Are you allergic to pet hair and pet dander? Hypoallergenic breeds may be suitable for you. In this post, we explore large breeds that don’t shed or shed less. These dogs are ideal for people with allergies.
Hypoallergenic breeds and clean dog breeds in general are going to be more popular in future as we encounter pandemics such as the recent Covid19 coronavirus amongst pets, SARS virus and more to come.
Dogs are excellent human companions. However, some people refrain from having one because they tend to shed a lot. There is nothing as annoying as finding pet hair all over your pillows, sweaters, and on the floor, plus you or your visitors might be allergic to dog hair.
Luckily, it’s possible to have a sizeable canine friend that doesn’t shed. These dogs require minimum grooming, let you skip vacuuming your house too often, and save you from sneezing all the time.
Large dogs that don’t shed are awesome! It’s very easy to understand why people love them so much; they are gentle giants that make for watchful protectors and awesome snuggle buddies at the same time. Living with a dog is one of the best ways to make your life better.
Having allergies doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice the ability to live with a dog. There are still a few dog breeds that don’t shed.
We here at Dope Dog have created a list of large dogs that don’t shed, and there’s one for every personality. It doesn’t matter if you prefer a dog with a long coat, short coat, wiry coat, a hairless breed or one with cords. We have included them all in the list.
The non-shedding Komondor
The Komondor is a large, white Hungarian livestock guardian dog. They are usually recognized by their long, corded coats, normally white in color. The cords of the coat form naturally and reach their full length after about two years. With its dread-locked white hair, the Komondor closely resembles a sheep – another excellent protector.
You do need to bathe a Komondor occasionally and this can take some time. The bath itself isn’t so bad, but it can take a very long time for the cords to dry. These large, low-shedding dogs don’t need brushing, but their long and corded coats usually require extra care. If you are interested in this friendly dog, be prepared to give it plenty of exercises. A Komondor thrives best when they walk or run often. They also require strict training to obtain maximum obedience.
Socialization is integral to their training since they’re often quite shy. They are affectionate with their family and gentle with children, but they don’t trust strangers.
Weight: female (40 to 50 kg), male (50 to 60 kg).
Height: female (64 to 69 cm) male (70 to 76 cm).
Temperament: just like guard dogs, a komondor has a calm demeanor. When things are normal, it’s usually steady and relaxed. However, they can charge up very quickly and get defensive in case of attacks.
The non-shedding Airedale
Known as the “king of terriers”, the Airedale is one of the largest dog breeds that don’t shed. They are the largest of the terrier breeds. With a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, these dogs’ original purpose was hunting and farming.
An Airedale is an excellent family dog with origins in the River Aire Valley. They are sporting dogs that are also great for working. Airedales have tan and black coats.
Keep in mind that their topcoats are harsh in texture while their undercoats are very soft. The coat is hard and wiry and should lie close to the body. The breed does require frequent coat care, so plan to use a professional groomer. Airedales are alert and energetic.
These terriers don’t shed a lot, but there are specific periods when they can. They need proper management and care, including regular hand brushing. In addition, it’s recommended that pet owners give them a hand stripping at least annually. Frequently brushing them is beneficial, since it helps minimize the chances of shedding.
Airedale terriers need daily exercise to stay happy and remain healthy. The Airedale terrier is a friendly and sweet pooch that their owners all in love with pretty quickly. These agile dogs were originally bred for swimming, so you can expect them to be very active.
Weight: female ( 18 to 20 kg) , male (23 to 29 kg)
Height: female (55 to 59 cm), male ( 59 to 61 cm)
Temperament: they are playful, intelligent, confident, and sporty.
The clean Saluki
Saluki is an ancient breed originally from the desert, now considered a standardized dog breed. They were developed from the popular sighthounds. They are hunters, but unlike other dogs, they tend to use sight for hunting rather than scent. Although they originate from the agricultural area of the Fertile Crescent, they were also traced back to south Iran.
The Saluki has silky fur and sheds very little. They have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. They are delicate and gorgeous, probably two of the reasons why the pharaohs adored them. Saluki rarely needs grooming and they have a unique appearance. They are gentle dogs that have a halo of nobility around them, which is not surprising considering these were literally the dogs of the pharaohs of old Egypt.
These Olympic runners have greyhound-like features such as a feathered tail, legs, and ears. However, they also love a ‘luxury’ lifestyle; owners need to get warm blankets for them.
Independent and aloof with strangers, they can be difficult to train. They should not be let off the leash in open areas. Salukis are among the oldest dog breed, but they are shy and rarely show affection. Before they can get close to you, they need to get used to you. They understand commands quicker than other breeds but are more likely to ignore them, so it’s best to establish dominance before the training session.
Weight: 18 to 27 kg
Height: 58 to 71 cm. Note that females are usually smaller compared to males
Temperament: it’s a family dog that’s very shy to strangers. They are friendly to other canines, and they are completely devoted.
The hypoallergenic standard Poodle
They are famous for their snazzy hair and outwardly appearing entitled look that they tend to own, but despite their looks, they still make for great family pets. Poodles are also one of the healthiest dog breeds you can find.
This might sound crazy, but would you believe me if I told you that they were not always the stylish dogs they are today? In fact, Poodles have a history of being used as water retrievers as they used to fetch waterfowl out of water bodies for their hunters.
However, these versatile and intelligent dogs offer great companionship as well. The origin of this family-friendly breed is still undetermined. However, some researchers think that they’re from Germany. The old dog breed is also said to be a cross of several dogs. At the moment, poodles are the most popular dog breed in the U.S. Even though they don’t shed much, they are considered the most hypoallergenic dog. That means they need constant maintenance, brushing, and grooming.
Unlike most large breeds of dogs, poodles only have one coat. The single-layer coat is composed of a dense and curly type of fur which sheds minimally. Generally, standard poodles are easy to train, and they learn commands quickly. In addition, they are a sociable breed and combine that with their intelligence and athleticism; it makes them a skillful sporting dog.
Poodles are clever, loving, and elegant. They are one of the most elegant large dog breeds in the world, and they make for excellent pets for those with allergies.
Weight: 20 to 32 kg
Height: more than 15 inches. Their average height normally varies depending on the region.
Temperament: trainable, instinctual, loyal, and alert.
Another water dog breed, the Irish Water Spaniel is the oldest and largest type of Spaniels. It has a lifespan that ranges between 8 and 12 years. The low-shedding dog breed is originally from Ireland. In ancient times, its primary purpose was to act as a show and working dogs.
The Irish Spaniel is one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds according to the American Kennel Club. Although they don’t shed much, they have thick curls which need constant management. This helps to remove debris, bacteria, and other forms of dirt. Therefore, pet owners need to brush and groom them regularly. Additionally, they require daily exercises; otherwise they may use that excess energy to be destructive.
They are affectionate, playful animals that make for wonderful companions. As you have probably guessed by the name, they are also excellent swimmers. Although the Irish Water Spaniel is popular in Ireland, it’s not popular in the US. On average, almost 100 puppies are registered in the U.S. annually, which means that they are very rare. This is a fun-loving large breed of dog that enjoys swimming activities with their webbed feet. You will find them splashing in pools of water at any time of the day. Their active and intelligent nature makes them very easy to train. In addition, these playful and energetic dogs love attention; therefore, they can be a handful sometimes.
Weight: female( 20 to 26 kg), male (25 to 20 kg)
Height: 56 to 61 cm.
Temperament: very sensitive and alert. Besides that, it’s inquisitive or reserved breed depending on the setting.
The non-shedding Giant Schnauzer
Schnauzer has three separate breeds – miniature, standard, and giant, and even though each of them is considered a breed of its own, they share lots of similarities.
It’s considered to be one of the biggest breeds of dogs that doesn’t shed. The Giant Schnauzer has its origins in Germany, and it was first seen in the 17th century. During this period, its main purpose was to drive cattle. Besides that, they were used as guard dogs before being added into the police force.
They are bold, smart, alert and energetic. The Giant Schnauzer has a great life expectancy that ranges between 12 and 15 years. The sensitive and highly intelligent breed requires both physical and mental stimulation. Although they have wiry coats, they usually don’t shed. As a matter of fact, their shedding level ranges between minimal to none.
This breed is much larger than the Standard Schnauzer with an increased intelligence. This is because they find it easy to coordinate between instructions and actions. It should be noted that this family-friendly dog is not very easy to handle. Owners need to take them for at least two walks per day.
They need to exercise every day to stay happy and content. The Schnauzer has a double coat with a soft undercoat and a wiry topcoat. Their top coat is resistant to dirt and debris, but it still needs some hand stripping every now and then. They don’t shed much, but they still need daily brushing to reduce shedding and keep their coats clean.
Weight: female (25 to 34 kg), male (27 to 48 kg).
Height: female (60 to 65 cm), male (65 to 70 cm).
Temperament: sensitive, reliable, kind, and protective.
The less shedding Bouvier des Flandres
This thoughtful and hairy breed sheds little, but be forewarned; their furry bodies collect a lot of debris. It has a big double coat. The hairy, long, and coarse outer coat collects a lot of dirt. Therefore, the Bouvier des Flandres requires frequent grooming.
Bouvier des Flandres have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Although it’s big size can be intimidating at times, this breed is very gentle.
It’s also very easy to train because it can quickly learn commands. Even though they are obedient, they are not highly energetic. This means that they may easily get tired during intense activities. Plus, they may appear lazy, especially if you want to train them regularly. Not terribly high energy, they do like to be exercised on a regular basis. They’re assertive, protective and intelligent animals.
Bouvier des Flandres were originally bred to be a multipurpose farm dog. This dog’s origin is traced back to Belgium in Flanders. They were smart enough to herd livestock and strong enough to pull carts, imposing enough to be a guard dog.
Previously, people used to breed Bouvier des Flandres for herding purposes. It was a great companion for farming activities such as cart pulling, sheep herding, and droving cattle. Nowadays, it’s used as a guard dog thanks to its large size.
Weight: female ( 27 to 36 kg), male (36 to 54 kg)
Height: female (59 to 65 cm), male (62 to 68 cm).
Temperament: protective, intelligent, and sometimes stubborn.
The hypoallergenic designer breed Goldendoodle
A hybrid between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle is a match made in heaven. This is a dog that is everything you’d expect it to be. They’re cute, affectionate, and playful (like the Golden Retriever). They are large dogs that don’t shed. They have coats with similar characteristics of the Poodle. This makes them perfect for people with allergies.
Three F1b Toy Goldendoodle puppiesThe amazing blend of two amazing canines is responsible for its beautiful appearance and playful nature. In addition, the Goldendoodles are generally smart, and they are known as the “designer breed.” In fact, it has one of the best qualities of big dog breeds. They are big babies and owners often talk about how their large dogs are just puppies at heart.
This is an adorable breed that is often used as a guide dog for the blind. This attractive dog has three types of coat. They are the curly type, straight, and wavy. This breed’s origins have been traced back to North America, and have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
Overall, the Goldendoodles are amazing service dogs. Their obedience, as well as the level of intelligence, makes them one of the top breeds of service dogs. Apart from being great guide dogs, you can use them as sniffer or therapy dogs as well.
Weight: adults weigh between 15-20 kg.
Height: females (56 cm to 59 cm) Males (60 cm to 66 cm)
Temperament: playful, witty, obedient, and energetic.
We hope this list helped you out and that you’ll soon find the perfect, non-shedding canine. Links for further reading on this topic: All hypoallergenic breeds; designer dogs