Small dog breeds that don’t shed are the dream of everyone who lives in an apartment and doesn’t like spending hours cleaning hair off their furniture, floors, and clothing.
While some people think that dealing with hair is a tax that every dog owner must pay, it’s not true at all. There are plenty of hypoallergenic dog breeds out there that don’t shed or shed very little. These dogs make perfect companions, and you can enjoy life in a stray hair-free apartment.
It’s important here to remember that these dogs still need frequent grooming every now and then, as do all dogs. So, even if these dogs don’t shed or shed very little, their coats still need to be taken care of.
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Now, let’s talk about these 11 Cut Small Dog Breeds that Don’t Shed
We’ve already listed 11 hypoallergenic dog breeds in our What dogs don’t shed hair! (11 Hypoallergenic Breeds) blog post, but we’re focusing today on small dog breeds that don’t shed hair.
Before we start though, if you want to understand why dogs shed, then I highly recommend you check out our Shedding in Dogs; Here’s the Deal blog post.
1- Maltese Terrier
Maltese terriers are ancient dogs from Malta. They’ve been around for nearly three millennia, and they haven’t changed much over the centuries. Maltese terriers are great dogs in general, but they are exceptionally great dogs for people with allergies.
Their white coats are beautiful and shed very little, but they need regular brushing in order to maintain their coats healthily and soft.
Maltese Terriers are great with children, too. They are very playful and social animals that make for excellent family companions.
A fun fact is that the Maltese are suspected to be related to the Tibetan Terrier, but the exact nature of their relationship or its origin is still unknown to this day.
2- Coton De Tulear
Credit: AKC.org
The Coton de Tulear is an intelligent, active dog that never fails to put a smile on their owner’s face. The dog is originally from Madagascar and is related to the Bichon Frise as well as the Maltese.
They have a cottony, soft coat that doesn’t cause allergic reactions which makes it suitable for people with allergies. The Coton De Tulear rarely sheds, but they need daily grooming in order to maintain the health and beauty of their coats.
Although their grooming might take some effort from you, their affectionate and lighthearted personality make it absolutely worth the effort.
3- Havanese
Spirited, friendly, and charming. This is how every Havanese dog owner describes their pooch.
This is one of the cutest small dog breeds that don’t shed much, and they make for excellent family pets. They are active pets, which means that time saved on lint rolling the furniture is going to be spent playing and exercising with it, which is a much better deal.
The Havanese still needs grooming, but it’s nothing more than the weekly brushing session and a bath every now and then to keep their coats healthy and shiny.
The Havaneses are also incredibly social animals and love spending a lot of time with their owners. In fact, it was given the nickname “Velcro Dog” because of how close these dogs keep to their owners.
4- Lhasa Apso
This is a small dog breed from the Tibet that has a distinguished look and a calm but playful personality. The Lhasa Apso doesn’t shed, but they still need grooming to maintain their coats at perfect conditions.
If you can, it’s recommended to give them a daily brush and a quick grooming routine every couple of days, but if you are living a busy life and are tight on free time, you can do what many Lhasa Apso owners do; keep their dogs clipped in a “Puppy Cut”.
Lhasa Apsos are friendly and loyal dogs who can live in an apartment. They need daily walks and they are easily entertained, which make them perfect companions for lazy nights watching Netflix together.
5- Scottish Terrier
Scottish Terriers are affectionate dogs that never fail to make their owners laugh despite their sometimes-stubborn nature. This sometimes-stubborn nature comes from their intelligence and independence, the same qualities that, combined with their natural instincts, make them excellent watchdogs.
Scottish terriers shed very little and have hypoallergenic coats, they also require minimal grooming, which makes them one of the best choices for anyone looking for a small dog.
Scottish terriers were also the dogs of two U.S. presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush, and have occupied the White House with them during their times there.
6- Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is an independent, social, ad easy-to-train dog with a hypoallergenic coat that’s easy to maintain with a puppy cut. Their hair grows continuously so frequent brushing and grooming are still necessary, along with the occasional bath when needed.
They are affectionate and playful dogs that love to spend hours with their owners playing and exercising.
The Bichon is perfectly content with living in an apartment, and they are great with children, but they don’t like spending lots of time along, so make sure to dedicate time to spend with them if you are planning on getting one.
7- West Highland White Terrier
Affectionately nicknamed “Westies”, these are playful, feisty, and energetic dogs that make for great family pets. They are very low-maintenance grooming-wise; they don’t shed much, and their coat needs to be brushed occasionally and clipped every couple of months or so.
However, these are highly-energetic dogs, and this energy will need to go somewhere. This means that leaving it in the house all day will result in a lot of chewing and noisy, constant barking.
To stop this from happening, make sure to give it plenty of exercise and playtime. Give it plenty of active time and they will be very happy dogs. These have no problem living in an apartment, but they need an active lifestyle to stay content.
8- Bolognese
I know you might be thinking: “Wait, they look very similar to the Bichon Frise”. You know what? You are right! These are two very similar-looking dogs with similar traits. They are both lapdogs with white coats that don’t shed much.
Of course, their low-shedding doesn’t mean their fluffy coats don’t need maintenance, but it’s nothing a daily brushing can’t do. Daily brushing is important to pick up the dead hair in the coat, otherwise, they will fall on your furniture and floors.
9- Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a breed with a history that’s very tough to compete with. These dogs were the favored house pet of the Tang Dynasty, meaning these are dogs with a royal ancestry, and you can definitely tell.
They have long, silky hair that gives them this dignified and noble look when brushed.
10- Brussels Griffon
The Brussel Griffon is a friendly dog with excellent watchdog capabilities. These are hypoallergenic dogs, and despite the thick-looking coats, they hardly shed any hair at all.
Brussel Griffons are excellent family pets and are great with children, but they tend to form a stronger bond with one person more than the rest of the family. Brussel Griffons are also very smart and expressive dogs, which make them super fun to spend time with.
11- Yorkshire Terrier
No list of small dog breeds that don’t shed is complete without a Yorkshire terrier. These adorable, affectionate small dogs are full of personality. Their cute look and fun personality have made them the 7th most popular breed in the USA, something that comes as a surprise to no one.
As for shedding these don’t shed much as long as your brush them regularly, which is another reason that many people love them as apartment pets.
Did you find the breed you like? If you are still looking for a hypoallergenic dog that won’t fill your apartment with hair, check out these 15 Dog breeds that dong’s shed for a Pet-Hair free life.
