Allergies & shedding
Dogs that shed little and need little grooming
Most low-shedding dogs make up for it with hours of brushing and regular trips to the groomer. A handful don't. These breeds have short, sleek coats that drop little hair and need little more than a weekly wipe — the easiest coats in our data to live with.
- Every breed here scores 2 or lower out of 5 for shedding and 3 or lower for grooming.
- We sorted by grooming first, then by shedding.
Easy coats that stay off the sofa
Italian Greyhound
Tender, elegant and deeply attached. House-training, cold weather and fragile legs are the less photogenic parts of life together.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Very low
- Cold tolerance
- Very low
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€2,000
Whippet
A sofa dog with a sprinter's body. Quiet, affectionate and remarkably easy to live with.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Very low
- Cold tolerance
- Very low
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,000–€1,700
Basenji
Clean, athletic and famously reluctant to bark. A Basenji replaces barking with independence, climbing and inventive escape plans.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Low
- Cold tolerance
- Low
- Exercise needs
- High
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
Boston Terrier
A compact, funny companion with a tidy coat. The short muzzle still places real limits on heat and hard exercise.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Low
- Cold tolerance
- Low
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,300–€2,300
Chihuahua
Tiny, bold and completely devoted to one or two people. Small dog, full-sized opinions.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Low
- Cold tolerance
- Very low
- Exercise needs
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €800–€1,500
Chinese Shar-Pei
Quiet, reserved and loyal to a small circle. The skin and eye care behind the famous wrinkles can be medically demanding.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Low
- Cold tolerance
- Low
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,600–€2,900
Greyhound
A sprinter that sleeps most of the day. Quiet, clean and surprisingly well suited to calm homes.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Low
- Cold tolerance
- Very low
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€1,900
Miniature Pinscher
Tiny, athletic and independently minded. A Min Pin needs secure doors, real training and respect for its terrier-like drive.
- Grooming
- Very low
- Shedding
- Low
- Cold tolerance
- Very low
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,000–€1,800
Easy coats come with their own care
Short, single coats are wonderfully simple, but they offer little protection. The Italian Greyhound, Whippet, Greyhound, Chihuahua and Miniature Pinscher feel the cold and appreciate a coat in winter. The Chinese Shar-Pei's skin folds need regular checks to stay healthy, and the Basenji keeps itself almost cat-clean.
These are also some of the most affordable breeds to keep: from about €800–1,500 a year for a Chihuahua in our data, and around €1,000–2,300 for most of the others. The Shar-Pei is the exception at up to €2,900, largely because of skin and eye care.
Please don't choose from this list if…
- Your winters are cold and you'd rather not put a coat on your dog.
- Someone at home has a significant dog allergy — short hairs still carry allergens.
- You'd love a soft, fluffy dog to cuddle; these coats are sleek.
Questions people ask us
Which dogs shed the least and need the least grooming?
In our data the Italian Greyhound, Whippet and Basenji combine very low shedding with the least grooming. A weekly wipe or brush is usually enough.
Are short-haired dogs better for allergies?
Not necessarily. Allergens come from skin and saliva, and short hairs can be surprisingly clingy. Low shedding helps some people; always test before you commit.
Do Basenjis really groom themselves like cats?
They're famously clean and have almost no doggy smell. They still need nails trimmed, teeth brushed and, like any dog, plenty of exercise and company.
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