If you are thinking of a dog and would like to investigate the breeds that won’t leave your house hairy, consider one of the breeds that has continuously growing hair.

We all think of poodles when we think of so-called hypoallergenic dogs that don’t shed. The truth is that people can be allergic to poodles, the same as any other breed. The reason why the poodle has gained the hypoallergenic status, is that they don’t shed. This can certainly be of benefit when you are after a pet who won’t leave the house in a complete hairy mess.

These breeds can be high maintenance and need daily brushing to avoid tangles. Because the coat is hair, not fur, the coat will keep on growing until it is cut. Hair grows at the rate of 1cm per month so your dog will most likely need a trip to the hairdresser every 3 months. The cost of a dog groom can vary, but you will need to budget for $70-$100 per groom, or invest in a set of clippers yourself.

The following breeds have a single coat and are suitable for some allergy sufferers.

• Airedale
• Bichon fries
• Bedlington terrier
• Curly coated retriever
• Irish water spaniel
• Maltese
• Papillion
• Pekinese
• Pomeranian
• Poodle
• Portuguese water dog
• Schnauzers
• Shih tzu
• Soft-coated wheaten terrier
• Tibetan Spaniel
• Wire-haired fox terrier
• Yorkshire Terrier

MIXED BREEDS

Mixed breed dogs that are crossed with poodles (cavoodles, moodles, labradoodles etc.) are also known to be less likely to shed, but check and see what the coat looks like, as they could have a coat that is more similar to the other parent, rather than a poodle coat.

SHORT-HAIRED BREEDS

Dogs with a short coat, such as the Labrador or Fox Terrier are high-shedders, as their coat grows to a certain length, then drops out. This happens quicker for shorter hair length breeds. However for dogs such as golden retrievers, a known shedder, the hair can seem more plentiful because it is longer. That being said, there are some short-haired dogs that are low shedders including:

• Boston Terrier
• Bulldogs (French and English)
• Italian Greyhound
• German Short-Haired Pointer
• Greyhound
• Pug
• Whippet
• Dachshund

HOW TO AVOID SHEDDING

The only thing to avoid shedding is daily brushing to get rid of those dead hairs before they fall on the carpet. Keeping the skin healthy and parasite free is also important. A dog that is stressed or has fleas will shed more, as will a dog with allergies. If  your dog is a heavy shedder it is worthwhile asking your vet to check his skin and perhaps even check for diseases such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease that can lead to hair loss. Dogs will also shed throughout winter if they are inside under artificial lighting.

HAIRLESS BREEDS

If you want a true non-shedder with a low maintenance coat, consider one of the hairless breeds, such as the Mexican hairless, Xoloitzcuintle, Peruvian Inca Orchid, Hairless Khala and American Hairless Terrier.

Whatever the breed, all dogs have hair, some have hair more similar to ours, which can fall out, but generally keeps growing until it is cut. While others have shorter fur that essentially grows to a certain length then drops out. Many dogs have a mix of fur and hair, with a softer downy undercoat and coarser hair over the top. If you want a completely hair-free house, aim for a dog with a continuously growing hair coat and keep that coat as short as possible.