Do all dogs shed? Some do, some don’t
Posted on January 21st, 2011 by Michele Anderson
Image via Wikipedia
You’ve always yearned for a dog, and you’ve finally decided to take that giant step of becoming a dog owner (or “guardian,” in Berkeley, California-speak).
But you’ve been through it. Those great brunches over at your friend’s place, and you bite into a flaky, steaming, luscious scone, and — yikes — it’s riddled with dog hairs.
Or that pair of black velvet slacks that you love so much — sit down on the couch in another dog-lover friend’s house, you get up and your pants are now black-and-white, thanks to the contribution of your friend’s hairy, happily shedding Australian shepherd.
And there’s sneezing, but that’s caused by dander, the dead skin that dogs shed all over the place, including air, and that eventually finds a home in eyes and nose of dog owners. And there’s pollen that dogs, especially those with thick coats, pick up when they’re outside and they bring it back in, causing even more olfactory irritation.
Hair, hairs, everywhere. And dander. And pollen. What’s a soon-to-be dog lover to do?
There’s hope, in the form of dog breeds that don’t shed much nor attract pollen like bees to honey. Here are a few to consider:
Airedale Terrier
Basenji
Bedlington Terrier
Bichon Frise
Bolognese
Border Terrier
Brussels Griffon
Cairn Terrier
Chinese Crested
Cocker Spaniel-Poodle mix
Coton de Tulear
Havanese
Irish Water Spaniel
Kerry Blue Terrier
Labrador Retriever-Poodle mix
Lowchen
Maltese
Poodle (Toy, Miniature, and Standard)
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Schnauzer (Miniature, Standard, and Giant)
Schnauzer-Poodle mix
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Tibetan Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Wirehaired Fox Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
But hey, watch out. Just because a dog breed is not a big shedder does not mean it’ll be easy to take care of and groom. Some, like, say, the bichon frisee and the bolognese, need daily brushing.
Yes, daily.
Or a Puli, which looks like a walking mop — washing it is a major-league chore.
So, do your homework, and be on your way to dog ownership.