From popular Poodles to one of the rarest retriever breeds, curly-haired dogs offer both companionship and hypoallergenic benefits thanks to their low-shedding coats.
Curly coats can trap dander rather than releasing it into the environment, which is great for allergy sufferers. While many curly-haired dogs are better for those with allergies, it’s important to remember that no dog breed is completely hypoallergenic.
“Some breeds are known to have tightly defined curls, like the Bedlington Terrier, whilst others have a range of curly hair, like the Havanese,” Emma Fisher, a PDSA vet, tells Country Living.
“Some Havanese dogs have really wavy fur, yet others have quite a straight coat. How much TLC your dog’s coat will need will depend on their fur type. Really curly fur can become matted quite easily, so you will need regular brushing to keep the curls knot-free.”
Take a look at the breeds below:
Bedlington Terrier
Known for their unique appearance and curly fur, Bedlington Terriers are named after the mining town of Bedlington in Northumberland. Despite their tight curls, they’re generally not huge fur shedders.
“A weekly brush should help you keep their fur looking nice if you prefer the natural look,” says Emma.
“This said, to get the ‘classic’ Bedlington look, you will need to get them professionally groomed around every six weeks. They’ll still need a regular brush to make sure their fur doesn’t get matted, but a lot of owners find keeping their fur shorter helps to keep it in good condition.”
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Bichon Frise
“Bichon Frises have soft curly white fur, which gives them a fluffy appearance,” says Emma.
“Because they don’t shed much at all, they ideally need daily grooming to keep their coat in tip-top condition and will often also require regular clipping and shaping by a professional groomer throughout the year.”
Related: Small Dog Breeds that Make Great Companions
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Curly Coated Retriever
The Curly-Coated Retriever is among the oldest retriever breeds and also one of the least common. Their coat of small, tight curls nods to their ancestor, the English Water Spaniel, now extinct.
Emma adds: “It varies between each dog but generally Curly-Coated Coated Retrievers have soft, tight curls all over their bodies, but have relatively straight fur on their faces.
“Given how curly their fur is, it will need some TLC more than once a week to keep it smooth and soft.”
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Poodle
Poodles are perhaps one of the best-known curly-coated breeds. Great for people with allergies, they don’t shed much.
“They need daily grooming to keep their coat in tip-top condition and will also require regular clipping and shaping by a professional groomer throughout the year,” says Emma.
“Keeping their fur quite short is easier to maintain than letting it grow long.”
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Lagotto Romagnolo
“The Lagotto, whose name roughly translates to ‘dog of the lake,’ is sometimes called a ‘duck dog’ because the breed was originally bred as a water retriever,” says Emma.
“They have tight, ring-shaped curls all over which will need some maintenance to avoid any tangles or mats.”
Anita Kot – Getty Images
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