12 Best Family Dogs That Do Not Shed — our top picks
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise: small-sized, medium energy and medium trainability — a strong fit for families who want a low-shedding dog. Cheerful white powder-puff with hypoallergenic coat. Playful and adaptable companion with minimal shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Bichon Frise needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Standard Poodle
Standard Poodle: large-sized, high energy and very high trainability — a strong fit for families who want a low-shedding dog. Intelligent, athletic, and hypoallergenic. The original Poodle size, bred for water retrieval with exceptional trainability. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Standard Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodle: small-sized, high energy and very high trainability — a strong fit for families who want a low-shedding dog. Medium-sized Poodle with all the intelligence and athleticism in a more manageable size. Excellent family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Miniature Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: medium-sized, medium energy and medium trainability. Irish terrier with silky wheaten coat. Happy, friendly, and less aggressive than most terriers. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Havanese
Havanese: small-sized, medium energy and high trainability. Cuban toy breed with silky coat and cheerful disposition. Adaptable and social companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Havanese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodle: large-sized, high energy and very high trainability. Golden Retriever and Poodle cross combining best traits of both breeds. Popular family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Goldendoodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Cavapoo
Cavapoo: small-sized, medium energy and high trainability. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle cross. Gentle and friendly with reduced shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Cavapoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Cockapoo
Cockapoo: small-sized, medium energy and high trainability. Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross, one of the first designer dogs. Friendly and adaptable family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Cockapoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Bernedoodle
Bernedoodle: large-sized, medium energy and high trainability. Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle cross combining gentle nature with intelligence. Popular family pet. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Bernedoodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Irish Doodle
Irish Doodle: large-sized, very high energy and high trainability. Irish Setter and Poodle cross combining beauty with intelligence. Athletic and friendly family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Irish Doodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Boxerdoodle
Boxerdoodle: large-sized, very high energy and high trainability. Boxer and Poodle cross combining playfulness with intelligence. Energetic family companion with reduced shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the Boxerdoodle needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dog: medium-sized, high energy and very high trainability. Curly-coated Portuguese fishermans dog. Intelligent, athletic, and excellent swimmer. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Portuguese Water Dog needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or see which breed you look like from a single photo.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for families who want a low-shedding dog
Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against families who want a low-shedding dog. On top of that, the Shiba Inu sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
The Chihuahua (Long Coat) is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against families who want a low-shedding dog. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Border Collie
The Border Collie is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against families who want a low-shedding dog. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Border Collie needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Which dog do you look like?
Take one photo and an AI model tells you which of our 321 breeds you most resemble, and which features gave it away. Free, no account, and your photo is never stored. It is a game rather than advice — but every match links straight into that breed's real guide.
See which dog you look likeFrequently asked questions
- What family dog doesn't shed?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Bichon Frise ranks as the top choice for families who want a low-shedding dog, followed by the Standard Poodle and Miniature Poodle.
- How was this list of dogs for families who want a low-shedding dog chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for families who want a low-shedding dog — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. The same trait ratings are printed on each breed's own guide page, so you can check why a breed placed where it did.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for families who want a low-shedding dog?
- The Shiba Inu, The Chihuahua (Long Coat), The Border Collie all rank near the bottom for families who want a low-shedding dog despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.