Families
Low-shedding family dogs
Less hair on the sofa is a lovely bonus in a busy family home. These breeds are good with children and shed little in our data. Two honest points before you choose: low shedding almost always means more grooming, and no dog is truly allergy-free.
- Every breed here scores at least 4 out of 5 with children and no more than 2 out of 5 for shedding.
- We sorted by shedding first, then by how good they are with children.
Child-friendly breeds that shed little
Australian Labradoodle
Sociable, trainable and usually carefully selected for companionship. It remains a developing type, so breeder transparency matters more than the label.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- Very high
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- High
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,700–€3,000
Havanese
Sociable, funny and adaptable, provided company is part of the deal. The long coat is a choice between daily work and regular clipping.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- Very high
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
Portuguese Water Dog
Athletic, clever and deeply involved in family life. The low-shedding coat brings regular clipping and the brain needs daily work.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- Very high
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- High
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,600–€2,700
Bichon Frise
A small white cloud with a cheerful streak. Sociable, bright and happiest with people around.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- High
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,000
Maltipoo
A tiny, sociable companion that likes learning and being included. Fragility, barking and coat care are the practical realities.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- High
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
Miniature Schnauzer
Bearded, bright and quietly self-important. A terrier brain in a tidy, low-shedding coat.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- High
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,000
Poodle (Standard)
An athletic, unusually intelligent dog behind an elegant coat. Thrives on problem-solving and close partnership.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- High
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,700–€2,800
Shih Tzu
Made to be a companion, and very good at it. Happy on a lap, happy in a small flat.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Good with children
- High
- Grooming
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€1,900
Less hair usually means more brushing
Poodles, doodles, the Bichon, Havanese and Portuguese Water Dog keep their hair in the coat instead of on the floor — which means it tangles unless you brush several times a week and book a groomer every six to eight weeks. Doodle coats in particular vary from litter to litter, so low shedding is likely rather than guaranteed.
Grooming shows up in the cost: roughly €1,100–2,100 a year for the smaller breeds in our data, and €1,600–3,000 for the Standard Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog and Australian Labradoodle.
Please don't choose from this list if…
- Someone in the family has a significant dog allergy and hasn't spent time with the breed yet.
- Brushing several times a week and regular groomer visits won't happen.
- You're counting on a doodle to be non-shedding — coats vary even within one litter.
Questions people ask us
What is the best low-shedding family dog?
In our data the Australian Labradoodle, Havanese, Portuguese Water Dog and Bichon Frise combine very low shedding with a top score for children. Your family's energy level decides between them.
Are low-shedding dogs hypoallergenic?
No dog is truly hypoallergenic — allergens come from skin, saliva and urine as well as hair. Low shedding can help; spending time with the breed before you commit is the only real test.
Do doodles shed?
Some do, some don't. A doodle's coat depends on its parents and can differ between puppies in the same litter, so ask to meet adult dogs from the same lines.
Your week is the other half of the match
A list can only get you so far. The Find My Dog quiz sets your home, your hours and your limits against every breed, and shows you the reasoning behind each score so you can judge it for yourself. It takes two minutes and it's free.
For when your dog comes home
DoggMatch+ helps with the practical side of the first year: training week by week, food portions worked out from your dog's weight, a care calendar and a printable Dog Pack. It's entirely optional, and everything on this page stays free.
See what DoggMatch+ includes