Here’s a little secret – dogs with thick hair are not always the heaviest shedders!
In fact, some breeds can have short hair but leave mounds of it on the floor (and couch).
New owners of Pugs and Beagles are usually in for a big surprise.
Doubled Coated
Double coated breeds are the #1 offender when it comes to shedding.
These dogs have two layers of coat; a soft and thick undercoat, and a more bristly outer coat (called the guard coat). It’s the undercoat that creates most of the shedding hair around your home.
Dogs that shed a LOT
1. Beagle
This listing always surprises people (unless of course, you already own a Beagle).
When you look at their coat it appears quite short. How bad could it be?
Hint: Pretty bad.
Beagles were bred to hunt rabbits and other creatures through harsh terrain. Therefore, their coat was designed to protect them while remaining efficient. While it appears sleek, their coat has multiple layers that provides protection and warmth.
With multiple layers of hair to lose you can see why they have earned a spot on this list.
2. Basset Hound
Basset Hounds are in the same boat as Beagles. Their short yet thick coat is constantly cycling through the shedding process.
At first glace is doesn’t appear the Basset Hound has a thick coat. But appearances can be deceiving. Run your hand against the grain and you’ll find layers upon layers of fur.
For these short, yet thick coated breeds I always recommend a Rubber Curry brush. It’s simply a rubber brush with short dull stubs. You’ll brush in a circular motion and remove a shocking amount of undercoat.
3. Labrador Retriever
Labradors are wonderful companions and ready to be your best friend for life. Their enthusiasm for life have no bounds, and they’re always up for a good time.
Labs tend to vary on the shedding scale. Some owners may find they lucked out and got a dog that only needs a brush once per month and leaves minimal hair.
Unfortunately for some owners, you may have gotten a thick coated Lab and found mounds of hair stuck to every piece of furniture.
There’s no way of telling what kind of Lab you’ll end up with until they’re an adult. May the odds be ever in your favor.
4. German Shepherd
German shepherds have thick, soft coats that unsurprisingly shed extensively.
Shedding seasons hits particularly hard with shepherd breeds. During the off season you can expect moderate shedding.
Until Spring approaches that is. Then you’ll be treated to a hurricane of fur.
German Shepherds require deep brushing to remove excess undercoat. And if at all possible, have a groomer blow their coat out with a high velocity dryer. This is especially important as shedding season approaches.
5. Husky
This one should come to the surprise of no one. Huskies have thick coats designed to endure the coldest winters.
But upon the arrival of Spring weather your Husky will shed massive amount of excess coat.
Your home will be treated to a generous coating of hair that will reach into every corner. Vacuuming and lint rolling will become a way of life. And your very existence will be in service of the fur gods.
6. Malamute
Just take one look at this dog and you know (deep in your soul) that this dog is going to shed a lot.
And you are so very correct.
Meet the heaviest shedder on this list.
Like the husky, Malamutes were designed for the harsh arctic environments. Their thick coat is designed to protect them from chilly winds and snow.
The Malamute coat hairs extend out much further than a husky, so you’ll really see it when they begin to shed.
7. Pug
Here’s another one that surprises people. Again, this coat appears to be short and tight. But appearances can (again) be deceiving.
Pugs release a shocking amount of fur for such a small creature. It’s actually impressive.
And would you believe me if I said this is one the biggest shedders on this list? Well, it’s true.
You’ll find layers upon layers of hidden undercoat hidden within the Pug’s rolls of skin just waiting to get stuck to your clothes.
8. Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are a lot like their Labrador cousins but with longer hair. Some shed more than others. But with longer strings of hair it is far more noticeable.
Golden coats can also vary, from thick and “wooly”, to long and silky. It all comes down to genetics.
In either case I always recommend a good slicker brush for your Golden. Slickers separate hairs to remove tangles, while also removing undercoat. A true miracle product when it comes to these coat types.
9. Bernese Mountain Dog
Take one look at this picture and you’ll just know the type of fur you’re dealing with.
Not only to Bernese have a lot of hair to lose, they’re also just very big dogs. So you have all that extra real estate as well.
Similar to the Malamute, these are big, strong animals meant for working in the cold. Their coat was designed to protect against arctic climate.
And once spring rolls around they have no need for that extra coat. You can probably guess what happens next. Good luck.
Honorable Mention
Of course this is not every single heavy shedder, just the main culprits. Here’s a few more that could just as easily make this list on a bad day.
- Great Pyranees
- Akita
- Shiba Inu
- Corgi
- Chow Chow
- Pomeranian
- Border Collie
- Cavalier King Charles
Dogs That Shed The Least
All this loose hair sure seems like a lot of work!
Wouldn’t it be nice to get a dog that doesn’t leave tumble weeds of hair floating through your home?
There are, in fact, an assortment of dog breeds that don’t shed. However, they come with other grooming challenges. Regular brushing and haircuts are quite normal for those breeds.
A few popular non shedding dogs include:
- Poodle
- Labradoodle (although their shedding can vary)
- Bichon Frise
- Lhasa Apso
- Shih Tzu
- Westie
- Yorkie
- Schnauzer
