5 Dog Breeds That Shed a Lot

Which Dog Breeds Shed the Most?

Dog hair is something that a lot of people learn to live with. Some people will guarantee that if you buy one of these great dogs, you can live with the shedding. Well, maybe you can, but don’t get one of these breeds and expect that you will be able to keep the shedding under control. Shedding is a part of life with one of these dogs.

You can try fatty acids to improve the coat, vacuuming to pull out the loose hair, or grooming with a Furminator to get out the rest of the hair, but it just won't matter much. Unless you plan on shaving your dog to look like a Chinese Crested, you are going to have to deal with the shedding. Are you ready for one of these great breeds?

Pomeranian

This Spitz breed is small, but you would never know it based on the amount of hair it sheds. Who wouldn't want to have a dog nice enough to wake you up in the morning yap-yapping at the door and giving you presents on your plate at almost every meal?

I bought my first Pom at the tender age of 16, but after finding my 339th hair in my food, I gave her to my mom and bought a Maltese.

Samoyed

This is another sled breed with excessive coat and excessive shedding. They are great dogs, and if you are lucky enough to have your house decorated all in white, maybe you won´t notice it all that much. Unfortunately, Samoyed hairs have a tendency to gravitate to plates and dishes of food—no matter how you choose to decorate.

Rough Collie

This was a close call between the Rough Collie, the Border Collie, and the Sheltie. The Rough Collie wins out, though, since the dog breed is larger and is able to more effectively clogs drains and ruins couches.

If you want fewer hairs in your drains, go for one of the runners-up.

Siberian Husky

Another close call on this one, but the Alaskan Malamute lost out for some reason. Maybe it was all of those years of college when I would come home to play with my huskies and swallow their fur.

Dog hair memories!

These dogs only shed excessively once a year, but it is excessive! When it is time to blow their coat, they lose massive chunks of the undercoat, enough for any homesteader to make a good dog-wool sweater. Of course, if you do manage to spin and weave a sweater out of this wool, it will smell like a wet dog. At least your Huskies will love it.

A diet with supplemental fatty acids will help some (this is one of the methods I used on my own dogs). Be sure to watch the video with your dogs present. Even with my cheap speakers, my dog gets really excited listening to these dogs sing.

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Chow Chow

This gorgeous breed is the champion of excessive shedding. The other breeds who are known as “fur-balls” usually keep their coats year-round, but not the Chow Chow! The chow graces his living quarters with a luxurious coating of fine imported Asian dog hair.

The best part about having a Chow Chow? Unlike the Husky, their year-round sheddability never fails to provide lots of hair to cover your couch.

Short-Haired Dogs Are the Same

Do you think you can avoid this problem by buying a short-haired dog? It doesn´t work that way. You can get a short-haired dog with excessive shedding, too.

Short-haired dogs are not nearly as much trouble as the champion shedders listed here, but the annoying part of their hair is that it seems to get everywhere. Ask my dog. We just got back from a swim, and she is shedding all over my house.

Smelling like a wet dog is just one of the added benefits.

More About Dog Hair

• Five Ways to Keep Your Dog From Shedding All Over
  Do you have one of the dogs that shed a lot? These five methods help most dogs, so give them a try before you enjoy your next plate of dog hair pasta.
• Five Great Dog Breeds That Don't Shed, Much
  This article lists five of the breeds that do not shed much. Not all are cheap to take care of, and not all are going to lay around and wait to be groomed, but all are great pets.

Do you have a suggestion for minimizing shedding? Let us know in the comments.

Mark dos Anjos, DVM (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on July 18, 2013:

Yes, that is how I always felt about my Siberian Huskies--the hair was annoying but the dogs are great. Unfortunately,they have a high prey drive (unlike the Collie) and since I have geese and chickens I decided on calmer breeds.

Suzi Rayve from California on July 18, 2013:

DrMark1961, I've had many long hair breeds in my life. Gotta say, Rough Collie takes them all! It's been so hot that ours has blown his coat 4 times this year and it's usually only 2! Yet I wouldn't give him up for the world! He watches over us, entertains us, is pal to my daughter and champion cat herder! Love the hub! Thanks!

vladimir on February 25, 2013:

Nice list, but I would add one more breed. One who has/had German Shepherd, knows what shedding is. I don't know how often are German Shepherds in US, but here in Europe they are very popular. I have Croatian Shepherd (curly longhair) that also sheds a lot.

Mark dos Anjos, DVM (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on February 20, 2013:

What a great attitude! That is one of the many things I miss about my Siberian Huskies--I used to enjoy having a living, breathing, plush toy running around, despite the shedding issues.

Kathy from Minnestoa on February 20, 2013:

At least my collie (and Norwegian Forest Cat - I'm a sucker for punishment) hair can be vacuumed up. His undercoat is kept mostly under control with a shedding blade.

I had a beagle with such stiff coarse hair that it would weave itself into upholstery and the carpets. You had to pluck it out one by one with tweezers after you tried the vacuum and sticky rollers. I'd rather more hair that can be easily cleaned up than some that takes hours to pluck out, if ever. Besides, there's nothing like burying your face in a living, breathing, loving plush toy!

Mark dos Anjos, DVM (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on October 27, 2012:

Fantastic comment! You make us understand why some people are able to put up with the hair. Your dog is definitely worth a few extra minutes vacuuming.

Becky Katz from Hereford, AZ on October 27, 2012:

I have been around shelties all my life. Their hair is legendary. We have one now and I would not get rid of him for anything. He follows my disabled husband around protecting him and keeping him company when I cannot.

I sweep the edges of the room before I vacuum, so I don't have to empty it as often. I have emptied the vacuum cup four times in one room. We have all gotten used to it and he is such a sweetie.

They are protective of those that they consider defenseless also. He will always sit or lie down between my husband and any visitor. He is a wonderful watch dog. He lets us know whenever someone is around the property.

Mark dos Anjos, DVM (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on July 23, 2012:

You gotta love ém (if you can put up with the hair).

Bob Bamberg on July 23, 2012:

Interesting hub, as always! I know what you mean about Chow chows. We had a customer who would always bring his Chow, Wrinkles, into the store and we'd always greet him, shake his paw, and offer a treat. It was always routine and seemed uneventful until after they left and we were left picking hairs off of ourselves and the impulse merchandise in the immediate area. Great dog, though.

Mark dos Anjos, DVM (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on July 22, 2012:

Good attitude! I couldn´t do that when I was 16 but it doesn´t seem near as important now as it did back when I had my first Pom.

wetnosedogs from Alabama on July 22, 2012:

my part chows don't have the chow face, more like the austrailian shepherd part. Still lots of fur except for my allergy dog-when her coat gets back to being the healthiest, there will be fur galore. Still wouldn't want to live without them.

Enjoyed the chow video, especially liked the gray, brown and the one black chow-they looked like bears!

Um, I didn't know I was supposed to complain about their fur being in my food. I just pluck it out.