Last Updated on December, 2024
I prefer small dogs with curly hair, and looking at you, it seems like we’re not on the same page.
Big curly-haired dog breeds are great though; if you have enough space, they can be great companions and look as majestic as their small counterparts.
This list will cover some of the well-known medium to large sized curly-haired dogs. So, if you’re in the mood to get one, what’s below can help.
Table of Contents
Big Dogs Curly Hair
1. Saint Berdoodle
St. Berdoodle is a mix of a Saint Bernard and a Poodle.
A male Saint Berdoodle is around 30 inches tall, whereas their female counterparts are about 28 inches tall and they weigh up to 160 pounds or more.
Saint Berdoodle can have a curly-haired and smooth coat, depending on their inherited characteristics.
Their hair is pretty thick and fine. For this reason, their curly coat can easily get tangled. But that’s not a biggie. Regular brushing can save you the hassle.
Fortunately, they don’t shed heavily, making it easier for dog owners to keep their carpets and furniture clean. You can further manage the shedding with the help of different tools to detach dead hair without bothering your pup.
Saint Berdoodle has a sweet temperament. Their friendliness makes them a cute and charming family dog. Besides, they are easy to train and enjoy physical activities, sports, and exercise.
2. Black Russian Terrier
Terrier breeds are famous for being hunting dog breeds. A Black Russian Terrier is a big dog standing around 30 inches tall and can weigh up to 130+ pounds.
They are also friendly and easy to train dogs. But unlike St. Berdoodle, they are not welcoming towards strangers. This characteristic makes them excellent guard dogs.
This breed has thick black fur that sheds moderately. The curly double coat needs quite a lot of grooming every once or twice a week.
Regular brushing and trimming can help keep the dog in their best condition.
Black Russian Terrier requires a whole lot of exercise every day. Therefore, you should commit at least 30 to 40 minutes to that.
Their lifespan is around 10 to 11 years.
3. Bouvier Des Flandres
This breed was originally bred to assist in farm work. They are big farm dogs and herding dogs.
They are available in different coat colors, for example, black, black, brown, gray, etc.
Bouvier Des Flandres has a thick, curly double coat that requires much maintenance. Therefore, you should groom them at least twice a week.
They don’t shed heavily, but their dense, curly coats aren’t low-shedding dogs either. So, you can expect some hair on your carpets and furniture.
These working dogs stand 27 inches long. Their weight can range from 70 to 110 pounds.
They are highly vigilant and, therefore, can make protective guard dogs. They are very friendly towards families but are not very open to strangers.
The life expectancy of a Bouvier Des Flandres is approximately 12 years.
4. Borzoi
Borzoi is a hunting breed originally bred in Russia. They are around 28 inches tall and can weigh up to 105 pounds.
For the most part, Borzoi is a friendly breed and enjoys activities, sports, exercise, hunting, etc. Though they are very active, training BorzoiS can be relatively difficult.
They have medium-length curly fur that does not require a lot of maintenance. Usually, dogs with curly hair are difficult to groom.
However, grooming BORZI’S wavy hair once or twice every fortnight can be enough.
Regarding the amount of shedding of their wiry curls, this breed sheds hair heavily. They shed their coats seasonally, that is, in mid-summer and winter.
They are available in several colors, ranging from white and black to a fusion of colors. The lifespan of Borzoi is approximately 14 years.
5. Labradoodle
Labradoodle is one of the cutest crossbreed dogs with a curly coat. Labradoodle is a product of Labrador Retrievers and Poodle Dogs, so, it’s safe to say that you’re getting the best of both worlds.
They are smart like Poodles and active like Labrador Retrievers. So, these big dogs are easy to train, and they love to spend time exercising and playing.
These curly-haired breeds are friendly towards family members, children, and strangers. They enjoy playing around with families and other dogs.
That’s the reason why they are excellent companion dogs.
Labradoodles have medium-length tight curls that have a meager shedding rate. So, despite their curly fur, they are best for people with allergies.
The size of an average Labradoodle is 24 inches height, and its weight is approximately 90 pounds. You might love this big cute pup as your companion if you are a physical activities enthusiast.
The life expectancy of a Labradoodle is approximately 12 to 15 years.
6. Curly-Coated Retriever
Curly-Coated Retrievers are one of the tallest Retriever dogs, with an average height of 27 inches, and when it comes to weight, you’re looking at 85 pounds of dog here.
These big dogs are primarily bred for hunting purposes.
Curly-Coated Retriever has several useful characteristics that make them very good hunting, guard, and water dogs.
They are very clever and vigilant, protecting their surroundings from potential dangers.
They have double-layered, tightly curled coats but short coat length. Their fur does not shed more often, making them suitable for allergy sufferers.
Despite having curly hair, grooming their coats requires little effort. You can groom your Curly-Coated Retriever’s fur every once a month.
Training a Curly-Coated Retriever is way easier than many other dog breeds. They are intelligent and learn quickly.
Moreover, they require a lot of exercise every day. If you plan to adopt a CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER, get ready to commit at least two hours a day to play with your dog.
Curly-Coated Retrievers have a lifespan ranging from approximately 10 to 12 years.
7. Komondor
Komondor, the mop dog, is a big fluffy sheepdog with a thick coat and curly hairthat is mainly used as a farm and guard dog.
They are sometimes confused with PULI dogs because of their coarse outer coat. They are around 28 inches tall and can weigh 100 pounds or more.
They have thick, curly locks. The good news is that this breed’s amount of shedding is very low.
Meanwhile, the not-so-good information is that they require a good time for grooming.
They have a dense, curly coat. Their corded coat can turn into highly coiled curls that grow long in very little time. Therefore, it’s essential to take care of their grooming needs. You should trim their locks every once or twice a week. However, this can be a time-consuming process.
Komondor is also friendly towards family and children. However, they might not necessarily appreciate the presence of other dogs around them.
When it comes to the behavior of these big dogs towards strangers, Komondor has very little to no tolerance for someone invading their territory. They are vigilant and become conscious when they sense a negative situation.
Training Komondor is a relatively easy job. Spending time with them can be enough to train and make them happy.
Komondor can live for approximately 12 years.
8. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The next curly-haired dog breed is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. They are one of the most easy-to-train Retriever Breeds.
These big dogs with curly hair are around 26 inches tall and weigh approximately 80 pounds.
Like most retriever breeds, they require a lot of exercise and activities. That’s obvious as they belong to the sporting group.
They have a high energy level and enjoy engaging in activities. They have high adaptability and can quickly adapt to changes in their surroundings.
They can also act as excellent watchdogs, taking care of their surroundings. They tend to behave friendlyly with strangers unless they sense something unusual or harmful.
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers have medium-length tight curls. They experience moderate to heavy shedding. Moreover, they require moderate grooming. You can groom their wiry coat once every ten days, and that would be enough for them.
Their behavior towards family and children is friendly. They enjoy playing with family and are good companion dogs.
These curly-haired dogs live for approximately 10 to 13 years.
9. Standard Schnoodle
Schnoodle is another crossbreed involving a Poodle. They are the designer breeds created by the crossbreeding of a Schnauzer with a Poodle.
Though this breed has some medium-sized dogs, too, the standard Schnoodle stands around 26 inches tall and weighs approximately 110 pounds or so.
A medium-sized dog of this breed is around 19 inches tall and weighs up to 55 pounds.
They either inherit medium-length curly double coats from Schnauzers or long curly hair from Poodles. They have a soft undercoat. Either way, they are a low-shedding breed. However, their coat tends to tangle and requires regular grooming through daily brushing.
Training Schnoodles is not difficult as they can learn things quickly. Their behavior towards families is loving and friendly. They enjoy playing and might require at least 30 minutes of exercise daily.
They have a better life expectancy than many dogs with curly hair. Their lifespan ranges between approximately 12 to 15 years.
10. Barbet
This breed belongs to the sporting group of dogs and is friendly towards families and children.
They have a medium to long-length curly coat. This means that Barbet requires a reasonable amount of time for coat maintenance.
You should brush the fur once every two days.
Surprisingly enough, a Barbet is one of the dogs with curly hair that does not shed heavily. They have a low shedding rate.
Besides, these big dogs with curly coats can survive rough and harsh weather conditions. They enjoy spending time playing and exercising. Therefore, at least one to two hours of daily activities are essential.
They are around 24 inches in length and weigh approximately 65 pounds. They are pretty vigilant but can not prove to be excellent watchdogs. One factor in this can be their friendly behavior towards strangers.
Barbets are not stubborn and can be trained with minimal effort. They can live for about 12 to 14 years.
11. Standard Poodle
Poodles are one of the well-known curly-haired dog breeds. Standard Poodles are over 15 inches tall and weigh approximately 60-70 pounds.
A Standard Poodle is one of the most affectionate dog breeds that can make the best family dogs.
They are friendly towards their family and other pets. These playful dogs adore playing, running, enjoying, exercising, walking, etc.
A Poodle is a hypoallergenic dog. The amount of shedding is meager for standard poodles.
However, they have long, curly coats that require maintenance, which is the case for most dogs with curly hair.
You may need to groom your dog’s coat once every week. Some Poodles might require daily brushing.
Moreover, they are highly adaptable and can get used to changes quickly. They are one of the most intelligent dog breeds and learn very quickly. This makes them excessively easy to train.
The positive characteristics of Poodles seem to continue. Dog enthusiasts also love their toy-sized breeds.
They live around 10 to 18 years of age.
Other guides and tools you might need when training your dog:
Final Thoughts
From the majestic Saint Berdoodle to the intelligent Standard Poodle, every big curly-haired pup you can think of has been covered.
Depending on where you reside and your everyday needs, you can go for any of those mentioned big curly-haired pups. Each can be a fantastic companion dog, offering you love and comfort while being loyal to you.
Also, while you’re at it, why not check out our article on the big fluffy dogs?
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