Fetch FinderThe lowest-shedding breeds, like Poodles, Bichon Frises, Havanese and Portuguese Water Dogs, have hair that keeps growing instead of falling out. That means much less hair on your floors and furniture, but more grooming.
Breeds rated 1/5 for shedding (the least)
Large · 40–70 lb👪 Good family dogStandard PoodleHighly intelligent, athletic and low-shedding. A good pick for people who want a bigger dog without the hair, if they budget for grooming.
Small · up to 7 lbBetter with adults or older kidsYorkshire TerrierA tiny dog with a big terrier attitude. Yorkies are affectionate, low-shedding and made for small spaces.
Small · 9–16 lb👪 Good family dogShih TzuA calm, cheerful lap dog bred purely for companionship. Shih Tzus are easygoing and great for first-time owners.
Small · 11–20 lb👪 Good family dogMiniature SchnauzerSmart, spunky and low-shedding. Mini Schnauzers are sturdy little dogs that make alert, friendly family pets.
Small · 7–13 lb👪 Great family dogHavaneseOutgoing, gentle and eager to please. The Havanese is one of the best small breeds for families and first-time owners.
Small · under 7 lbBetter with adults or older kidsMalteseA gentle, playful toy breed with a silky white coat that barely sheds. Maltese love being close to their people.
Small · 12–18 lb👪 Great family dogBichon FriseA cheerful, fluffy companion that gets along with everyone. Bichons are low-shedding and easy for beginners.
Small · 10–15 lb👪 Good family dogMiniature PoodleAll the brains of the Standard Poodle in a small, apartment-friendly size. Very trainable and low-shedding.
Medium · 35–60 lb👪 Good family dogPortuguese Water DogAn athletic, water-loving working dog with a low-shedding curly coat. Smart, playful and great with active families.
Medium · 30–40 lb👪 Good family dogSoft Coated Wheaten TerrierA happy, bouncy terrier with a silky low-shedding coat. Wheatens are affectionate and less scrappy than most terriers.
Large · 45–68 lbBetter with adults or older kidsIrish Water SpanielA curly-coated water dog with a clown's personality and a rat-like tail. Smart, playful and low-shedding.
Medium · 24–35 lb👪 Good family dogLagotto RomagnoloAn Italian truffle-hunting dog with a curly, low-shedding coat. Smart, loving and a great nose-work partner.
Medium · 35–65 lb👪 Great family dogBarbetA shaggy French water dog with a joyful, friendly nature. Barbets are low-shedding, affectionate and great swimmers.
Large · 50–60 lbBetter with adults or older kidsAfghan HoundA glamorous sighthound with a long, silky coat. Afghans are aloof and dignified, with a silly side.
Small · 22–24 lbBetter with adults or older kidsBasenjiThe "barkless dog" from Africa, which yodels instead. Clean, catlike and clever, but independent.
Medium · 45–55 lb👪 Good family dogPharaoh HoundA sleek, red sighthound that "blushes" when happy. Friendly, playful and graceful.
Small · 17–26 lb👪 Good family dogCirneco dell'EtnaA slim, ginger sighthound from Sicily's Mount Etna. Friendly, affectionate and fast.
Large · 33–55 lbBetter with adults or older kidsAzawakhA very lean, elegant sighthound from the Sahara. Loyal to its family and protective, wary of strangers.
Small · 17–23 lb👪 Good family dogBedlington TerrierA lamb-like terrier with a curly, low-shedding coat. Gentle at home, quick and tough outdoors.
Medium · 33–40 lb👪 Good family dogKerry Blue TerrierA soft, blue-gray, low-shedding terrier from Ireland. Smart, alert and protective of family.
Small · 14–24 lb👪 Good family dogCesky TerrierA soft-coated Czech terrier that's calmer and more reserved than most terriers. Loyal and gentle.
Small · 12–16 lb👪 Good family dogAmerican Hairless TerrierA hairless (or very short-coated) terrier that's playful, smart and easy to train. Popular with people who have allergies.
Small · 3.5–7 lbBetter with adults or older kidsToy Fox TerrierA tiny, spirited terrier with big-dog confidence. Smart, easy to train and very loyal.
Small · 8–10 lbBetter with adults or older kidsSilky TerrierA toy terrier with a long, silky coat and a feisty personality. Bigger attitude than a Yorkie.
Small · 8–12 lbBetter with adults or older kidsChinese CrestedA toy breed that comes hairless or fully coated (the Powderpuff). Playful, loving and very attached.
Small · 10–15 lb👪 Good family dogLöwchenThe "little lion dog," often clipped with a lion-style mane. Lively, affectionate and low-shedding.
Small · 4–8 lbBetter with adults or older kidsBiewer TerrierA tri-colored toy terrier related to the Yorkie. Playful, friendly and low-shedding.
Small · 4.5–11 lb👪 Good family dogRussian Tsvetnaya BolonkaA fluffy, colorful lap dog from Russia, newly AKC-recognized in 2026. Gentle, happy and easy to live with.
Small · 8–15 lb👪 Great family dogCoton de TulearA cotton-soft, white companion dog from Madagascar. Happy, gentle and wonderful with families.
Small · 12–18 lbBetter with adults or older kidsLhasa ApsoA long-coated watchdog from Tibetan monasteries. Confident, independent and wary of strangers.
Medium · 18–30 lb👪 Good family dogTibetan TerrierA shaggy, loyal companion from Tibet (not really a terrier). Sensitive, gentle and long-lived.
Medium · 10–55 lb👪 Good family dogXoloitzcuintliThe ancient hairless dog of Mexico, in toy, miniature and standard sizes. Calm, loyal and alert.
Medium · 30–50 lb👪 Good family dogStandard SchnauzerThe original schnauzer: smart, bold and a great watchdog. Low-shedding and very loyal.
Large · 55–85 lbBetter with adults or older kidsGiant SchnauzerA big, powerful working schnauzer that's smart and protective. Needs a lot of exercise and training.
Large · 80–100+ lbBetter with adults or older kidsKomondorThe famous "mop dog," with a corded white coat. A serious flock guardian that protects its family.
Medium · 25–35 lb👪 Good family dogPuliA small Hungarian herding dog with a corded coat. Smart, agile and devoted.
Large · 57–84 lb👪 Good family dogBergamasco SheepdogAn Italian flock dog with a unique felted coat. Calm, patient and independent.
Medium · 31–49 lbBetter with adults or older kidsSpanish Water DogA curly-coated herding and water dog from Spain. Smart, loyal and wary of strangers.
Small · 22–29 lbBetter with adults or older kidsPumiA curly-coated Hungarian herding dog with whimsical ears. Lively, clever and vocal.Are any dogs really hypoallergenic?
No dog is 100% allergy-free. Allergies are triggered mostly by proteins in a dog's skin flakes, saliva and urine, not just its hair. Low-shedding breeds spread less of that around the house, so many people with mild allergies do better with them, but reactions vary from person to person and even dog to dog.
If you have allergies:
- Spend time with the breed before committing.
- Talk to your doctor about how severe your allergies are.
- Keep the dog out of your bedroom and use a HEPA air purifier.
The trade-off: grooming
Low-shedding coats keep growing, so most need professional grooming every 4–8 weeks, about $300–$1,300 a year. Factor that into your budget with the dog cost calculator.