A dog that never needs a comb still sheds, still tracks in mud, and still needs its ears checked — but a short haired dog breed cuts grooming time down to minutes instead of hours. That trade-off is one reason the French Bulldog has held the top spot on the American Kennel Club’s popularity list for years running. The French Bulldog continues to top the rankings at the No. 1 spot for the fourth year in a row, and plenty of other sleek-coated breeds sit right behind it.
This list walks through 35 short-haired dog breeds, from tiny apartment companions to farm-ready working dogs. It includes several of the most popular black dog breeds for families who want a low-shed companion in a dark coat, along with giants, sighthounds, and a few surprises that don’t quite fit the sleek-coat mold. Whether the goal is a jogging partner or a couch-loving lap dog, there’s a match somewhere on this list.
Pro Tip: Not all short coats are equal. Look for a dog breed that has a short, single-layered coat, meaning they lack an undercoat, which makes them easier to groom compared to short-haired breeds with a double-layered coat. Double-coated breeds still shed heavily even with short hair, so ask breeders or shelters about coat type before assuming “short” means “low-shed.”
1. Basenji
The Basenji is a small-to-medium hunting breed from Central Africa, and it looks the part: Basenjis are elegant and athletic small-to-medium dogs with a short coat, curled tail and alert, expressive face. All pet dogs, including the Basenji, belong to the species Canis lupus familiaris, but this breed’s fastidious, cat-like self-grooming habits and near-silent vocalizations make it feel like a different animal entirely.
Basenjis clean themselves the way cats do, which is part of why some owners compare their personalities to cat breeds that act like dogs. They’re independent, intelligent, and not especially interested in constant affection, so they suit experienced owners more than first-timers looking for a clingy companion.
2. Boxer
Boxers are muscular, medium-to-large dogs with a smooth fawn or brindle coat and an unmistakable underbite. Boxers hail from Germany and were developed in the 1800s, and despite their fighting title, they’re friendly and cheerful. That combination of strength and goofiness has kept the breed consistently near the top of America’s favorite-dog lists for years.
Boxers need real daily exercise or they’ll invent their own entertainment, which often means chasing their own tails or racing laps around the living room. Owners curious about that habit can read more about why dogs chase their tails for the behavioral reasoning behind it.
3. Chihuahua (short-haired)
The short-coated Chihuahua is a tiny, big-personality toy breed with roots that trace back to Mexican dog breeds and ancient companion dogs of Mesoamerica. Coat care is about as easy as it gets: the short-hair Chihuahua only needs occasional brushing, but regular baths, to remove old fur and distribute their natural oils.
Despite the small size, Chihuahuas are alert, fiercely loyal to their chosen person, and often bossier than dogs many times their weight. They do best with gentle handling and are a poor match for households with very young children who might mishandle them.
4. Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is a miniature sighthound with the same lean build and quiet elegance as its full-sized cousin, just scaled down to 7 to 14 pounds. Its coat is fine and single-layered, which means it offers almost no insulation against cold weather.
That thin coat makes Italian Greyhounds surprisingly delicate outdoors in winter, and most owners keep a wardrobe of dog sweaters and coats on hand once temperatures drop. Indoors, they’re famously couch-oriented, happiest curled under a blanket rather than patrolling a yard.
5. Dachshund (smooth coat)
The smooth-coated Dachshund is the original version of the breed, and it’s the ancestor of the fuzzier varieties that came later. One theory is that smooth Dachshunds would occasionally produce puppies with slightly longer hair, and by selectively breeding these animals, breeders eventually produced a dog which consistently produced long-haired offspring — which is how the long-haired Dachshund came to exist.
Smooth Dachshunds still show the same wide range of personalities found across the breed, from bold and fearless to stubborn and independent. For readers curious how coat length changes the grooming picture, this comparison of long-haired dog breeds covers the other end of the spectrum.
6. Vizsla
The Vizsla is a Hungarian pointing breed with a rust-colored, single-layer coat that lies close to the body and needs almost no brushing. Vizslas are famous for their “Velcro dog” attachment to their people, following owners from room to room rather than settling in independently.
The breed’s wirehaired cousin has recently surged in AKC registrations, but smooth-coated Vizslas remain the more common version in most American homes. Both share the same high energy and need for daily off-leash running or structured exercise.
7. Greyhound
Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed on record, built with a deep chest, long legs, and a coat so thin it barely counts as fur. Short-haired but long-legged, greyhounds are slender sighthounds who make for great hunting dogs, though most retired racers spend their days sleeping 18 hours or more.
Despite their racing reputation, Greyhounds are among the calmest large breeds indoors, earning them the nickname “45-mile-per-hour couch potatoes.” Their thin coats mean they need a jacket in cold weather and shouldn’t be left outside for long stretches in winter.
8. Whippet
The Whippet is essentially a smaller, quieter version of the Greyhound, built for short bursts of speed rather than long-distance work. Short-haired dog breeds are often more tolerant of hot weather, and the whippet, with his minimal body fat, handles heat especially well, though he may need help from a cozy sweater to protect from cold climates when outdoors.
Whippets are gentle, quiet, and surprisingly good with children given their sighthound speed instincts. They rarely bark, making them a solid pick for apartment living as long as they get a daily sprint session in a fenced area.
9. Doberman
The Doberman Pinscher carries one of the lowest-maintenance coats of any working breed, needing little more than an occasional wipe-down to stay clean. Black and tan is the most recognizable color combination, and it’s part of why the Doberman consistently ranks among the most popular large black dog breeds in the United States.
Bred originally as a personal protection dog in Germany, the modern Doberman is loyal, highly trainable, and more affectionate with family than its intimidating reputation suggests. They need firm, early socialization and plenty of physical and mental exercise to stay balanced.
10. Boston Terrier
Nicknamed the “American gentleman” for its tuxedo-like black-and-white markings, the Boston Terrier is a compact, small breed that typically tops out around 25 pounds. The coat is smooth, short, and easy to maintain, though the breed’s flat face makes it sensitive to heat and strenuous exercise in warm months.
Bostons are playful, affectionate, and generally easygoing with children and other pets, which has made them a steady favorite in American cities for decades. They snore, snort, and wheeze more than most breeds on this list, which is worth knowing before bringing one home.
11. French Bulldog
The French Bulldog has become the single most requested short-haired dog breed in the country. 2025 marks the fourth year in a row that the French Bulldog has been able to remain in the top spot, after overthrowing the Labrador Retriever’s 31-year reign in the number one spot in 2022. Their compact, bat-eared build and low-shedding coat make them an obvious fit for apartment living.
Frenchies love people, tend not to single out one favorite family member, and generally do well with kids. They also don’t tolerate heat well and are prone to breathing issues, so anyone comparing bulldog-type breeds might also look at what goes into a shorty bull, a related bulldog mix built with some of the same considerations in mind.
12. English Bulldog
The English Bulldog is a thick-set, wrinkled breed with a short, smooth coat that needs only light weekly brushing. Its low-slung build and heavy head give it a calm, almost lazy energy level compared to most other breeds on this list.
Skin folds need regular wiping to prevent irritation, and the breed’s flat face means it overheats faster than most dogs, so summer walks should stay short and shaded. English Bulldogs are patient with children and tend to bond closely with their household rather than strangers.
13. Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is built almost entirely around its nose, with loose, wrinkled skin and long, drooping ears that are thought to help trap and funnel scent particles toward the nostrils while tracking. Its short, dense coat sheds moderately but needs little more than weekly brushing.
Bloodhounds are famous for search-and-rescue and law enforcement tracking work, but at home they’re gentle, affectionate, and a little stubborn once a scent trail grabs their attention. They drool heavily, so this isn’t the breed for anyone who dislikes wiping slobber off furniture.
14. Pug
The Pug is instantly recognizable by its wrinkled face and curious, expressive eyes. The Pug was shaped for close indoor living and human company, and its compact size makes it easy to share space, even in smaller homes. The coat feels smooth and tight but still sheds noticeably for such a small dog.
Because Pugs are brachycephalic, or flat-faced, heat management matters more for this breed than most others on this list. A few basics go a long way:
- Keep walks short and scheduled for early morning or evening in warm months
- Watch for loud, labored breathing during play and stop activity if it appears
- Provide air conditioning or a cool room during summer heat
- Clean facial wrinkles regularly to prevent skin irritation
15. Beagle
The Beagle is a small-to-medium scent hound with a dense, weather-resistant coat that needs only weekly brushing to stay neat. Their friendly, food-motivated personality has made them one of the most consistently popular family dogs in America for generations.
Beagles are vocal, with a distinctive bay that carries much farther than their size suggests, so apartment living can be a challenge without training. Their nose-first curiosity means a secure fence is essential, since a good scent trail can override recall commands entirely.
16. Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is easy to spot thanks to its sleek silver-gray coat, a color unique enough that the breed earned the nickname “gray ghost.” According to the American Kennel Club, this breed was originally bred in Germany as a skilled hunting dog, prized for tracking large game across open land, and its silver coat and quiet speed in the field earned it that nickname.
Weimaraners are athletic, intelligent, and need serious daily exercise to stay calm indoors. They do well with children in active households but can become destructive if left alone too often without enough physical and mental outlets.
17. Basset Hound
The Basset Hound has one of the most recognizable silhouettes in dogdom, with a low, long body, droopy ears, and soulful eyes. Its short coat sheds moderately but requires minimal upkeep beyond weekly brushing and regular ear cleaning to prevent infections.
Basset Hounds are patient, mellow, and slow-moving, which makes them a good fit for families who want a hound’s nose without a hound’s endless energy. They’re stubborn during training, so consistency matters more than intensity when teaching commands.
18. Black Mouth Cur
The Black Mouth Cur is an American working breed developed in the rural South for hunting, herding, and general farm duty. Its coat is short, dense, and requires almost no grooming beyond an occasional brush during shedding season, which puts it firmly among the practical, low-shedding dog breeds favored by rural households.
These dogs are loyal, protective, and highly trainable, but their working drive means they need a job or serious daily exercise to stay content. A bored Black Mouth Cur in a small yard is a recipe for digging and fence-testing.
19. Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is named for the distinctive strip of reverse-growing hair along its spine, a trait unique among most recognized breeds. Beyond that ridge, the coat is short, sleek, and genuinely low-maintenance for a large dog, needing only occasional brushing to stay clean.
Originally bred in southern Africa to help track lions, Ridgebacks are calm, loyal, and surprisingly gentle with their own families despite their size and history. They’re independent thinkers, so training works best with patient, consistent handling rather than repetition alone.
20. Catahoula Leopard Dog
The Catahoula Leopard Dog is Louisiana’s state dog, known for its striking merle coat pattern and often strikingly pale or multicolored eyes. Its short coat sheds seasonally but needs little regular grooming beyond the basics.
Bred for herding cattle and hunting wild hogs in swampy terrain, Catahoulas share many traits with other herding dog breeds: high intelligence, strong work drive, and a tendency to nip at heels when bored. They need an experienced owner who can channel that drive into structured work or vigorous exercise.
21. Pharaoh Hound
The Pharaoh Hound is Malta’s national breed, a lean sighthound with a tan, close-lying coat and large, upright ears. One of its most talked-about traits is that its nose and ears flush pink when the dog is excited or happy, a rare and distinctive feature among dog breeds.
Pharaoh Hounds are affectionate with family but retain a strong independent streak and a sighthound’s instinct to chase small, fast-moving animals. Their coat offers little insulation, so they’re best suited to warmer climates or homes willing to provide cold-weather gear.
22. Plott Hound
The Plott Hound is North Carolina’s official state dog, bred over generations for trailing big game like bears and wild boar across rugged terrain. Its brindle coat is short, coarse, and weather-resistant, requiring minimal grooming even after a day spent working outdoors.
Plott Hounds are loyal, courageous, and vocal on a trail, with a bay that carries for long distances. The table below compares several scent and sight hounds from this list side by side:
| Breed | Primary Role | Typical Adult Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodhound | Scent tracking | 80–110 lbs |
| Beagle | Small-game scent hound | 18–30 lbs |
| Basset Hound | Rabbit and small-game trailing | 40–65 lbs |
| Catahoula Leopard Dog | Herding and hog hunting | 50–95 lbs |
| Black Mouth Cur | General farm and hunting work | 40–95 lbs |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | Big-game tracking | 70–85 lbs |
| Pharaoh Hound | Sight hunting, rabbit coursing | 45–55 lbs |
| Plott Hound | Big-game trailing | 40–60 lbs |
23. Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is a small, all-American farm dog originally bred to control rodent populations around barns and homesteads. Its coat is short, smooth, and effectively maintenance-free, needing nothing more than an occasional wipe-down.
Despite their small size, Rat Terriers are athletic, alert, and often surprisingly good at agility and earthdog trials. They’re energetic and need daily activity, or that energy tends to show up as digging, chewing, or excessive barking.
24. Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a French mastiff breed with a massive, wrinkled head and a short, fine coat that requires minimal brushing. Popularized in the United States partly through film appearances, the breed is powerfully built but surprisingly gentle and affectionate with its family.
Like most giant breeds, the Dogue de Bordeaux tends toward a shorter lifespan than smaller dogs, so prospective owners should research health screening and reputable breeders carefully. Heavy drooling and snoring come standard with the breed’s heavy jowls.
25. Neapolitan Mastiff
The Neapolitan Mastiff is an Italian guardian breed known for its enormous, loose, hanging skin and imposing size, often exceeding 150 pounds. Its short coat is easy to maintain, though the deep wrinkles require regular cleaning to prevent skin infections.
Common in black and mahogany shades, the Neapolitan Mastiff is one of the more intimidating large black dog breeds families consider for serious home protection. Despite the guardian instinct, they’re typically calm and devoted indoors, though their size and drool output demand a household prepared for both.
26. Bullmastiff
The Bullmastiff combines Bulldog tenacity with Mastiff size, producing a powerful guardian breed with a short, dense coat that sheds moderately but grooms easily. Most Bullmastiffs come in fawn, red, or brindle rather than black, distinguishing them from some of their giant-breed cousins.
Bullmastiffs are quiet, watchful, and protective without being aggressive, making them a popular choice for families who want a serious deterrent without constant barking. The table below compares several giant guardian breeds from this list:
| Breed | Typical Adult Weight | Guarding Style |
|---|---|---|
| Dogue de Bordeaux | 99–110 lbs | Territorial, family-focused |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | 110–150+ lbs | Imposing presence, low activity |
| Bullmastiff | 100–130 lbs | Quiet, watchful, non-aggressive |
| Great Dane | 110–175 lbs | Gentle, alert companion |
27. Manchester Terrier
The Manchester Terrier is a sleek, small-to-medium terrier developed in England originally for ratting and small-game hunting. Its short, glossy black-and-tan coat needs almost no grooming beyond an occasional wipe, making it one of the tidier small black dog breeds on this list.
Manchester Terriers are alert, energetic, and often reserved with strangers while being deeply affectionate with their own household. They need consistent exercise and mental stimulation, since boredom quickly turns into digging or excessive barking.
28. Great Dane
Dubbed the “Apollo of Dogs,” the Great Dane is as kind and easygoing as it is tall, and when one stands on its hind legs, it’s taller than most people. As far as large short-haired breeds go, the Great Dane’s coat is pretty easy to care for, needing only weekly brushing except during shedding season. Black is one of the breed’s standard AKC-recognized colors, making the Great Dane a top pick among large black dog breeds for families who have the space for a genuine gentle giant.
Great Danes are famously calm indoors for their size, often behaving more like an oversized lap dog than a guard dog. As with other giant breeds, prospective owners should research health testing carefully, since size often correlates with a shorter lifespan.
29. Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer has a distinctive bearded muzzle and wiry eyebrows, though its body coat underneath the furnishings is relatively short and dense. Solid black and salt-and-pepper are the two most common color patterns, making it one of the more recognizable small black dog breeds in American neighborhoods.
Miniature Schnauzers are intelligent, alert, and consistently rank among the most popular small breeds in the country thanks to their low-shedding coat and adaptable size. They need regular professional grooming for the beard and leg furnishings even though the body coat itself is easy to maintain.
30. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is an unusual entry on any short-haired list because it actually comes in two distinct varieties: the hairless type, with skin exposed except for tufts on the head, tail, and feet, and the “Powderpuff,” which carries a full, soft double coat.
Important Note: Neither Chinese Crested variety is truly “short-haired” in the conventional sense. The hairless variety has essentially no coat to groom, while the Powderpuff has a longer, silkier coat that needs regular brushing, so this breed sits outside the typical sleek-coat category covered elsewhere on this list.
31. Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is another breed that doesn’t fit neatly into the sleek-coat mold most people picture when they hear “short-haired dog breeds.” Its individual hairs are relatively short, but the texture is soft and curly, creating a fluffy, rounded appearance rather than the smooth, close coat seen on breeds like the Boxer or Doberman.
Important Note: Because of that curl, Bichon Frise coats mat easily and require regular brushing and periodic trimming, unlike the truly low-maintenance sleek coats found on most other breeds in this guide. Owners drawn to this list for easy grooming should treat the Bichon as an exception rather than the rule.
32. German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP, is a versatile hunting breed built for endurance in the field and companionship at home. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930, and a three-year-old dog of this breed was classed “best in show” at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2016. The German Shorthaired Pointer is of medium size, with dogs standing some 62–66 cm at the withers.
Several traits explain why the GSP keeps climbing in popularity across American households:
- Versatility in the field, from bird hunting to dock diving and agility
- Endurance built for all-day activity alongside active owners
- A short, dense coat that needs only weekly brushing
- High trainability paired with genuine affection for family members
Readers curious about the breed’s ancestry can dig deeper into what breeds make a German Shorthaired Pointer, or explore the full German Shorthaired Pointer breed profile for temperament and training details. The related wire-coated variant is covered separately in this guide to what breeds make a German Wirehaired Pointer.
33. Boxer mix (AmStaff)
A Boxer mixed with an American Staffordshire Terrier blends two muscular, short-coated breeds into one athletic, loyal companion. The AKC describes the American Staffordshire Terrier side of that mix as courageous and strong, and that temperament typically carries through alongside the Boxer’s playful, clownish energy.
This mix tends to be protective of family, good with children when properly socialized, and high-energy enough to need daily structured exercise. Coat care from both parent breeds is minimal, making this cross an easy-grooming option for active households.
34. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever spent decades as America’s most popular dog before finally losing the top spot. The Labrador Retriever, who had a 31-year run as the most popular breed, is in the No. 2 spot for the third year in a row. Black is one of the three standard Labrador colors alongside yellow and chocolate, making it arguably the single most popular black dog breed for American families.
Key Insight: Black coats in short-haired breeds like the Labrador, Doberman, and Great Dane come from the same underlying pigment genetics that produce eumelanin, the dark pigment responsible for black fur, noses, and eye rims. That’s a core piece of black dog breed characteristics worth knowing if coat color matters to a prospective owner.
Labs are food-motivated to a fault, which makes training easy but also makes weight management a real concern over a dog’s lifetime. Owners should be careful about what treats and table scraps make it into the bowl; this rundown of what fruits dogs can eat is a useful reference for safe, healthy snacking options.
35. Puggle
The Puggle is a Pug and Beagle mix that inherits a short coat from both parent breeds, along with a healthy dose of shedding despite that short length. While Puggles are a short-haired breed, there’s no escaping their genetic tendency to shed a fair amount, so brushing twice a week helps minimize loose fur.
Puggles are playful, food-driven, and prone to the same silly, high-energy antics that make Beagles and Pugs so popular individually — including the occasional round of tail-chasing when bored, a habit explained in more detail in this look at why dogs chase their tails.
Across all 35 breeds on this list, a few patterns hold true: single-coated sighthounds like the Whippet and Italian Greyhound need help staying warm, giant guardians like the Dogue de Bordeaux and Neapolitan Mastiff need extra health screening, and black-coated breeds like the Labrador and Doberman remain some of the most requested family dogs in the country. For a broader roundup of coat types and grooming needs, the full short-haired dog breeds collection is a good next stop.