Non Shedding Dogs

Myth or Reality?

Do Non Shedding Dogs really exist? Or are they a myth created by dog breeders in order to sell puppies to people with pet allergies and spotlessly clean houses?!?

The answer is that they are NOT a work of fiction. Although scientifically there are no such things as TOTALLY non-shedding dogs, there really are dog breeds out there that shed little or almost no hair.

Living with a pet allergy sufferer, we decided to get a "non shedding" dog as they are also hypoallergenic. (Not having to vacuum every day was a bonus!) After much research we chose a Schnauzer for their size and temperament.

Can I put my hand on my heart and say that we have NEVER found a dog hair in the house? Well, no. But I can honestly say that in 7 years of having a Miniature Schnauzer, we ALMOST NEVER find a dog hair in the house.

Because they do not molt, you have to either regularly groom the dog yourself or send him to the grooming parlour for a regular trim for this to be true. Otherwise you might find occasional hairs or furballs on the floor.

I have to confess, we hardly ever groom Max - maybe his whiskers occasionally when he's been eating something wet and messy (like cow dung - a personal favorite of his!) We do, however, send him to the groomer's every 8 to 12 weeks for a trim and that keeps him smart and tidy.

Incidentally, if you are intending to show your dog, you should have him hand-stripped, as trimming with clippers destroys the wiriness and color bands of the outer coat. Clipper trimming can also cause the coat to go wavy (like Max's). This does not matter at all unless you are intending to show the dog.

The Miniature, like the Standard and Giant Schnauzer, has a double coat. The outer coat is harsh and wiry and covers a softer layer underneath. This is one type of coat that is non or low shedding.

It's not just all 3 types of Schnauzer that are non shedding - the American Kennel Club lists 11 breeds - including the Maltese and the Irish Water Spaniel - that are better for pet allergy sufferers and less likely to shed hair. Even better, the (UK) Kennel Club lists over 30 breeds of "SUPPOSEDLY" non shedding dogs. These range in size from the Yorkshire Terrier to the Giant Schnauzer.

To see the full list of non shedding dogs, follow this link:

List of Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds.

Remember that different allergy sufferers may have different reactions to different dogs. While they are LESS likely to have a reaction to a hypoallergenic and non shedding dog, there are no guarantees.

Choosing a non shedding dog breed has worked for us, but it may not be the answer for everybody. Try and spend some time with the puppy before you commit.

Here you'll find more info on non shedding and hypoallergenic dogs -

Hypoallergenic and Non-Shedding Dogs - The Facts

Full List of Hypoallergenic and Non-Shedding Dog Breeds

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