to vacuum dog hair.

4. Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog served as a fisherman’s helper, retrieving broken nets and herding fish into nets. Fun-loving and smart, the Portuguese Water Dog has two coat types – curly and wavy.

Both coat types are single-layered meaning there is no undercoat or shedding. The Portie is also considered hypoallergenic and can be a good choice for allergy sufferers.

5. Airedale Terrier

Also known as the “King of Terriers” the Airedale Terrier is the largest of all Terrier breeds (source). Developed to catch rats and otters the Airedale Terrier evolved into a capable working dog and family companion.

These dogs have double coats that don’t shed much but have to be brushed once or twice a week. 

6. Irish Water Spaniel

Originating in Ireland as a water retriever, the Irish Water Spaniel served as a hunting dog, able to point, flush, and retrieve downed birds. As a hunting breed, the Irish Water Spaniel has a lot of energy and needs daily exercise, walks, and vigorous play.

The Irish Water Spaniel has a double coat that consists of thick and tight curls that cover the back, sides, and rear. This breed sheds little to no hair, but they must be brushed two to three times a week to prevent mats and tangles from forming.

7. Afghan Hound 

The Afghan hound is an ancient dog breed originating in Afghanistan. This breed is best known for its long and silky coat, exotic features, and thin build.

The Afghan hound’s coat is thick and silky and is very fine in texture, similar to human hair. While these large dogs don’t shed, they must be groomed daily, otherwise, their silky coats will become matted.

8. Komondor

Also known as the Hungarian Sheepdog, the Komondor is a large dog, originally bred to serve as a guardian of livestock, as well as a guard dog on farms and other property. The Komondor has a unique coat of long cords that look like strands of a mop.

During puppyhood, Komondors have soft curls that grow heavy as they mature and develop into long and thick dreadlocks. The corded coat doesn’t shed, and it doesn’t need brushing, but it takes a lot of work and care to keep the coat dry, clean, and healthy.

9. Peruvian Inca Orchid

The Peruvian Inca Orchid, also known as the Peruvian Hairless Dog comes in three varieties – large, medium, and small. This ancient breed developed naturally in Peru and drawings of it can be found on pottery dating back to 750 AD.

Being a hairless dog, the Peruvian Inca Orchid doesn’t shed. Some dogs though can have a very small amount of short hair on the head, feet, and the end of the tail. But, even if this is the case, the amount of hair is minimal and it won’t create a mess in your home.

10 Standard Xoloitzcuintli

The Xoloitzcuintli is another hairless dog breed found in three sizes – standard, miniature, and toy. This breed evolved naturally in Mexico at least 3000 years ago and is also known as Xolo or Mexican Hairless Dog.

This breed has smooth and tough skin, and some dogs can have a small amount of short hair on the head, feet, and the end of the tail. Though the Xoloitzcuintli doesn’t shed, it is a high-maintenance dog that has special grooming requirements like other hairless breeds (source). 

What To Do To Stop Your Dog from Shedding?

All dogs shed to some extent and that’s completely normal. Shedding isn’t something you can stop completely, as your dog needs to shed its old hair for new hair to grow.

However, there are some things you can do to stop excessive shedding and minimize the amount of hair your dog leaves around the home. Here’s what you can do:

1. Brush Your Dog with the Right Brush

Regular brushing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce excessive shedding. Brushing is highly effective as it removes loose hair, dirt, and dander before it falls on your furniture and floors. 

Choose a brush based on your dog’s coat type and start brushing your dog from puppyhood to establish a regular grooming routine. 

2. Bathe Your Dog with a Suitable Dog Shampoo

Similar to brushing, bathing is an effective way to loosen and remove old hair and dead skin cells before your dog sheds them naturally. 

When it comes to bathing it’s important to choose a high-quality dog shampoo that won’t irritate or dry your dog’s skin or damage its coat. Secondly, you must know how often to bathe your dog as too much bathing can dry out your dog’s skin and fur.

3. Ensure Your Dog Is Eating a Balanced Diet

The food your dog eats affects its overall health and well-being, and it can also encourage excessive shedding. A diet that lacks essential nutrients can cause excessive shedding in dogs and lead to health problems in the long run.

To prevent this from happening feed your pooch with complete and balanced dog foods that contain proteins, fats, carbs, and essential vitamins and minerals. 

What Is the Lowest Maintenance Big Dog?

The Bullmastiff is the best low-maintenance large dog breed. 

Just because some dogs shed less than others, doesn’t make them easier to care for. Most big dog breeds that don’t shed require more grooming than some breeds that are considered heavy shedders.

For a dog to be considered low maintenance it has to be highly trainable, easy to groom, fairly healthy, and low energy, meaning it won’t require hours of vigorous exercise every day.

Are There Any Large Breed Hypoallergenic Dogs?

Yes, many low-shedding large breed dogs are also hypoallergenic. Large dog breeds that are less likely to cause a reaction in allergy sufferers are:

  • Afghan Hound
  • Giant Schnauzer
  • Irish Water Spaniel 
  • Peruvian Inca Orchid (large)
  • Standard Poodle
  • Portuguese Water Dog
  • Standard Xoloitzcuintli 

Conclusion

Whether you don’t have time to vacuum dog hair, or are looking for a large dog that won’t trigger your allergies, there are many amazing breeds to choose from. If you are an allergy sufferer, you must know that there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog. 

All dogs shed to some extent and they all produce dander. The trick with hypoallergenic dogs is that they produce fewer allergens than regular dogs, reducing the chance of an allergic reaction.

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