17 Dog Breeds That Shed the Most (And the Ones That Shed the Least!)
By Laura Dorr,
10 hours ago
Not all dogs are created equal when it comes to shedding. Some dogs shed their fur extensively, some moderately, and some don’t shed much at all. With so many differences in coat types, fur length, and hair variation, not all dogs shed the same. Here are 17 dog breeds that shed the most (and a few that shed the least!).
17. Australian Shepherd
This dog’s beautiful coat looks amazing until it sheds all over your couch.
Australian shepherds are known for their colorful patterned coats — and also how much those coats shed. These plucky dogs have a double coat, including a coarse outer (or top) coat and a dense undercoat. Lucky Aussie owners can prepare to deal with year-round shedding, with heavier shedding in the spring and fall. This heavy shedding is known as a “blow coat” where the dog’s undercoat “blows” out, leaving large tufts of soft fur everywhere.
This compact, tenacious dog may not be big, but it has a surprising amount of fur! While Shibas are short-haired dogs, they too have a double coat that has two shedding seasons. Brushing these dogs regularly can help cut down on excessive shedding but beware: Shibas have a stubborn, confident personality and may object to the attention!
Another owner of a double coat, the border collie is a medium-sized dog with long fur. This means more surface area for that thick coat! Border collies weigh between 30-45 pounds and were bred to be herding dogs. If they don’t have sheep to look after, they’ll happily herd the neighborhood children. (At least this way they are outside and won’t shed in your house!)
14. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh corgis were favorites of Queen Elizabeth of England.
The preferred dog of the former queen of England, the corgi has a long, short body with a very thick coat. While it’s unlikely the queen had to clean up all the fur that came off these high shedders, an average owner will have a lot of fur to contend with. Corgis come in a variety of colors including fawn, black and tan, red, and sable, and some have white markings — ensuring that no matter the color of your wardrobe, corgi fur will stick out.
13. Samoyed
Samoyeds are native to Siberia where they were used to herd
It comes as no surprise that Samoyeds are heavy shedders, considering they are basically just a giant ball of poofy white fur. Their double coat is incredibly thick, so regular brushing is critical to prevent snarling and matting. Luckily, the Samoyed’s unique fur is easy to clean, as dirt doesn’t stick to them like it does other types of fur.
12. Labrador Retriever
Labradors come in three color variations: Yellow, chocolate, and black.
Oh, look, another dog with a double coat making the top shedders list! The Labrador has long been one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, losing its top spot in 2023 for the first time in 30 years to the French bulldog. This doesn’t mean lab hair is deterring many people though: A 2023 Forbes survey found that Labradors ranked fourth for favorite dog breed in the United States, with 10 states choosing the breed as their favorite dog.
11. Old English Sheepdog
Old English sheepdogs became popular thanks to a Disney movie.
Disney’s The Shaggy Dog was released in the 1960s, and it skyrocketed the Old English sheepdog’s popularity. Truly the archetypal shaggy dog, the sheepdog has long, fluffy fur that can cover its entire face. These gentle giants can reach over 100 pounds and stand up to 2 feet at the shoulder. Despite the amount of fur that they leave behind, they make great family pets, as they are extremely affectionate and ranked by the American Kennel Club as being good with young children .
If you’re looking for a giant furry dog, look no further than the Great Pyrenees. This thick-coated breed can be almost 3 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 160 pounds. All of that hulking body is covered in a long double coat that sheds year-round. Regular brushing can help minimize shedding, but it will only go so far. Be prepared for everything to be covered in white fur if you adopt a Pyrenees.
9. Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards were once used for search-and-rescue missions in the Alps.
Roll over, Beethoven, because you’re going to be astonished by the amount of fur these dogs can produce! But their fur isn’t the only thing that they are great at spreading around: The Saint Bernard also ranked number one on our list of the dogs that drool the most. These massive dogs come in long- and short-haired varieties, but both shed a lot. You’ll just have to decide if you want tumbleweeds of short fur or long fur blowing around your house.
8. Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are considered the fourth-smartest dog breed.
The ever-popular golden retriever is an eager-to-please, affectionate breed that will surely make you smile. What might not make you happy is the amount of undercoat these dogs can blow out. Golden retrievers blow their coats in the spring in preparation for warmer summer weather, and then again in the fall before cooler weather arrives. Shedding brushes can help reduce this seasonal fur explosion, but the bottom line is golden retrievers can shed with the best of them.
These majestic-looking dogs (that the Chinese call Songshi Quan or “puffy lion dogs”) have thick coats and big ruffs. The fluffy Chow may not shed much on a daily basis but beware of their heavy seasonal shed! Chows shed their undercoat in large clumps that you can sometimes pull out with your hands. Frequent grooming is critical for these big puffballs to prevent mats and remove dirt and grime. While excessive bathing can dry out their skin, a dip every six weeks or so can help keep their coats fresh.
If you’re looking for a hypoallergenic dog, the Bernese is not the answer. These dogs shed year-round with the trademark twice-a-year undercoat blowouts. A large, long-haired breed, Berners can weigh up to 110 pounds and are big and powerful. Bernese make great farm dogs since they are good at herding and droving, but regular grooming is important to remove outdoor debris from their thick coats.
5. American Eskimo
American Eskimo dogs are very loyal and like to be with their owners.
Sometimes confused with the Samoyed, the American Eskimo is a much smaller breed. Weighing 18-25 pounds, the Eskimo doesn’t have much body mass, and is seemingly mostly fur! Highly intelligent, the breed has a white fluffy coat with a dense undercoat. Eskimos shed year-round, so grooming and brushing two to three times per week is imperative to keep their coats looking good.
4. German Shepherd
Though typically black and brown, German shepherds can be all-black.
The dense coat of a German shepherd is made of shorter hairs, but that doesn’t mean they shed less than longer-haired breeds. The shepherd’s thick undercoat helps keep them well insulated from cold temperatures. This is particularly important as the breed is often used as a working dog outside for police, search-and-rescue, disability support, and herding.
3. Siberian Husky
Huskies often have heterochromia or two different-colored eyes.
Balto was perhaps the most famous husky, and while his life-saving endeavors were extraordinary, the husky is truly impressive when it comes to shedding. The upside of the husky’s year-round shedding is that you rarely have to bathe them since dirt falls off as they shed. The downside is that your furniture will never, ever be free of fur with number three on our list of dog breeds that shed the most.
Bred to haul heavy loads as a sled dog, the Malamute needs its dense coat to protect it from cold temperatures and inclement weather. The Malamute’s double coat is unrivaled in density and the wooly undercoat can be up to 2 inches thick. Malamutes are often mistaken for the more commonly known husky. However, the Malamute is significantly larger. While huskies generally weigh 35-60 pounds, Malamutes average 75-100 pounds.
Akita’s are known foremost for their courage and loyalty, but their thick coats are noteworthy as well. Originally bred to hunt bears in Japan, their dense coat comes in a variety of colors that all have one thing in common: Extreme shedding. Since they are such large dogs, they shed a lot of fur. While they primarily shed in the spring and fall, the sheer amount of fur can be overwhelming.
A list of dog breeds that shed the most wouldn’t be complete without knowing which dogs shed the least! If you’re looking for a more hypoallergenic dog, consider a dog with fur instead of hair. While both are composed of keratin, dog hair is smoother and finer and only has one layer, while fur is denser. Dogs with a double coat are generally said to have fur, while single-layer-coat dogs have hair.
Lucky for folks with allergies, dogs with hair are generally less allergenic than dogs with fur. These dogs shed less and therefore shed less dander, which is what people are allergic to.
When it comes to dogs that don’t shed as much, consider one of the following breeds.
Our Great Dane sheds a lot..No matter how much you bathe him, comb him, etc. Everytime he rubs up against us we have hair in us! It's like rolling around on shag carpet that hasn't been vacuumed.
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