Having a dog that never sheds at some point is impossible. The best one can hope for is a dog that sheds less.
As we examine the largest dog breeds that don’t shed in this article, it is expedient to know that there isn’t a dog that does not shed at all, only that some dogs shed more than others.
When dogs shed their hair, they get rid of dead hair so that new growth can occur.
For “non-shedding dog breeds,” the cycle of shedding takes place so slowly that it goes unnoticed.
What happens here is that these dogs shed hair that remains in their coat. Regular brushing helps to remove these dead hairs.
On the other hand, irregular brushing leads to the matting of the dead hairs, which in turn will cause tangles and pain to the dog.
Besides the hassle of cleaning, some people prefer low-shedding dogs because of allergies.
Lovers of big dogs would go for the dog breeds that don’t shed because they are considered hypoallergenic and easier to live with than the heavy-shedding breeds.
Of course, the cause of the allergy isn’t the hair (it is the Fel d 1 protein, which can be found in the dog’s urine, saliva, and skin).
But dog hair is a vector for the allergen to get around the house and into the air.
When these dogs lick their fur coat for grooming, the Fel d 1-containing saliva dries and becomes an airborne allergen.
Fel d 1 is then spread from the dander in a dog’s fur and the fur when they shed.
No wonder large dog breeds that don’t shed are considered remarkable.
They are not only less likely to provoke a reaction in allergy sufferers, but one also gets to avoid having hair all over the house, clothes, and food.
Keep reading as we explore the largest dog breeds that don’t shed.
1. Afghan Hound
Just as the name suggests, the Afghan Hound originated from Afghanistan.
They were used for hunting and served as companions to nobility.
This dog breed is not just among the largest dog breeds that don’t shed but is also considered one of the oldest.
It is said to have originated thousands of years ago in the mountain region of what is currently Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.
This dog is 25 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 50 to 60 pounds.
It is tall, lean, and powerful, with very pronounced hip bones.
It also has floppy ears. Their floppy ears mean that they easily suffer from ear infections. Olive oil is a good remedy here.
This breed has a beautiful silky and flowing coat that doesn’t shed.
The coat can be any color or combination of colors, including brindle and domino.
Beauty, they say, is pain. The Afghan hound needs a lot of maintenance to keep its beauty and good health.
Grooming involves frequent baths and brushing to stop the coat from becoming matted and tangled.
This beautiful breed can be affectionate and playful and adapt easily.
2. Komondor
The Komondor is also one of the largest dog breeds that don’t shed.
This breed is 25.5 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 80 to 100 pounds or even more.
The dog is not just large but is also muscular, with plenty of bone and substance.
This breed is native to Hungary and has been used as a livestock guardian for centuries.
It guarded the farm and family and was used to protect sheep from wolves and other predators.
The dog is covered with a heavy coat of white cords, which allows the dog to blend in with the flock.
The coat is also an adaptive feature that protects the dog from harsh weather and predators.
They are also known as “mop dogs” because of their coat. The coat is corded naturally and can grow into long white dreadlocks.
This gorgeous dog breed sheds the least, but its eye-catching appearance means it is pretty high maintenance.
Grooming the cords requires enormous care and effort to keep them clean, dry, and healthy.
The Komondor dog breed can be very loyal, which is why it can get aggressive towards new animals and highly suspicious of strangers.
Nevertheless, the dog is intelligent, affectionate, playful, and easy to train, which makes it a great choice.
3. Briard
The Briard dog breed is one of the largest dog breeds that don’t shed. It is also known as Berger de Brie.
This breed is native to France and named after the Brie history Clic region of north-central France, where it has long been used to herd sheep and guard the flocks against predators and thieves.
The dog is 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 70 to 100 pounds. The Briard dog breed is agile, solid, and has a powerful build.
This dog breed has a shaggy, coarse, long, dirt- and water-resistant coat.
It comes in shades of black, grey, blue, or fawn, or fawn overlaid with black.
Considered a low-to-no-shedding breed, grooming the coat requires quite a lot of brushing and combing to look good.
Bathing the Briard dog breed once a month and trimming its hair every few months is ideal for keeping its coat in good condition.
The Briard makes a great companion for someone who wants a lovable, but not overly dependent, dog.
This dog can be stubborn, willful, and aloof with strangers. Notwithstanding, they are affectionate, brave, and loyal.
They make a great addition to the family and will heartily participate in family activities.
4. Peruvian Inca Orchid (Hairless)
The Peruvian Inca Orchid dog breed comes in 1 of 2 types. It can be hairless or coated and comes in small, medium, and large sizes.
In this article, we will explore the large and hairless Peruvian Inca Orchid, which is also one of the largest dog breeds that don’t shed.
The Peruvian Inca Orchid originated in Peru. Here, they are also known as “Calato,” a Quechua word that means “naked, ” which alludes to its hairless appearance. It has a height of 20-26 inches and weighs 26-55 pounds.
Usually, its body is hairless, but some may have a small amount of hair on the head, feet, and tail end.
Its skin comes in various colors like brown, cream, pink, black, grey, and white. It also comes in bicolor, spotted, tricolor, or sable patterns.
Its little to non-existent hair means the breed is relatively easy to maintain. You don’t need to worry about regular brushing.
However, this does not mean that its care isn’t a priority. Failure to groom appropriately leads to the dog developing skin problems.
Caring for this breed involves the occasional bath to remove dead skin as well as protect the skin from the sun as much as possible.
A good sunscreen should be applied on its skin before heading outside, and regular moisturizing when it’s inside.
The Peruvian Inca Orchid dog breed has an elegant and athletic look.
They are affectionate, adaptable, and easy to train. They also have strong loyalty tendencies and make lively pets.
5. Giant Schnauzer
The Giant Schnauzer, as its name suggests, is a big dog. It is the largest of three related Schnauzer breeds.
The Schnauzer breeds include miniature, standard, and giant.
Although they all share many similarities, each is considered a breed of its own.
The Giant Schnauzer dog breed is native to Germany and was used as an all-around farm dog and guard dog.
This dog is among the largest dog breeds that don’t shed. It is 23.5 to 27.5 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs about 55 to 85 pounds.
The breed is robust and strongly built. It has a stiff, wiry, dense coat that sheds very little.
This coat forms a beard and eyebrows and comes in shades of solid black or pepper and salt (gray).
Grooming involves daily brushing to reduce shedding and keep their coats clean.
These dogs can be aggressive to strangers and other animals.
Nevertheless, they are alert, protective, intelligent, playful, and easy to train. Regular exercise keeps them happy and content.
6. Airedale Terrier
Another dog among the largest dog breeds that don’t shed is the Airedale Terrier.
This dog is also the largest of all the terrier breeds and accounts for why it is known as the “King of Terriers.” It is 23 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 50 to 70 pounds.
This breed was developed in England in the Aire Valley, where it functioned as a duck hunter and a rat and otter killer.
Airedale Terrier is solid and well-balanced. Its coat has two layers. The topcoat is hard, wiry, and dense, while the undercoat is softer.
The skin comes in shades of tan and black or dark grizzle.
Their coat is low shedding, and grooming involves clipping or hand stripping the coat three or four times a year.
To keep the coat tangle-free, brush weekly with a soft slicker brush.
The Airedale can be rowdy and requires lots of exercise. It has a hunter instinct and tends to chase small animals that it perceives as prey.
They get easily bored and can become destructive. Just ensure they exercise regularly, which will curb their destructive tendency.
Notwithstanding, they have a unique and adorable appearance.
The Airedale breeds are intelligent, bold, protective, and playful, making them a great home addition.Â
7. The Golden Doodle
The golden doodle is a hybrid dog breed developed from a cross between a pure-bred poodle and a pure-bred golden retriever.
The result is a large dog that doesn’t shed. It, of course, inherited the Poodle’s shedding tendency, I.e., this breed sheds less. It has a height of 17-21+ inches and weighs 50-90 pounds.
The Golden Doodle is also known as a “designer breed.” Each Golden Doodle may be a little different because it’s a mixed breed.
One may take more after the Golden Retriever, while another will be more like a Poodle.
They have double coats with a dense undercoat of short hairs. The coats can be curly and poodle-like locks or wavy like the retriever.
Their coats come in shades of black, cream, white, fawn, brown, and grey.
They are a high-maintenance breed. Because of this, their coats must be brushed regularly to keep them healthy and free from collecting bits of dirt and debris.
Overall, they are cute. Some call them gentle giants with puppy hearts.
They are also intelligent, affectionate, and playful like the golden retriever and, of course, low shedding like the Poodle.
They are typically quiet and excellent with children.
7. Standard Poodle
The Standard Poodle is among the largest dog breeds that don’t shed. They are gorgeous and intelligent.
The Poodle comes in three sizes – standard, miniature, and toy.
Standard Poodle is the largest variety developed in Germany as a water retriever.
They grow more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 40 to 70 pounds.
The Standard Poodle has a well-proportioned and smoothly muscled build.
Their coats are dense and come in many colors like white, black, silver, brown, and apricot.
They don’t shed much, but maintaining them doesn’t come easily.
Their coats must be brushed daily to prevent matting and groomed professionally every one to two months.
The frequency of coat trimming boils down to your preference.
Overall, they are clever, elegant, and easy to train. They are gorgeous and make great family pets.
9. Irish Water Spaniel
Just as its name suggests, the Irish Water Spaniel originates from Ireland. It was used as a hunting dog.
This breed is recognized as a very tall spaniel by the American Kennel Club, and it is among the largest dog breeds that doesn’t shed.
It has a height of 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs 45 to 68 pounds. It is strongly built and well-boned.
The Irish Water Spaniel has dense, tight, crisp, curly coats in solid brown and completely smooth tails.
The smooth tail here accounts for why the breed is known as “Rat Tail Spaniel.”
Grooming involves frequent brushing and regular professional grooming to keep it neat and clean.
They don’t shed much. You shouldn’t notice any shedding from the Irish Water Spaniel if brushed weekly.
The Irish Water Spaniel tends to be anxious and may not get along with other pets.
Nevertheless, it is affectionate, easy to train, and has a playful personality. They make for excellent companions.
10. Bouvier des Flandres
The Bouvier Des Flandres is among the largest dog breeds that don’t shed.
These dogs originated from Flanders, Belgium, just as their name suggests. It was initially bred to be a multi-purpose farm dog.
They were smart enough to help with herding livestock, strong enough to pull carts, and imposing enough to be guard dogs.
Today, they are used as police dogs and guard dogs.
Other names for this breed are Belgian Cattle Dog, Flanders Cattle Dog, and Vlaamse Koehond.
They make the perfect guard dog, work hard on the farm and are an excellent choice for both a service and assistance dog with the proper training.
The Bouvier has a coarse, thick double coat. Their coat has minimal shedding, and it is water-resistant.
Keeping the coat in good condition requires a lot of grooming.
Not only that, but the Bouvier makes the perfect family companion, and he is a dog that tends not to shed.
This dog breed is typically calm and quiet, contrasting sharply with its tendency to chase and nip moving things.
It can also be aggressive toward other animals. Nevertheless, they are sensible, loyal, and affectionate, making them ideal pets.
